OAR 860-034-0150: Payment Arrangements for Deposit and Installation Charges for Residential Utility Service

(1) Time payments for deposits and nonrecurring charges shall be limited to charges for residential utility service and intraLATA toll. When a small telecommunications utility requires deposits and/or nonrecurring charges to establish or reestablish utility service from an applicant, the applicant shall pay the deposit and/or nonrecurring charges in four installments. The first installment is due immediately; the remaining shall be paid in three installments which shall be due 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively, after the date the payment agreement is executed. Except for last payment, installments shall be the greater of $20 or one-fourth of the deposit and/or nonrecurring charges. In communicating with an applicant to establish utility service or to require a deposit and/or nonrecurring charges, the small telecommunications utility shall inform the applicant of the availability of Link-Up America and Oregon Telephone Assistance Program benefits and inform the customer or applicant that details are available from the Commission. (2) When a customer makes an installment payment or a deposit with a payment for utility service, the small telecommunications utility shall first apply the amount paid toward the amount due for deposit and/or nonrecurring charges. (3) A customer who is required to pay an additional deposit shall pay one-fourth of the total deposit or $20, whichever is greater, within five days to the small telecommunications utility. 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 30-day period. (4) When a customer enters into an installment agreement for payment of a deposit and/or nonrecurring charges under section (1) of this rule, the small telecommunications utility shall provide written notice explaining its deposit and nonrecurring charges requirements. The notice shall specify the date each installment payment shall be due and shall include a statement printed in bold-face type informing the customer that utility service will be disconnected if the small telecommunications utility does not receive the payment when due. (5) If a customer fails to abide by the terms of an installment agreement, the small telecommunications utility may disconnect local exchange service after providing a written five-day notice. The notice shall contain the information set forth in OAR 860-034-0260(3)(a) through (e) and shall be served as required by 860-034-0260(4) and (5). In lieu of permanent disconnection, the small telecommunications utility may curtail service pursuant to OAR 860-034-0260(7). (6) When good cause exists, the small telecommunications utility may provide or the Commission may require, more liberal arrangements for payment of deposits and/or nonrecurring charges than those set forth in this rule. The small telecommunications utility shall keep a written record of the reasons for such action. (7) If disconnection for nonpayment of a deposit and/or nonrecurring charges occurs, the customer disconnected shall pay the full amount of the deposit and/or nonrecurring charges, any applicable reconnection fee, late-payment fee, and past due amount before service is restored. A customer may continue with an existing medical certificate time-payment agreement by paying all past-due installments.