(a) A utility system, as defined in § 7-82-701(b), that provides wastewater service shall provide a connection to the wastewater service upon request of a real property owner when the utility system:(1) Has an existing gravity sewer line located on or adjacent to the owner's real property within the street right-of-way, public access easement, or public utility easement; or(2) Has an existing sewer force main located on or adjacent to the owner's real property that can be accessed using technology designed for such an application.
(1) Has an existing gravity sewer line located on or adjacent to the owner's real property within the street right-of-way, public access easement, or public utility easement; or
(2) Has an existing sewer force main located on or adjacent to the owner's real property that can be accessed using technology designed for such an application.
(b) If the utility system refuses to provide wastewater service to the owner, the owner may submit a complaint to the Tennessee board of utility regulation for a review and hearing on the refusal to provide wastewater service in accordance with § 7-82-702(b)(1)(E); provided, the owner shall first appeal or make a complaint to the utility system's governing board on the utility's refusal to provide wastewater service.
(c) When the governing board of the wastewater utility system is the legislative body of the city, town, metropolitan government, or county providing wastewater service, the owner's appeal or complaint on the utility's refusal to provide wastewater service must be acted upon within sixty (60) days of the submission of the appeal or complaint by the owner. If the legislative body of the city, town, metropolitan government, or county providing wastewater service fails to act on the owner's appeal or complaint within sixty (60) days, the owner may proceed with the submission of its complaint to the Tennessee board of utility regulation, which shall conduct its review and hearing on the refusal to provide wastewater service in accordance with § 7-82-702(b)(1)(E) without a decision from the utility's governing board on the owner's appeal or complaint.
(d) This section does not affect, impact, or interfere with the rates in existing or future water or wastewater services contractual arrangements, or renewals or extensions of such existing or future agreements.