subch. I of ch. PSC 113Subchapter I — General
PSC 113.01PSC 113.01Application of rules.
PSC 113.01(1)(1)All public utilities, whether privately or municipally owned or operated, in respect to the supply of electric energy and provision of electric service in this state, shall comply with and conform to rules set forth in this order except insofar as exception may be made by order of the commission as hereinafter mentioned.
PSC 113.01(2)(2)Nothing in this chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code shall preclude special and individual consideration being given to exceptional or unusual situations and upon due investigation of the facts and circumstances therein involved, the adoption of requirements as to individual utilities or services which shall be lesser, greater, other, or different than those provided in said rules.
PSC 113.01(3)(3)Nothing in this chapter shall prevent imposition of sanctions, fines, forfeitures, penalties or damages under more than one section of this chapter or ch. 196, Stats., or other statutes, for the same incident or occurrence.
PSC 113.01(4)(4)The manner of enforcing the rules in ch. PSC 113 is prescribed in s. 196.66, Stats. and such other means as provided in statutory sections administered by the public service commission.
PSC 113.01 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.
PSC 113.012PSC 113.012Definitions. In this chapter:
PSC 113.012(1)(1)“Ability to pay” means a customer’s financial capacity to meet his or her utility service obligation, considering all of the following factors:
PSC 113.012(1)(a)(a) Size of the delinquent account.
PSC 113.012(1)(b)(b) Customer’s payment history.
PSC 113.012(1)(c)(c) Period of time the debt has been outstanding.
PSC 113.012(1)(d)(d) Reasons why the debt has been outstanding.
PSC 113.012(1)(e)(e) Any other relevant factors concerning the customer’s circumstances, as household size, income and expenses.
PSC 113.012(2)(2)“Complaint” means a statement or question by any person whether a utility customer or not, concerning a wrong, grievance, injury, dissatisfaction, illegal action or procedure, dangerous condition or action, or failure of a utility to meet a utility obligation.
PSC 113.012(3)(3)“Customer” means the party billed for payment of bills issued for use of utility service at a given premises.
PSC 113.012(4)(4)“Customer-requested termination” means that the customer or occupant has asked the utility to cease providing utility service to a premises.
PSC 113.012(5)(5)“Denied or refused service” means that a utility has refused to provide present or future service to a customer, occupant or premises.
PSC 113.012(6)(6)“Disconnection” means preventing a specific customer from receiving electrical power through a specific action taken by the utility or its agents. This does not include temporary outages for maintenance purposes, storms, or other unplanned outages, or a customer-requested termination of service. “Disconnection” includes but is not limited to: the removal or sealing of an electric meter, severance of the connection between the distribution system and the service facilities or the customer’s internal wiring, or the transmission of an electronic signal to the metering equipment which would deactivate the meter and prevent the flow of electrical current.
PSC 113.012(6m)(6m)“Potential power line natural hazards” means trees or tree parts located in or reasonably proximate to a utility distribution or transmission line easement that are likely to interfere with the utility’s operations, including distribution or transmission lines, within the utility’s next maintenance cycle.
PSC 113.012(7)(7)“Installment payment agreement” means an arrangement between a utility and a commercial or farm customer for payment of a deposit in installments.
PSC 113.012(7m)(7m)“Jointly-metered property” means a premises where electric service is measured jointly for 2 or more rental dwelling units, pursuant to s. 196.643 (2), Stats.
PSC 113.012(7n)(7n)“Low-income customer” means a customer whose household income is at or below the federal poverty income guidelines for eligibility for federal energy assistance.
PSC 113.012(8)(8)“New residential customer” means a customer who has not received utility service in his or her name during the previous 6 months from the utility from which service is requested.
PSC 113.012(9)(9)“Occupant” means the resident or residents of a premises to which utility service is provided.
PSC 113.012(10)(10)“Prompt payment” means payment prior to the time when a utility could issue a notice of disconnection for nonpayment of an amount not in dispute.
PSC 113.012(11)(11)“Protective service emergency” means a threat to the health or safety of a resident because of the infirmities of aging, other developmental or intellectual disabilities, or like infirmities incurred at any age, or the frailties associated with being very young.
PSC 113.012(12)(12)“Voucher agreement” means a payment agreement guaranteed by a third party who has access to or control over the benefits and/or finances of a public assistance recipient. Included without limitation are:
PSC 113.012(12)(a)(a) Wisconsin Works (W-2) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) restrictive payment arrangements.