Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-27.3
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, September 4, 2024
Rule 199-27.3 - [Effective 9/11/2024] Customer relations(1)Notification to customers by bill insert at least annually. Each utility shall notify its customers, by bill insert or notice on the bill form, of the address and telephone number where a utility representative qualified to assist in resolving the complaint can be reached, and include the following statement: "If (utility name) does not resolve your complaint, you may request assistance from the Iowa Utilities Commission by calling 515.725.7300 or toll-free 877.565.4450; by writing to 1375 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319-0069; or by email to customer@iuc.iowa.gov." The utility may use different language with commission approval. A utility that bills by postcard may place an advertisement in a local newspaper of general circulation or a customer newsletter instead of a mailing. The advertisement must be of a type size that is easily legible and conspicuous and must contain the information required in this subrule.(2)Payment agreements.a.Availability of a first payment agreement. When a residential customer cannot pay in full a delinquent bill for utility service or has an outstanding debt to the electric cooperative or municipal electric utility for residential utility service and is not in default of a payment agreement with the electric cooperative or municipal electric utility, an electric cooperative or municipal electric utility shall offer the customer an opportunity to enter into a reasonable payment agreement. The offer of a payment agreement is to be made prior to disconnection. The electric cooperative or municipal electric utility is not required to offer a customer who has been disconnected from service a payment agreement consistent with these rules, unless the utility did not comply with these rules prior to disconnection.b.Reasonableness. Whether a payment agreement is reasonable will be determined by considering the current household income, ability to pay, payment history including prior defaults on similar agreements, the size of the bill, the amount of time and the reasons why the bill has been outstanding, and any special circumstances creating extreme hardships within the household. The electric cooperative or municipal electric utility may require the person to confirm financial difficulty with an acknowledgment from the department of health and human services or another agency.c.Terms of payment agreements.(1) First payment agreement. The following conditions are to be offered to customers who have received a disconnection notice and are not in default of a payment agreement: 1. For customers who received a disconnection notice in conformance with these rules, an agreement with at least 12 even monthly payments is to be offered. A customer may pay off the delinquency early without incurring any prepayment penalties. A customer will not be charged interest, or a late payment charge, on a payment agreement where the customer is making payments consistent with the terms of the payment agreement, and the customer will not be required to pay a portion of the delinquent amount to enter into a payment agreement.2. A provision for payment of the current amount owed by the customer is to be offered.3. The electric cooperative or municipal electric utility may also require the customer to enter into a budget billing plan to pay the current bill.4. When the customer makes the agreement in person, a signed copy of the agreement is to be provided to the customer.5. The electric cooperative or municipal electric utility may offer the customer the option of making the agreement over the telephone or through electronic transmission.6. When a payment agreement is made over the telephone or through electronic transmission, a written agreement is to be provided to the customer within three days of the date the oral or electronic agreement is entered into.7. The document will be considered provided to the customer when addressed to the customer's last-known address and deposited in the U.S. mail with postage paid. If delivery is by other than U.S. mail, the document will be considered provided to the customer when delivered to the last-known address of the person responsible for payment for the service.8. The payment agreement is deemed accepted by the customer unless the customer notifies the utility otherwise within ten days from the date the document is provided. The address and toll-free telephone number where a qualified representative can be reached is to be included in the payment agreement.9. Once the first payment required by the agreement is made by the customer or on behalf of the customer, the oral or electronic agreement is deemed accepted by the customer.10. Each customer entering into a first payment agreement is allowed at least one late payment that is four days or less beyond the due date for payment, and the first payment agreement remains in effect.11. The initial payment is due on the due date for the next regular bill.(2) Second payment agreement. A second payment agreement is to be offered to a customer who is in default of a first payment agreement if the customer has made at least two consecutive full payments under the first payment agreement.1. The second payment agreement will be for a term at least as long as the term of the first payment agreement.2. The customer is to pay for current service in addition to the monthly payments.3. The customer may be required to make the first payment up front as a condition of entering into the second payment agreement.4. The electric cooperative or municipal electric utility may also require the customer to enter into a budget billing plan to pay the current bill.(3) Additional payment agreements. The electric cooperative or municipal electric utility may offer additional payment agreements to the customer.d.Refusal by electric cooperative or municipal electric utility. A customer may offer the electric cooperative or municipal electric utility a proposed payment agreement. If the electric cooperative or municipal electric utility and the customer do not reach an agreement, the electric cooperative or municipal electric utility may refuse the offer orally, but the electric cooperative or municipal electric utility will provide a written refusal to the customer, stating the reason for the refusal, within three days of the oral notification. The written refusal is considered provided to the customer when addressed to the customer's last-known address and deposited in the U.S. mail with postage prepaid. If delivery is by other than U.S. mail, the written refusal is considered provided to the customer when handed to the customer or when delivered to the last-known address of the person responsible for the payment for the service.e.Customer request for assistance. A customer may ask the commission for assistance in working out a reasonable payment agreement. The request for assistance is to be made to the commission within ten days after the written refusal is provided and disconnection will not take place during the commission's review.(3)Bill payment terms. The bill is to be considered provided to the customer when deposited in the U.S. mail with postage prepaid or sent by electronic mail to the customer, if agreed to by the customer. If delivery is by other than U.S. mail, the bill is to be considered provided when delivered to the last-known address of the party responsible for payment, or to the last-known email address of the customer. A bill becomes delinquent not less than 20 days from the date the bill is provided to the customer. For customers on more frequent billing intervals, bills may not be considered delinquent less than five days from the date the bill is provided, and a late payment charge may not be assessed if payment is received within 20 days of the date the bill is provided. a. The date of delinquency for all residential customers or other customers whose consumption is less than 3,000 kWh per month is changeable for cause; such as, but not limited to, 15 days from the approximate date each month upon which income is received by the person responsible for payment. Thirty days beyond the date of delinquency is the maximum delay allowed. Thirty days beyond the date of previous bill preparation is the maximum delay allowed.b. In any case where net and gross amounts are billed to customers, the difference between net and gross is a late payment charge and is valid only when part of a delinquent bill payment. A utility's late payment charge is limited to 1.5 percent per month of the past due amount. No collection fee may be levied in addition to this late payment charge.c. If the customer makes partial payment in a timely manner, and does not designate the service or product for which payment is made, the payment is to be credited pro rata between the bill for utility services and related taxes.d. Each account is allowed not less than one complete forgiveness of a late payment charge each calendar year. The utility's rules are to include that on one monthly bill in each period of eligibility, the utility will accept the net amount of such bill as full payment for such month after expiration of the net payment period. The utility's rules are to state how the customer is notified that the eligibility has been used. Complete forgiveness has no effect upon the credit rating of the customer or collection of late payment charges.(4)Meter testing standards. Electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities are to establish meter testing standards and procedures for customers who have complaints about the accuracy of the customer's meter. The meter testing standards are to be made available to a customer upon request.Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-27.3
Adopted by IAB August 25, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 4, effective 9/29/2021Amended by IAB August 7, 2024/Volume XLVII, Number 4, effective 9/11/2024