OAR 860-021-0328: Reconnection of Residential Energy Utility Service

(1) This rule applies to a service reconnection requested within 20 calendar days of the date of disconnection, after an applicant or customer has satisfied the requirements for service under all applicable rules and regulations, and requested reconnection. (2) Each energy utility must provide a means by which an applicant or customer may contact the utility on a Business Day so that the applicant or customer may pay applicable charges, apply for verification as an income-qualified residential customer under OAR 860-021-0180, submit any necessary credit information, and request reconnection of service. A Business Day is defined as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state- or utility-recognized holidays. (3) For energy utility service that has been disconnected in accordance with OAR 860-021-0305(1), (2), (4), (5), (10), (11) or involuntarily disconnected for failure to pay Oregon tariff charges: (a) An energy utility must reconnect service as soon as reasonably possible, within the normal course of business, after an applicant or customer has satisfied the requirements for and requested reconnection. At a minimum, service must be restored as follows: (A) For a request for reconnection received during the Business Day, Monday through Thursday, service must be restored by 5:00 p.m. the following day, except when the following day is a state- or utility-recognized holiday. (B) For a request for reconnection received on a Friday Business Day before 3:00 p.m., service must be restored by 5:00 p.m. the following day. (C) For a request for reconnection received on a Friday Business Day between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., service must be restored by the end of the next Business Day. (b) For a request for reconnection received anytime other than a Business Day, except as provided under section (6) of this rule, the request for reconnection must be treated as if it were received at 8:00 a.m. on the next Business Day and service must be restored in accordance with Subsection (3)(a)(A) of this rule. (4) For energy utility service that has been involuntarily disconnected in accordance with OAR 860-021-0305(6) or (7), or due to meter tampering, diverting service, or theft of service, an energy utility must reconnect service as soon as reasonably possible, within the normal course of business, but no later than 5:00 p.m. of the next Business Day after the customer has satisfied the requirements for and requested reconnection. (5) For energy utility service that has been involuntarily disconnected in accordance with OAR 860-021-0315, service will be reconnected in accordance with section (4) of this rule. If the necessity for emergency termination was through no fault of the customer, the energy utility will reconnect in accordance with section (3) of this rule, at no charge to the customer. (6) An applicant or customer may request reconnection that falls outside of the requirements of sections (3), (4), and (5) of this rule and, for purposes of this rule, such a request will be defined as an After Hours Reconnect. The tariff of each energy utility must specify the hours other than a Business Day when the energy utility will offer an After Hours Reconnect, the terms of the service, and the applicable charges. (a) At a minimum, an energy utility must: (A) Provide a means by which an applicant or customer may contact the utility Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., excluding state- or utility-recognized holidays, so that the applicant or customer may pay applicable charges, submit any necessary credit information and request an After Hours Reconnect. (B) Allow, for a customer request made in accordance with subsection (6)(a)(A) of this rule, an After Hours Reconnect on the same day as the request, or allow an After Hours Reconnect to be scheduled for any subsequent Monday through Friday, except for state- or utility-recognized holidays. (b) The utility must notify a customer verbally or in writing of the customer’s right to an After Hours Reconnect. The notification must include information that the charges associated with a same day or a scheduled After Hours Reconnect exceed the utility’s standard reconnection charge. (7) Except as provided in OAR 860-021-0330, utility fees for service reconnection must be charged as follows: (a) An applicant or customer must pay the utility’s standard reconnection fee for a reconnection made under subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b) of this rule. (b) An applicant or customer must pay an After Hours Reconnect fee for any reconnection made under subsection (6)(a) of this rule. For an After Hours Reconnect that is completed the same day as the request, the reconnection fee may be higher than for an After Hours Reconnect scheduled for a subsequent day. (8) Reconnection of service following an interruption of service must comply with the requirements of OAR 860-021-0021. (9) With Commission concurrence, the reconnection requirements under this rule may be temporarily waived for any cause not reasonably within the control of the utility including, but not limited to, the following: (a) A documented Force Majeure event; (b) An action or default by an applicant, customer, or other person outside of the utility’s control, including a cancellation of the request made by the applicant or customer; (c) Major events, such as storms or system outages; (d) Safety-related issues that preclude the utility from reconnecting service; (e) The applicant’s or customer’s facilities cannot be accessed due to circumstances beyond the utility’s control; (f) The utility’s equipment or facilities prevent the reconnection from occurring; or (g) When the Commission approves a waiver.