PSC 134.064(2)(2) After the customer has pursued the available remedies with the utility, he or she may request that the public service commission staff informally review the disputed issue and recommend terms of settlement.

PSC 134.064(3)(a)(a) A customer’s request for informal review may be made in any reasonable manner such as by written notice or telephoned request directed to the public service commission. By telephone or written request the public service commission staff may request the utility to investigate the dispute.

PSC 134.064(3)(b)(b) A utility shall respond to public service commission staff’s request for an investigation in a prompt manner. Based on information provided by the utility and the customer, public service commission staff shall make an informal determination for settlement of the dispute and communicate that determination to both by telephone or mail. Either party to the dispute may request and receive the public service commission staff determination, and the basis for it, in writing. Commission staff shall inform any customer disputing an informal determination of the right to pursue a formal review. Staff shall inform the customer that a request for formal review shall include any information or arguments that the customer believes the commission should consider.

PSC 134.064(3)(c)(c) There shall be at least 7 days between the date the public service commission staff telephones or mails written notice of terms of settlement after informal review and any subsequent disconnection.

PSC 134.064(4)(a)(a) After informal review, any party to the dispute may make a written request for a formal review by the commission itself. To avoid disconnection pending a formal review, the customer must request a formal review by the commission, in writing, within 7 days of the issue of the informal determination. All other requests for formal review shall be made within 30 days of the date the commission staff telephones or mails written notice of terms of settlement after informal review. If written confirmation of the staff telephone notice is requested and mailed, the 30 day period begins from the date of that mailing.

PSC 134.064(4)(b)(b) Within 7 days of receiving a request for formal review in a dispute involving a pending disconnection of service, the commission shall make a determination whether to grant the request for formal review. The commission shall base its determination on the request for formal review and commission staff’s informal complaint file. Within 35 days from the time that all other requests for formal review are made, staff shall provide the commission with a memorandum based on the information it has received from the utility and the customer. A copy of the commission staff memorandum shall be provided to the parties 15 days prior to consideration by the commission. Either party to the complaint may file a response to the commission staff’s memorandum. These comments shall be filed with the commission 2 working days prior to the date scheduled for consideration by the commission. The commission shall inform both parties of its decision.

PSC 134.064(5)(5) Either party to the complaint may request that the commission reconsider its formal determination under this section. Such requests shall comply with s. 227.49, Stats., and must be received by the commission within 20 days of mailing of the commission’s determination. A request for reconsideration shall include any additional information or arguments that the party believes were not considered in the original complaint. The commission may review and reaffirm its original decision, issue a new decision, or decide to hold hearing on the matter for the gathering of additional information.

PSC 134.064(6)(a)(a) If the commission decides to conduct formal hearing under sub. (5) on the dispute, the commission may condition the terms of its granting a formal hearing. Failure to meet these conditions before hearing shall constitute waiver of the dispute by the customer.

PSC 134.064(6)(b)(b) The hearing shall conform to the procedures of ss. 196.26 to 196.34, Stats.

PSC 134.064(6)(c)(c) The hearing shall be held not less than 10 days following a notice of hearing and a decision thereon shall be rendered following the conclusion of the hearing.

PSC 134.064(7)(7) Utility service shall not be disconnected or refused because of any disputed matter while the disputed matter is being pursued in accordance with the provisions of this section. The utility shall inform the customer that pursuing a disputed matter does not relieve the customer from the obligation of paying charges which are not in dispute, or prevent disconnection of service for nonpayment of undisputed charges.

PSC 134.064 HistoryHistory: Emerg. cr. eff. 1-21-75; cr. Register, January, 1975, No. 229, eff. 2-1-75; am. (1), (3) (b) and (4), Register, December, 1975, No. 240, eff. 1-1-76; am. (1) (intro.), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; emerg. am. (2) (a) and (b) and (3), eff. 12-17-81; am. (2) (a) and (b) and (3), Register, July, 1982, No. 319, eff. 8-1-82; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89.

PSC 134.10(1)(1) All changes in the heating value standard, all changes in pressure and specific gravity greater than the allowable variation, and changes in the composition of the gas which would materially affect the operation of the customer’s appliances must be accompanied by a general inspection and adjustment of all appliances that would be affected by the changes. The utility shall make such adjustments and such changes to all customers’ appliances that are connected to an interior piping system at the time of the change as may be necessary in order that the appliance may operate as efficiently and give as good service as was possible before the change. This should be done promptly and without cost or unnecessary inconvenience to the customer.

PSC 134.10(2)(2) If in connection with a service change specified in sub. (1), a piece of properly operating utilization equipment cannot be adjusted so that it will operate satisfactorily and if it must be replaced in its entirety the utility shall share equitably in the cost of changing the equipment. The change in customer’s equipment should be made with the greatest possible economy to the customer, and final settlement made at the time of the change. A satisfactory settlement would be payment by the utility to the customer of the remaining value of the customer’s equipment and the cost of removing the old and installing in the same position substantially equal equipment which replaces it.

PSC 134.10(3)(a)(a) Each utility shall adopt and file with this commission a policy for inspection of customer’s appliances. The filed rule need not include the inspection and adjustment of special industrial equipment, which should be checked by persons more familiar with the equipment. The filed rule shall provide that customers having such equipment are to be notified.

PSC 134.10(3)(b)(b) Each gas utility shall establish an educational and inspection program designed to inform customers and assist the general public in the proper and efficient operation and maintenance of gas burning equipment. Such program shall advise customers to have heating equipment checked annually and offer energy saving suggestions to customers.

PSC 134.10(3)(c)(c) Whenever a gas utility is required to enter a customer’s premises to re-establish service to relight appliances due to a non-emergency interruption of service, an inspection of the burner ignition and flame appearance shall be made on each appliance which is relit to check for safety and efficient operation. The utility will be prepared to advise the customer relative to the safety and efficiency of connected appliances.

PSC 134.11(2)(2) All gas sold to customers shall be measured by commercially acceptable measuring devices owned and maintained by the utility. The maintenance of the accuracy of the meters shall be the responsibility of the utility.

PSC 134.11(4)(4) All gas customers of the same type, pressure, and/or volume classification shall have their gas metered with instruments having like characteristics and at the same pressure base, except that the commission may approve the use of instruments of different types if their use does not result in unreasonable discrimination.