PSC 134.0622(10)(a)(a) When a commercial or farm customer, either directly or through the public service commission, disputes a disconnection notice, the utility shall investigate any disputed issue and attempt to resolve that issue by negotiation. During this investigation and negotiation, utility service shall not be disconnected over this matter.

PSC 134.0622(10)(b)(b) If a disputed issue cannot be resolved pursuant to s. PSC 134.064 (1), the utility shall inform the customer of the right to appeal to the public service commission.

PSC 134.0622(11)(11) Commercial or farm service shall not be disconnected on a day, or on a day immediately preceding a day, when the business offices of the utility are not available to the public for the purpose of transacting all business matters unless the utility provides personnel who are readily available to the customer 24 hours per day to evaluate, negotiate or otherwise consider the customer’s objections to the disconnection, as provided under s. PSC 134.064, and proper service personnel are readily available to restore service 24 hours per day.

PSC 134.0622 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; correction in (2) (g) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616; correction in (2) (g) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2023 No. 807.

PSC 134.0623(1)(a)(a) By June 1 of each year, or at a date designated by order of the commission, each gas utility in Wisconsin serving more than 400,000 customers shall submit a fall reconnection plan for review and approval by commission order. The plan shall provide reasonable means, including a time table for personal contacts, that will be used to assure that all premises to which service was disconnected within the past 12 months and remains disconnected for nonpayment shall be contacted prior to October 25, or at a date set by commission order, to inform them of available payment options such as budget billing or deferred payment agreements.

PSC 134.0623(1)(b)(b) Prior to October 15 of each year, or at a date designated by order of the commission, all gas utilities serving fewer than 400,000 customers shall attempt by letter, telephone, or personal visit to contact all households at premises to which service was disconnected within the past 12 months and remains disconnected for nonpayment and inform them of available payment options such as budget billing or deferred payment agreements. If a letter, telephone call or personal visit does not result in a response from an adult member of the household by October 15 or at a date designated by order of the commission, a subsequent personal visit shall be made no later than October 25, or at a date designated by order of the commission.

PSC 134.0623(1)(c)(c) For any household remaining disconnected after October 25, the utility shall continue its efforts to have a personal contact with the household and determine its situation. The utility shall make a personal contact attempt after the date of disconnection and before November 1 for any household disconnected between October 15 and October 31. If, during any of the contacts made to carry out this section, any gas utility or its representative observes a danger to human health or life due to the disconnection, the utility shall immediately restore service. A record shall be made of all contacts and attempted contacts made to comply with this section.

PSC 134.0623(2)(2) By November 15th of each year, a utility shall file a report with the commission stating the number of dwellings assumed to be occupied where service remains disconnected as of November 1 or later and the reason that service has not been reconnected to that dwelling. On other dates designated by order of the commission, a utility shall file periodic reports with the commission listing the number of assumed to be occupied dwellings where service remains disconnected.

PSC 134.0623(3)(3) A utility shall cooperate with law enforcement and social service agencies in instances involving protective services emergencies. The utility shall refer to the appropriate social service agency any situation it identifies in its reconnection efforts where it appears that intervention by a social service agency is appropriate. Local law enforcement and social service agencies may use the commission’s dispute resolution process on behalf of a household without service because of nonpayment.

PSC 134.0623 HistoryHistory: Emerg. cr. 11-7-84; cr. Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; am. Register, December, 1987, No. 384, eff. 1-1-88; emerg. r. and recr. eff. 10-25-88; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89.

PSC 134.0624(1)(1) Declaration of policy. The public service commission of Wisconsin recognizes that there are many citizens of the state who, because of income, infirmities of aging, other developmental or intellectual disabilities or like infirmities incurred at any age, or the frailties associated with being very young, need protection from cold weather disconnections. This section is intended to provide that protection as enumerated below. It is the further intent of the public service commission that these rules be used as guidelines to identify those customers who are not covered by sub. (3). For households subject to disconnection under this section, any disconnection permitted by this chapter during the cold weather period defined below shall be made only as a last resort, after all other legal means of recourse have been attempted and proven unsuccessful.

PSC 134.0624(2)(2) Applicability.

PSC 134.0624(2)(a)(a) This section applies to disconnections for nonpayment of utility service which provides the primary heat source or energy source affecting the primary heat source to residential dwelling units occurring during the period November 1 to April 15 in any year for all occupied residences.

PSC 134.0624(3)(3) Customer requested termination. With regard to customer-requested termination of service at an unoccupied residence, the utility may rely on verification by the owner or the owner’s agent that the residence is unoccupied, provided that the utility visits the premises at the time of disconnection and verifies that the premises are not occupied. The utility shall keep a written record of the utility determination that the premises are unoccupied.

PSC 134.0624(4)(4) Conditions for disconnection. A utility may disconnect only those households whose gross quarterly incomes are above 250% of the federal income poverty guidelines and where health and safety would not be endangered, because of the infirmities of age, other developmental or intellectual disabilities or like infirmities incurred at any age or the frailties associated with being very young, if service were terminated or not restored.

PSC 134.0624(5)(5) Verification.

PSC 134.0624(5)(b)(b) The utility, as part of its filing with the public service commission pursuant to sub. (12) (b), shall include how it will verify the household’s income and situation.

PSC 134.0624(6)(6) Notice.

PSC 134.0624(6)(a)(a) Prior to, and again at the time of disconnection of service, a utility representative shall meet personally with a responsible, adult member of the household to discover any circumstances which deserve special attention, such as medical problems or disabilities.

PSC 134.0624(7)(7) Telephone availability. A utility shall provide its emergency after-hours telephone number to all households scheduled for utility service disconnection.

PSC 134.0624(8)(8) Customer and occupant service information. Prior to disconnection, a utility shall inform the household of the availability of deferred payment agreements, budget billing, and in the case of a noncustomer occupant, the option of accepting responsibility for future bills.

PSC 134.0624(9)(9) No disconnection on certain days. A utility may not disconnect service to an occupied dwelling on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday or on a day when utility personnel are not readily available to the occupant 24 hours per day to negotiate restoration of service.