OAR 860-021-0205: Deposit Payment Arrangements for Residential Energy Utility Service

(1) Except as provided in OAR 860-021-0335(1) and (2), when an energy utility requires a deposit, the customer or applicant may pay the deposit in full or in three installments. The first installment is due immediately; the remaining installments are due with the subsequent two monthly bills after the first installment payment. Except for the last payment, installments shall be the greater of $30 or one-third of the deposit. An energy utility shall not require an income-qualified residential customer to pay a deposit. (2) When an installment payment or a deposit is made with a payment for energy utility service, the amount paid shall first be applied toward payment of the amount due for deposit. (3) When the energy utility requires the customer or applicant to pay an additional deposit, the customer shall pay one-third of the total deposit, or at least $30, whichever is greater, within five days. The remainder of the deposit is due under the terms of section (1) of this rule. If the customer has an existing deposit installment agreement, the remaining installment payments will be adjusted to include the additional deposit; however, two installment payments cannot be required within the same billing period. (4) When a customer or applicant enters into an installment agreement for payment of a deposit under section (1) of this rule, the energy utility shall provide written notice explaining its deposit requirements. The notice shall specify that each installment payment shall be due with each of the subsequent two monthly bills for utility service and shall include a statement printed in bold-face type informing the customer or applicant that utility service will be disconnected if the energy utility does not receive the payment when due. The notice shall also set forth the name and telephone number of the appropriate unit within the Department of Human Services or other agencies which may be able to help the customer obtain financial aid. (5) If a customer fails to abide by the terms of a deposit installment agreement, the energy utility may disconnect service after a five-day notice. The notice shall contain the information set forth in OAR 860-021-0405(2)(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), and (g) and shall be served as required by 860-021-0405(5). (6) When good cause exists, the Commission or the energy utility may provide more liberal arrangements for payment of deposits than those set forth in this rule. The energy utility shall keep a written record of the reasons for such action. (7) If disconnection for nonpayment of a deposit occurs, the customer disconnected shall pay the full amount of the deposit, any applicable reconnection fee, late-payment fee, and one-half the past due amount before service is restored. The customer shall pay the balance of the past-due amount within 30 days of the date service is restored. A customer may continue with an existing time-payment agreement by paying all past-due installments, the full deposit, and other applicable fees.