Section 480-90-148 - Service responsibility(1)Customer responsibility. The customer must notify the gas utility, in writing, prior to all changes to the customer's equipment or usage that will materially affect the service to be rendered. The customer must give such notice within a reasonable time so the utility can provide the necessary facilities and acquire additional gas supplies, if needed. The charge for such necessary facilities, if any, must be in accordance with the utility's filed tariff.(2)Gas utility responsibilities.(a) Each gas utility must install and maintain monitoring equipment at appropriate locations within its system in order to determine the operating characteristics of the system. The commission may require the utility to provide additional equipment in connection with performing special investigations, if economically feasible;(b) Each gas utility must promptly notify all affected customers of any substantial change to the system that would affect the efficiency of operation or the adjustment of the customer equipment. If an adjustment to the customer's equipment is necessary, the cost may be recovered in accordance with the utility's tariff, except that, when the customer has been notified of a change in service prior to receiving service, or when the change is required by law, the customer must bear all costs in connection with making such changes;(c) Each gas utility must adopt and maintain as constant as practical a standard pressure of gas measured at the outlet of any customer's meter, and/or regulator in cases of a high pressure system. The standard pressure adopted must be filed with the commission as part of the gas utility's schedule of rates, rules, and regulations. Pressures other than standard may be furnished to a customer upon mutual agreement between the utility and customer, and provided that such pressure can be maintained without adversely affecting the service being provided to other customers on the system; and(d) Each gas utility must maintain its gas system in a condition that enables it to furnish safe, adequate, and efficient service.(3)Interruption of service. The term "interruptions" as used in this rule refers to the temporary discontinuance of gas flow to any customer(s) due to accident, required repairs or replacement, or to the actions of municipal or other agencies. It does not refer to the discontinuance of gas flow to those customers receiving service under an interruptible service schedule. The gas utility must make all reasonable efforts to avoid interruption of service and, if an interruption occurs, must endeavor to reestablish service with the shortest possible delay. When it is necessary for a utility to make repairs or to change its facilities, the utility may, without incurring any liability, suspend service for such periods as may be reasonably necessary and in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience to customers. The gas utility must notify all customers affected by a scheduled interruption through newspapers, radio announcements, or by other means, at least one day in advance of the scheduled interruption.
The utility must individually notify police and fire departments affected by an interruption of service.
(4)Record of interruptions. Each gas utility must keep a record of all interruptions of service affecting twenty-five or more customers, including in such record the location, the date and time, the duration, and, as accurately as possible, the cause of each interruption. Utilities must submit copies of such records to the commission upon request.Wash. Admin. Code § 480-90-148
Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and 80.04.160. 01-11-003 (Docket No. UG-990294, General Order No. R-484), § 480-90-148, filed 5/3/01, effective 6/3/01.