N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 16 § 275.7

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 51, December 18, 2024

Section 275.7 - Discontinuance of service to entire multiple dwellings

(a) No gas corporation shall discontinue service to an entire multiple dwelling (as defined in the Multiple Dwelling Law or the Multiple Residence Law) where the owner, person, firm or corporation to whom or which the last preceding bill has been rendered, or from whom or which the gas corporation has received payment therefor, has failed to pay such utility bills, until it has complied with the following procedure:

(1) The gas corporation must give 15 days' written notice of its intention to so discontinue by personally serving such notice on the owner of the premises affected or on the person, firm, or corporation to whom or which the last preceding bill was rendered, or from whom or which the utility has received payment therefor, and on the superintendent or other person in charge of the building, if it can be readily ascertained that there is such superintendent or other person in charge; or

(2) The gas corporation must give 18 days' written notice to the owner, person, firm or corporation specified in paragraph (1) of this subdivision if such notice is mailed in a postpaid wrapper to the address of such persons, firm or corporation.

(3) In addition to the notice prescribed by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision, 15 days' written notice shall be posted in the public areas of such multiple dwelling, and 18 days' notice shall be mailed to the "Occupant" of each unit in that multiple dwelling, to the local health officer and director of the social services district for the political subdivision in which the multiple dwelling is located; if the multiple dwelling is located in a city or village, to the mayor thereof, or if there be none, to the manager; or, if the multiple dwelling is located in a town, then to the town supervisor; and to the county executive of the county in which the multiple dwelling is located, or if there be none, then to the chairman of such county's legislative body. Notice to mayors, managers, town supervisors, county executives, and chairmen of county legislatures may be mailed to the persons specified therein or to their designees. Notice to health officers, directors of social services, mayors, managers, supervisors, county executives and chairmen of county legislatures shall be repeated not more than four working days nor less than two working days prior to such discontinuance.

(4) Whenever a notice of intention to discontinue gas service has been made pursuant to the provisions of this section and obligations owed the gas corporation have been satisfied, the gas corporation shall notify, in the same manner as it gave such notice of intention, the occupant of each unit that the intention to discontinue gas service no longer exists.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions contained in subdivision (a) of this section, no gas corporation shall discontinue services to a multiple dwelling, where the owner, person, firm or corporation responsible for making payment fails to pay utility bills, as long as occupants of such multiple dwellings continue to make timely payments for service in accordance with procedures filed by the utility and approved by the Public Service Commission. All notices referred to in subdivision (a) of this section shall contain the intended date of discontinuance of service and a utility contact, including a telephone number, who will advise occupants of the amount due for gas service and who will arrange meetings with occupants to attempt to work out a mechanism for avoiding discontinuance of service in the event that the owner continues to fail to make requisite payments or arrangements for such payments. The notice shall also refer to the provisions contained in section 235-a of the New York Real Property Law authorizing occupants to set-off, against their rent, payments to utilities in such circumstances.

(c) A gas corporation, following the procedure outlined in subdivision (b) of this section, may require occupants in a multiple dwelling to pay no more than the current gas charges incurred by the owner, person, firm or corporation to whom or which the last preceding bill has been rendered or from whom or which the utility has received payment therefor. A current charge for purposes of this section means the amount properly billed the owner, etc., for gas used during the most recent billing period covered by the first bill rendered on or after the date when the disconnect notice is issued. The current charges will not include any arrears for earlier billing periods that may appear on such a bill.

(d) If occupants in a multiple dwelling find they are unable to reach an agreement with the utility to avoid discontinuance of service, they may contact the Consumer Service Section of the commission's Gas Division. After such a request is received, a representative of the Consumer Service Section of the Gas Division will attempt to work out such an agreement and will, if necessary, arrange a meeting with occupant representatives, the utility, and the owner, person, firm or corporation responsible for making payment for gas service; provided, however, that such a meeting will be required only if the Consumer Service Section receives a written petition signed by at least 25 percent of the occupants in a multiple dwelling.

(e) The Consumer Service Section may stay a threatened disconnection of service to an entire multiple dwelling where it concludes that good faith efforts are being made by the occupants to arrange for the payment of current gas bills.

(f) Whenever an owner of a multiple dwelling, or the person, firm or corporation responsible for making payment for gas service, fails to pay two consecutive bills for utility service by the time the third bill has been prepared, the utility must notify the commission within 15 days that it has invoked the procedures outlined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section. Unless otherwise authorized, the notification should be in the form of a semi-monthly report filed with the Consumer Service Section. Such report should be cumulative, specify the total amount due for each overdue account, the period of arrearage, and indicate if a notice of discontinuance has been sent. If these reports demonstrate a need for changes in collection procedures, the Consumer Service Section shall advise the commission.

(g) Sections 275.3 through 275.6 of this Part shall be applicable with respect to the discontinuance of service to entire multiple dwellings.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 16 § 275.7