OAR 860-037-0025: Dispute Resolution

(1) When a dispute occurs between a customer or applicant and a wastewater utility about any charge or service, the wastewater utility must: (a) Thoroughly investigate the matter; (b) Promptly report the results of its investigation to the complainant; (c) Inform the complainant of the right to have a wastewater utility supervisor review any dispute; (d) Prepare a written record of the dispute including the name and address of the complainant involved, the date the complaint was received, the issues in dispute, and the disposition of the matter; and (e) Retain records of the dispute for at least 36 months after the investigation is closed. (2) If the utility and complainant cannot resolve the dispute, the wastewater utility must inform the complainant of the right to contact the Consumer Services Section and request assistance in resolving the dispute. The wastewater utility must provide the following contact information for the Consumer Services Section: (a) Telephone: 503-378-6600; 1-800-522-2404; TTY 711; (b) Mailing address: Public Utility Commission of Oregon, Consumer Services Section, PO Box 1088, Salem, Oregon 97308; (c) Physical address: Public Utility Commission of Oregon, 201 High Street SE, Suite 100, Salem, Oregon 97301; (d) Electronic mail address: puc.consumer@puc.oregon.gov; and (e) Website: https://apps.puc.state.or.us/consumer/complaint.asp. (3) The Consumer Services Section will investigate any dispute upon request to determine whether it can be resolved as an informal complaint. (4) If the Consumer Services Section cannot resolve the dispute, the complainant may file a formal written complaint with the Commission under ORS 756.500. The formal complaint must be submitted on an approved form available from the Consumer Services Section. (a) The complaint must be filed electronically with the Filing Center at PUC.FilingCenter@puc.oregon.gov. (b) If the complainant does not have access to electronic mail, (A) The complaint may be mailed or delivered to the Filing Center at the address set out in OAR 860-001-0140; and. (B) The complaint must include a request for waiver of electronic service and filing requirements. This request is included on the form available from the Consumer Services Division. (c) The Commission will serve the complaint on the wastewater utility. The Commission may electronically serve the utility with the complaint if the electronic mail address is verified prior to service of the complaint and the delivery receipt is maintained in the official file. (d) The wastewater utility must answer the complaint within 15 days of service of the complaint by the Commission. (e) The Commission will determine a procedural schedule after the wastewater utility’s answer is filed. The wastewater utility must serve a copy of its answer on the complainant. (A) If the wastewater utility files a motion to dismiss, the complainant may file a response within 15 days of the motion. If the complainant responds, the complainant must file the response with the Filing Center and send a copy to the utility. The Commission may make a decision the formal complaint based on the information in the complaint, the utility’s response and motion to dismiss, and the complainant’s response to the utility’s motion; or (B) The Commission may set a procedural schedule for the complaint proceedings, including, but not limited to, scheduling dates for receiving additional information from the parties, telephone conferences, or a hearing. A hearing may be held on less than 10 days’ notice when good cause is shown. (5) At the time of the filing of a formal consumer complaint, the complainant may indicate on the consumer complaint form that the complainant is interested in using mediation to explore informal resolution. (a) Upon receipt of a complainant’s interest in mediation, the Commission will direct the defendant utility to indicate, within five business days, whether it is willing to participate in mediation. (b) If the utility agrees to mediation, the Commission will stay all procedural deadlines associated with the consumer complaint and expeditiously appoint an Administrative Law Judge to serve as mediator and schedule a mediation session. The mediator may request the parties to provide additional information to help facilitate the mediation. (c) If the parties do not agree to mediation, or the parties are unable to reach informal resolution through mediation, the Commission will appoint an Administrative Law Judge who did not serve as mediator to schedule the matter for hearing. (6) Upon filing a formal complaint relating to a proposed or actual termination of service, the complainant may request a hearing to determine whether the complainant is entitled to continued or restored service pending the resolution of the complaint. Unless extraordinary circumstances exist, the Commission will conduct the hearing by telephone within three business days. Notice of the hearing will be provided to the complainant and the wastewater utility at least 12 hours before the date and time of the hearing. Pending resolution of the dispute, the complainant's obligation to pay undisputed amounts continues. (7) A complainant who has a registered dispute or formal complaint pending with the Commission is entitled to continued or restored service provided: (a) Service was not terminated for tampering with utility property, stealing, diverting, or using unauthorized service, or failure to establish credit; (b) A bona fide dispute exists in which the facts asserted entitle the complainant to service; (c) When termination of wastewater service is based on nonpayment, the customer agrees to pay undisputed charges; and (d) The complainant diligently pursues conflict resolution under the Commission's rules. (8) If the conditions in section (7) of this rule are not satisfied, the wastewater utility has no obligation to provide continued service. A wastewater utility discontinuing water service because of a customer's failure to meet the conditions of subsections (7)(c) or (7)(d) of this rule for wastewater utility service must give the customer a five-day disconnect notice. The notice must be served in the same manner as provided by OAR 860-037-0245, except that it need only describe the defect in performance, the date and time when water service will be disconnected in order to terminate wastewater service and the toll-free number of the Commission's Consumer Services Section.