Oregon Administrative Code

860-034-0720 Announcement of Rate Increases for Joint Rates or Rates Charged for Through Services by Type 2 Cooperatives A Type 2 cooperative that increases any joint rate or rate charged for a through service shall notify its affected customers, who have requested notice, at lea…

860-034-0725 Telephone Solicitation Notices by Telecommunications Cooperatives Each telecommunications cooperative shall notify its residential customers of the provisions of ORS 646.561, 646.563, 646.567 through 646.578, and 646.608. The notice shall include a statement that a c…

860-034-0730 Uniform System of Accounts for Type 2 Cooperatives (1) The Uniform System of Accounts for Telecommunications Companies, Part 32, adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on February 6, 2002, is hereby adopted and prescribed for all Type 2 cooperatives u…

860-034-0740 Allocation of Costs by Type 2 Cooperatives (1) As used in this rule: (a) "Affiliate transaction" means a transfer of assets, a sale of supplies, or a sale of services between accounts for services for which a joint rate is charged or for through services offered by a…

860-034-0750 Annual Report Requirements for Type 2 Cooperatives Annual reports will be submitted by Type 2 cooperatives. The total company Form O report for the previous calendar year shall be submitted on or before April 1, using the most current forms approved by the Commission…

860-036-1000 Scope and Applicability of Rules (1) The rules contained in Division 036 are applicable to water utilities providing water service in the State of Oregon. (2) All water utilities must comply with applicable Commission rules, regulations, statutes, and orders, includi…

860-036-1010 General Definitions As used in Division 036: (1) "Applicant" means a person who does not meet the definition of a customer, who applies for service with a water utility. (2) “Commercial service” means water service provided by the water utility that the customer uses…

860-036-1050 Annual Fees Payable to the Commission by a Water Utility (1) Subject to the provisions of this rule, each calendar year all water utilities under some form of Commission regulation must: (a) Pay an annual revenue fee to the Commission as authorized in ORS 756.310; an…

860-036-1060 Estimated Annual Fees Payable to the Commission by a Water Utility (1) For any year in which a water utility fails to file a completed annual statement form as required under OAR 860-036-1050(1), the Commission may determine a proposed annual fee based upon any infor…

860-036-1100 Information for Applicants and Customers (1) When service is initiated and not less than once a year thereafter, a water utility must provide its residential customers with a copy of the Customer Rights and Responsibilities available on the Commission's website at ht…

860-036-1110 Water Utility Emergency and Nonemergency Response Requirements (1) Each water utility must maintain a business location and a telephone number at which it may be contacted directly during its regular business hours. A water utility must respond to nonemergency inquir…

860-036-1120 Designation of Third Party to Receive Copies of Bills and Notices A water utility must offer applicants and customers the option to designate a third party to receive copies of bills, notices, or both. When a water utility receives such designation, it must send dupl…

860-036-1150 Dispute Resolution (1) When a dispute occurs between an applicant or a customer and a water utility regarding any charge or service, the water utility must: (a) Thoroughly investigate the matter; (b) Promptly report the results of its investigation to the complainant…

860-036-1160 Continued or Restored Service Pending Informal or Formal Dispute (1) A complainant with an informal or formal complaint is entitled to continued or restored service if: (a) Disconnection of service is or was based on grounds other than tampering with water utility pr…

860-036-1200 Applications for Water Utility Service (1) Any person wanting water service must submit an application to the water utility. A separate application is required for each property to be served. (2) A water utility may require an applicant to provide the following infor…

860-036-1210 Establishing Credit for Residential Service (1) Except as provided by section (3) of this rule, a water utility may require an applicant to establish satisfactory credit for new residential service by showing one of the following: (a) The applicant received 12 months…

860-036-1220 Deposits for Residential Service (1) Under conditions set forth below, a water utility may require an applicant or customer to pay a deposit as a guarantee of payment for services provided. Amounts held by a water utility may not exceed one-sixth of the actual or est…

860-036-1230 Surety Agreements (1) A water utility must inform any residential applicant or customer who is required to pay a deposit of the opportunity to provide a written surety agreement in lieu of paying the deposit. A surety agreement obligates another qualifying residentia…

860-036-1240 Deposit Payment Arrangements for Residential Service (1) A water utility must allow a deposit for residential service to be paid in three installments unless the deposit: (a) Is required to restore service that was disconnected for failure to pay a deposit; or (b) Wa…

860-036-1250 Interest on Deposits for Residential and Nonresidential Service by Rate-Regulated Utilities (1) Rate-regulated water utilities must pay interest on all customer deposits. Each year the Commission will notify all rate-regulated water utilities of the required interest…

860-036-1260 Refund of Deposits (1) A water utility must refund all deposits and accrued interest once credit is established, reestablished, or when service is disconnected. The water utility must issue a credit to the customer's account or mail the refund to the customer's last …

860-036-1270 Refusal of Water Utility Service (1) A water utility must refuse to provide service if: (a) The applicant's facilities do not comply with the codes, rules, or regulations of the appropriate governing authorities or the best practices governing safe and adequate water…

860-036-1300 Water Service Connection (1) A water service connection is defined as the facilities used to connect a water utility's distribution network to the point of connection at the customer's service line. The water utility owns and maintains the water service connection. (…

860-036-1310 Main Line Extensions (1) A main line extension is defined as the extension of a water utility's main line necessary to provide service to a customer when the property does not currently have main line frontage. (2) A water utility may charge a reasonable non-discrimi…

