PSC 185.21(2) (2) Rates for water service.

PSC 185.21(2)(a) (a) A public utility shall adopt general service water rates that reflect the cost of service for each class of customer and include a volume charge based on actual customer consumption.

PSC 185.21(2)(b) (b) A public utility may not adopt a rate under par. (a) if the commission finds that the rate is discriminatory or otherwise not in the public interest.

PSC 185.21(2)(c) (c) The commission may approve rates that promote efficient water use.

PSC 185.21(2)(d) (d) A utility may adopt rates that treat multi-family residential customers as a separate customer class.

PSC 185.21 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97; CR 11-039: renum. (intro.) to (1) (intro.), cr. (1) (title), (2) Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.

PSC 185.22 PSC 185.22 Information available to customers.

PSC 185.22(1) (1) A utility shall have copies of its rates and rules applicable to the locality available in its office where payments are received and at area libraries. A utility shall give reasonable notice to customers as to where the information is available to them.

PSC 185.22(2) (2) Each water utility, for every municipality in which it serves, shall provide in the respective telephone directories a telephone listing by which the utility shall be notified during a 24-hour day of any utility service deficiency or emergency which may exist.

PSC 185.22(3) (3) Where a second language is common in a particular area served by the utility and so identified by the commission, all rules pertaining to billing and credit shall be available upon customer request for distribution in English and that second language in every business office of the utility in that area accessible to the public and where customer payments are received.

PSC 185.22(4) (4) Each utility shall have available and provide upon request written notice to its existing residential customers, and a written notice to all new residential customers, at a minimum, of the rules on deposits, payment options including deferred payment agreements and budget billing, disconnection, and dispute procedures. Such notice shall contain a reply procedure to allow customers an opportunity to advise the utility of any special circumstances, such as the presence of infants or elderly persons or the use of human life-sustaining equipment, and to advise the utility to contact a specific third-party agency or individual prior to any disconnection action being taken.

PSC 185.22(5) (5) 

PSC 185.22(5)(a) (a) A utility shall provide customer usage and billing history on request to current or prospective customers, tenants, or property owners. This information shall include either the average consumption for the prior 12-month period or figures reflecting the highest and lowest consumption amounts for the previous 12 months. Provision of this information is neither a breach of customer confidentiality nor a guarantee or contract by the utility as to future consumption levels for the premises in question.

PSC 185.22(5)(b) (b) Upon a residential customer request, the public utility shall provide consumption information by billing periods for at least the last year and information and instructions needed by the customer to make consumption comparisons to similar residential customers in the same class and to evaluate water conservation efforts.

PSC 185.22 Note Note: The information in subs. (1) - (5) is contained in the commission’s residential customer bill of rights.

PSC 185.22 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97; CR 01-033: am. (1), Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01; CR 11-039: renum. (5) to (5) (a), (5) (b) renum. from 185.33 (2) Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.

subch. III of ch. PSC 185 Subchapter III — Service and Billing

PSC 185.30 PSC 185.30 Application for residential and multifamily service.

PSC 185.30(1) (1) For purposes of this section, “written” or “in writing” means legibly printed on paper or, with the intended recipient’s permission, legibly printed in an electronic form that the recipient can electronically store and retrieve for future reference.

PSC 185.30(2) (2) 

PSC 185.30(2)(a) (a) If a utility requires an application, a residential or multifamily user of water service shall apply for service.

PSC 185.30(2)(b) (b) A utility may require a verbal or written application for residential service. The utility shall establish a written policy for when a written application is required. A utility may accept an application for service from a person other than the user or potential user of service.

PSC 185.30(2)(c) (c)

PSC 185.30(2)(c)1. 1. Except as provided in par. (d) and sub. (3), a utility may only require that an applicant provide the following information in an application:

PSC 185.30(2)(c)1.a. a. Legal name and birthdate of the user of service and the person responsible for bill payment, if different than the user.

PSC 185.30(2)(c)1.b. b. If the user of service has telephone service, the telephone number of the user of service. If the person responsible for bill payment is different than the user and the person responsible for bill payment has telephone service, the utility may also require the telephone number of the person responsible for bill payment. Lack of telephone service is not grounds for service refusal.

PSC 185.30(2)(c)1.c. c. Address where service is to be provided.

PSC 185.30(2)(c)1.d. d. Mailing address if different from service address.

PSC 185.30(2)(c)1.e. e. Date requested for service to begin.