PSC 185.21(1)(1)
Included in schedules. The schedules of rates and rules shall be filed with the commission by the utility and shall be classified, designated, arranged, and submitted so as to conform to the requirements of the current tariff or rate schedules and the special instructions which have been and may from time to time be issued by the commission. Provisions of the schedules shall be definite and so stated as to minimize ambiguity or the possibility of misinterpretation, and shall include, together with such other information as may be deemed pertinent, the following:
PSC 185.21(1)(a)
(a) All rates for service with indication for each rate of the class of customers to which it applies. There shall also be shown any limitations on the service furnished under such rate, the prices per unit of service, and the number of units per billing period to which the prices apply, the period of billing, the minimum bill, method of measuring demands (where applicable) and consumptions, and any special terms and conditions applicable. The charge for late payment, if any, and the period during which the bill may be paid without late payment charge shall be specified;
PSC 185.21(1)(b)
(b) At commission discretion a copy of each contract or the standard contract form with a summary of the provisions of each signed contract may be required if service to other utilities or municipalities for resale is furnished at a standard filed rate;
PSC 185.21(1)(c)
(c) Extension rules for extending service to new customers indicating what portion of the extension or cost shall be furnished by the utility, and if the rule is based on cost, the items of cost included;
PSC 185.21(1)(d)
(d) Designation of such portion of the service facilities as the utility furnishes, owns, and maintains;
PSC 185.21(1)(e)
(e) Rules with which prospective customers shall comply as a condition of receiving service and the terms of any contracts required;
PSC 185.21(1)(f)
(f) Rules governing the establishing of credit by customers for payment of service bills;
PSC 185.21(1)(g)
(g) Rules governing the procedures followed in disconnecting and reconnecting service;
PSC 185.21(1)(h)
(h) Notice required from customer for having service disconnected;
PSC 185.21(1)(i)
(i) Rules governing temporary, emergency, auxiliary, and standby service;
PSC 185.21(1)(j)
(j) Rules governing any limitations on the type of equipment which may or may not be connected;
PSC 185.21(1)(k)
(k) A list of the municipalities in which service is rendered and the rates under which service shall be provided.
PSC 185.21(2)(a)(a) A public utility shall adopt general service water rates that reflect the cost of service for each class of customer and include a volume charge based on actual customer consumption.
PSC 185.21(2)(b)
(b) A public utility may not adopt a rate under
par. (a) if the commission finds that the rate is discriminatory or otherwise not in the public interest.
PSC 185.21(2)(c)
(c) The commission may approve rates that promote efficient water use.
PSC 185.21(2)(d)
(d) A utility may adopt rates that treat multi-family residential customers as a separate customer class.
PSC 185.21 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97;
CR 11-039: renum. (intro.) to (1) (intro.), cr. (1) (title), (2)
Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.
PSC 185.22
PSC 185.22
Information available to customers. PSC 185.22(1)(1) A utility shall have copies of its rates and rules applicable to the locality available in its office where payments are received and at area libraries. A utility shall give reasonable notice to customers as to where the information is available to them.
PSC 185.22(2)
(2) Each water utility, for every municipality in which it serves, shall provide in the respective telephone directories a telephone listing by which the utility shall be notified during a 24-hour day of any utility service deficiency or emergency which may exist.
PSC 185.22(3)
(3) Where a second language is common in a particular area served by the utility and so identified by the commission, all rules pertaining to billing and credit shall be available upon customer request for distribution in English and that second language in every business office of the utility in that area accessible to the public and where customer payments are received.
PSC 185.22(4)
(4) Each utility shall have available and provide upon request written notice to its existing residential customers, and a written notice to all new residential customers, at a minimum, of the rules on deposits, payment options including deferred payment agreements and budget billing, disconnection, and dispute procedures. Such notice shall contain a reply procedure to allow customers an opportunity to advise the utility of any special circumstances, such as the presence of infants or elderly persons or the use of human life-sustaining equipment, and to advise the utility to contact a specific third-party agency or individual prior to any disconnection action being taken.
PSC 185.22(5)(a)(a) A utility shall provide customer usage and billing history on request to current or prospective customers, tenants, or property owners. This information shall include either the average consumption for the prior 12-month period or figures reflecting the highest and lowest consumption amounts for the previous 12 months. Provision of this information is neither a breach of customer confidentiality nor a guarantee or contract by the utility as to future consumption levels for the premises in question.
PSC 185.22(5)(b)
(b) Upon a residential customer request, the public utility shall provide consumption information by billing periods for at least the last year and information and instructions needed by the customer to make consumption comparisons to similar residential customers in the same class and to evaluate water conservation efforts.
