OAR 860-021-0415: Time-Payment Agreements for Residential Electric and Gas Service (Nonmedical Certificate Customers)

(1) An energy utility may not disconnect residential service for nonpayment if a customer enters into a written time-payment plan. An energy utility will offer customers a choice of payment agreements. At a minimum, the customer may choose between a levelized payment plan and an equal-pay arrearage plan. (2) A customer who selects a levelized payment plan will pay a down payment equal to the average annual bill including the account balance, divided by 12, and a like payment each month for 11 months thereafter: (a) The energy utility shall review the monthly installment plan periodically. If needed due to changing rates or variations in the amount of service used by the customer, the installment amount may be adjusted to bring the account into balance within the time specified in the original agreement; (b) If a customer changes service address at any time during the period of a time-payment agreement, provided that payments are then current and the customer pays other tariff charges associated with the change in residence, the energy utility shall recalculate the customer’s deposit and/or monthly installment. The recalculated amount shall reflect the balance of the account at the previous service address and the average annual bill at the new service address for the months remaining in the original time-payment agreement. When installments on a time-payment agreement have not been kept current, a customer shall pay all past-due installments and any other applicable charges before service is provided at the new residence. (3) A customer who selects an equal-pay arrearage plan will pay a down payment equal to one-twelfth the amount owed for past electric or gas service (including the overdue amount and any amounts owed for a current bill or a bill being prepared but not yet delivered to the customer) each month, for the next 11 months, an amount equal to the down payment will be added to, and payable with, the current charges due for utility service. If a customer changes service address at any time during the period of an equal-pay arrearage plan, the plan continues. However, the customer must pay any past-due charges and all other applicable charges before the energy utility provides service at the new address. (4) The energy utility and customer may agree in writing to alternate payment arrangement, including time-payment agreements of longer duration, provided the utility first informs the customer of the availability of the payment terms in sections (2) and (3) of this rule. (5) A customer whose financial condition changes during the term of a time-payment agreement and who defaults on such an agreement may renegotiate their time-payment agreement at least one time under the same terms specified above. (6) If a customer fails to abide by the time-payment agreement, the energy utility may disconnect service after serving 20 days’ notice. The notice shall comply with OAR 860-021-0405, except subsection (2)(d) of this rule shall not be applicable. If a medical certificate is in effect, OAR 860-021-0410(6) shall apply.