OAR 860-036-1420: Time-Payment Plans for Residential Water Service

(1) A water utility must offer time-payment plans to allow a customer to pay past-due amounts over a period of time, unless the amounts owing relate to theft of service, tampering, unauthorized use of water, or failure to abide by the terms of a time-payment plan. The customer must make the initial payment within one business day of agreeing to the time-payment plan. (2) A water utility must offer time-payment plans to: (a) A current residential customer with past-due amounts; and (b) A residential customer whose service was voluntarily disconnected and who reapplies for service within 20 calendar days of disconnection. (3) A water utility must offer the customer the option to choose between a levelized-pay arrearage plan and an equal-pay arrearage plan: (a) A customer who selects a levelized-pay arrearage plan must make an initial payment equal to one-twelfth of the sum of the average annual bill and past-due balance. The customer will make a like payment each month for the next 11 months. The water utility must review the levelized-pay arrearage plan within four to six months of the agreement and modify payments if there is a change in rates or significant variations in the amount of water consumed by the customer. (b) A customer who selects an equal-pay arrearage plan must make an initial payment equal to one-twelfth the account amount and a like payment for each of the next 11 months, plus pay monthly amounts billed for current usage. (4) The water utility and customer may agree to an alternate time-payment plan provided the utility informs the customer of the options in section (3) of this rule. (5) Upon request, a water utility must provide a written explanation of the terms of an agreed-upon time-payment plan. (6) If the customer changes residence within the water utility's service area during a time-payment plan, the terms of the time-payment plan continue. (7) A customer's failure to abide by the terms of a time-payment plan agreement is grounds for disconnection after providing notice as required by OAR 860-036-1510(4)(b).