860-036-1320 Temporary Service A water utility may provide temporary service to a customer and charge all costs of installing and removing the temporary service, in excess of any salvage realized, if the costs are stated in the water utility's tariff or statement of rates. Statut…

860-036-1330 Restrictions on Entering a Customer Residence A water utility employee or representative may not enter the residence of a customer without proper authorization except during an emergency endangering life or property. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 756 & 757 Stat…

860-036-1350 Use of Water Meters (1) The water utility must provide and install at its expense any water meter used to calculate a customer's bill, unless the water utility’s tariff or statement of rates allows the recovery of the cost, including installation, from the customer. …

860-036-1360 Customer Requested Meter Tests (1) A customer may ask the water utility to test the water meter once every 12 months at no cost. The water utility must test the water meter within seven calendar days of the request, unless the customer fails to provide the water util…

860-036-1370 Meter Readings (1) A water utility must read meters that are used to calculate a customer’s bill on monthly intervals and as near as possible on the same corresponding day of each month unless otherwise indicated in its tariff or statement of rates. A water utility m…

860-036-1400 Customer Billings (1) A water utility must provide its customers with timely billings every month or as indicated in its tariffs or statement of rates. (2) A water utility must prepare bills, including opening and closing bills, from actual meter readings, unless con…

860-036-1410 Application of Partial Payments Absent written instructions from the customer, and consistent with OAR 860-036-1240(6), the water utility must apply payments in the following order: (1) Past due regulated tariff or statement of rates services; (2) Currently due regul…

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…

860-036-1430 Late-Payment Charge (1) A water utility may include a late payment charge in its tariffs or statement of rates that: (a) May be applied to residential accounts with a past-due balance at the time the water utility prepares the subsequent bill for the next billing cyc…

860-036-1440 Adjustment of Utility Bills (1) If a water utility determines that it incorrectly billed a current or former customer for tariffed services, the water utility may take corrective action depending upon the time the billing error occurred and the date the water utility…

860-036-1450 Transfer Billings (1) Except as provided in section (3) of this rule, if a water utility determines that a customer owes an amount from a closed account the customer previously held with the water utility, the water utility may transfer the closed account balance to …

860-036-1500 Grounds for Involuntary Disconnection (1) A water utility may disconnect water service when: (a) A customer fails to pay charges due for services rendered under a water utility tariff or statement of rates; (b) A customer fails to pay a deposit, fails to timely provi…

860-036-1510 Required Notices for Involuntary Disconnection (1) Except as provided in sections (4) and (5) of this rule, the water utility must provide the customer with two written notices in advance of disconnection: a 15-calendar day disconnection notice and a 7-calendar day d…

860-036-1520 Delivery of Notices for Involuntary Disconnection (1) The 7-calendar day and 15-calendar day advance written notices of disconnection must be hand-delivered in person to the customer or adult at the premises, or sent by the US Mail to the customer’s billing address a…

860-036-1530 Water Utility Requirements on the Day of Involuntary Disconnection (1) Within 48 hours prior to disconnecting service, the water utility must make a good-faith effort to contact the customer or an adult at the residence and provide notice of the proposed disconnectio…

860-036-1540 Disconnection of Service on Weekends and Holidays A water utility may not disconnect service for non-payment on a non-business day, or the day immediately preceding a non-business day, of either the utility or the Commission. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 756 &…

860-036-1550 Disconnection of Water Service to Tenants (1) If a water utility's records show that a residential billing address is different from the service address, the water utility must mail a duplicate notice to the service address, unless the utility has verified that the s…

860-036-1560 Voluntary Disconnection A customer requesting disconnection of service must provide the water utility with at least seven calendar days’ advance notice. (1) The customer is responsible for all service provided for seven calendar days following the request for disconn…

860-036-1570 Reconnection of Residential Water Service (1) The water utility must reconnect service as soon as reasonably possible within the normal course of business after the applicant has: (a) Paid all applicable charges; (b) Applied for service; (c) Requested reconnection; a…

860-036-1580 Disconnection, Reconnection, and Field Visit Charges If authorized by the water utility's tariffs or statement of rates, a water utility may assess and require payment of one or both of the following as applicable prior to reconnecting service: (1) A reasonable disco…

860-036-1590 Tampering with Water Utility Facilities, Theft, or Unauthorized Use of Water (1) Customers are prohibited from tampering with the water utility’s property and facilities or stealing, diverting, or engaging in unauthorized use of water. (2) If a water utility discover…

860-036-1600 Adequacy of Water Service (1) A water utility must maintain its facilities according to industry rules, regulations, and standards and in such condition to provide safe, adequate, and continuous service to its customers. This includes, but is not limited to: (a) Main…

860-036-1610 Quality of Water Supply for Domestic Purposes A water utility must provide a domestic water supply that is free from bodily injurious physical elements and disease-producing bacteria and reasonably free from elements that cause physical damage to customer property, i…

860-036-1620 Water Utility Responsibilities Regarding Service Complaints (1) The water utility must prepare and retain a log of all service complaints consistent with the Commission's Guide for the Preservation of Records for Public Water Utilities available at http://www.puc.sta…

860-036-1630 Unscheduled Interruptions of Service (1) A water utility may perform an unscheduled interruption of service as necessary to protect the health and safety of its customers or to maintain the integrity of its system. (2) If an unscheduled interruption of service is req…

860-036-1640 Scheduled Interruptions of Service (1) A water utility may schedule water service interruptions for maintenance and repairs. A water utility must schedule service interruptions to reasonably minimize customer inconvenience. (2) A water utility must provide advance wr…