PSC 185.22 Note
Note: The information in subs. (1) - (5) is contained in the commission's residential customer bill of rights.
PSC 185.22 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97;
CR 01-033: am. (1),
Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01;
CR 11-039: renum. (5) to (5) (a), (5) (b) renum. from 185.33 (2)
Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.
PSC 185.31(1)(1) Except where otherwise authorized by the commission, all water sold by a utility shall be on the basis of meter measurement except that the volume of water used for fire protection, street or sewer flushing, construction, or similar purposes where metering is not practicable may be estimated. (See
s. PSC 185.15.)
PSC 185.31(2)
(2) Wherever practicable, consumption of water within the utility itself, or by administrative units associated with it or with the municipality shall be metered.
PSC 185.31 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.
PSC 185.32
PSC 185.32
Meter readings and billing periods. Readings of all meters used for determining charges to customers shall be taken by the utility monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or for such other period or in such other manner as may be authorized by law. An effort shall be made to read meters on corresponding days of each meter-reading period. The meter-reading date may be advanced or postponed not more than 10 days without adjustment of the billing period. Bills for service shall be rendered within 50 days from the reading of the meter except as may be otherwise specifically authorized by the commission. The utility may permit the customer to supply the meter readings. Meter readings supplied by the customer or third party, acceptable to the utility, shall be considered the actual reading. The utility is obligated, upon request, to obtain a final read from both the base and ROM meters when there is a change of customers. The utility shall make reasonable efforts to read the meters of customers who cannot be available during normal business hours and when there is a change of customer. The utility may make a final read through AMR technology if available.
PSC 185.32 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.
PSC 185.33(1)(1) For each bill provided by the utility, the customer's receipt shall show for each meter the following information:
PSC 185.33(1)(a)
(a) The billing address, and service address, if different from the billing address;
PSC 185.33(1)(f)
(f) The rate schedule under which the bill is calculated including the itemized calculations of the rate schedule component including, but not limited to, such items as customer charge, volume blocks, demand charges, minimum bills, and all other billing factors necessary for the customer to check the calculation of the bill. In lieu of including the rate schedule on the bill the utility may, whenever a rate change becomes effective and at least once a year, supply each customer with the schedule of rates at which the bills are computed and any other rates that might be applicable;
PSC 185.33(1)(g)
(g) Clear itemization of the amount of the bill for the present billing period and any unpaid balance from previous billing periods including any late payment charges;
PSC 185.33(1m)
(1m) A public utility that calculates its volume charges in units of cubic feet shall include customer usage in both cubic feet and gallons on the customer bill or provide a formula for converting usage in cubic feet to gallons on the customer bill. In lieu of providing the information on the customer bill, a public utility may provide the information in a document provided to each customer under
sub. (1) (f).
PSC 185.33(3)
(3) Estimated bills shall be distinctly marked as such.
PSC 185.33(4)
(4) Any partial payments received should be applied to the customer's account in the following order:
PSC 185.33(4)(e)
(e) Nonutility charges (e.g., charges for municipal fees or licenses, contracted sewer billing services, or penalties levied under municipal ordinances).
PSC 185.33(5)
(5) Where the billings also include charges for other utility services, including sewer service billed on a volumetric basis, payment for current service or arrears should be applied on a prorata basis.
PSC 185.33(6)
(6) Upon customer request, or at the discretion of the utility, partial payments may be allocated differently than set forth above provided that such allocation does not result in a disconnection of service or the imposition of a late payment penalty which would not have occurred under the allocation methodology set forth above.
PSC 185.33(7)
(7) Costs or fees incurred by and awarded to the utility by a court of law, for pursuing bill collection through other agencies, such as small claims courts, or extraordinary collection charges as allowed and specified in the utility's tariffs filed with the commission, may be included on the utility service bill. Such tariffs shall be established on the basis of rate case proceedings or generic proceedings to establish the reasonableness of such charges.
PSC 185.33(8)
(8) The commission may authorize the utility to make late payment charges to any portion of customer's utility service bill that is not paid in full based on the order of payment application as provided in
sub. (4), within 20 days following issuance of the bill. The late payment charge may be either a one-time charge as provided in
sub. (9) or a monthly charge as provided in
sub. (10). The utility shall receive approval from the commission of the method it desires to use and shall not change methods without commission approval.
PSC 185.33(9)
(9) If the utility is authorized to make a one-time late payment charge, such charge shall comply with the following requirements:
PSC 185.33(9)(a)
(a) The bill shall clearly indicate the amount of the late payment charge and the date after which the late payment charge shall be applied;
PSC 185.33(9)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (h), late payment charges shall be applied no sooner than 20 days after the date of issuance of the bill;
PSC 185.33(9)(c)
(c) The amount of the late payment charge shall be 3% of the unpaid bill, except a minimum charge of $0.50 shall apply. The utility need not calculate a late payment charge on unpaid amounts of less than $20.00, if allowed by utility tariff;
PSC 185.33(9)(d)
(d) Late payment charges shall be applied to all customer classes and rate classifications;
PSC 185.33(9)(e)
(e) Unless otherwise authorized by the commission the utility shall not waive any properly applied late payment charges;
PSC 185.33(9)(f)
(f) A late payment charge shall be applied only once to any given amount outstanding;
PSC 185.33(9)(g)
(g) If a customer disputes a bill for utility service and does not pay the disputed bill in full within 20 days following issuance of the bill, the late payment charge shall be applied only to that portion of the disputed bill later found to be correct and payable to the utility;
PSC 185.33(9)(h)
(h) Bills issued for utility service previously unbilled because of meter diversion or tampering with the proper metering of the account may include a late payment charge when issued.
PSC 185.33(10)
(10) If the utility is authorized to make monthly late payment charges, such charges shall comply with the following requirements:
PSC 185.33(10)(a)
(a) The amount of the charge shall be no more than one percent per month for late charges related to service provided for the utility's residential class of customers, and shall be no more than one and one-half percent per month for late charges related to service provided for all other purposes. The amount of the charge shall be filed with and approved by the commission before it may be applied;
PSC 185.33(10)(b)
(b) The late payment charge shall be applied to the total unpaid balance for utility service including unpaid late payment charges;
PSC 185.33(10)(c)
(c) Except as provided in
par. (h), the late payment charge shall be applied no sooner than 20 days after the date of issuance of the bill;
PSC 185.33(10)(d)
(d) The late payment charge shall be applied to all customer classes and rate classifications;
PSC 185.33(10)(e)
(e) If a customer disputes a bill for utility service and does not pay the disputed bill in full within 20 days following issuance of the bill, the late payment charge shall be applied only to that portion of the disputed bill later found to be correct and payable to the utility;
PSC 185.33(10)(f)
(f) The utility shall not waive any properly applied late payment charge;
PSC 185.33(10)(g)
(g) No additional late payment charge may be applied to a delinquent account for utility service after the date on which the delinquent account was written off by the utility as uncollectible;
PSC 185.33(10)(h)
(h) Bills issued for utility service that was previously unbilled because of meter diversion or tampering with the proper metering of the account may include a late payment charge when issued. The late payment charge may be applied from the estimated date that the diversion or tampering began.
PSC 185.33(11)
(11) If a utility changes the type of late payment charge, or initiates a late payment charge, the new charge shall apply only to utility service provided after the effective date of the change or initiation.
PSC 185.33(12)
(12) A delinquent amount including late payment charges covered by a deferred payment agreement shall not be subject to additional late payment charges if the customer meets the payment schedule including the current bill as required by the agreement. However, if a customer defaults on a deferred payment agreement, the amount remaining shall be subject to any applicable monthly late payment charge.
PSC 185.33(13)(a)(a) If the billing period is longer or shorter than allowed by
s. PSC 185.32, the bill shall be prorated on a daily basis unless other provision is made in the utility's filed rules.
PSC 185.33(13)(b)
(b) The utility may leave a meter reading form when access to a meter cannot be gained. If requested by the customer, the utility shall provide such a form. If no form is left on the premises, or if the form is not returned in time to be processed in the billing cycle, a minimum or estimated bill may be rendered. In cases of emergency the utility may render minimum or estimated bills without reading meters or supplying meter reading forms to customers. Except in unusual cases, a meter reading by the customer or the utility shall be obtained after no more than 3 consecutive estimated or minimum bills have been rendered.
PSC 185.33(13)(c)
(c) When an actual meter reading indicates that a previous estimated bill was abnormally high or low, the utility shall calculate the bill for the entire period as if use of service was normally distributed throughout the period. The previous estimated charge shall be deducted from the recomputed total. If there is evidence to indicate that actual use was not uniform throughout the period, the billing shall be adjusted according to available information.
PSC 185.33(14)(a)(a) Credits due a customer because of meter inaccuracies, errors in billing, or misapplication of rates shall be shown separately and identified.
PSC 185.33(14)(b)
(b) Adjustments to past bills rendered because of meter inaccuracies, errors in billing, or misapplication of rates shall be separated from the current regular billing and the charges explained in detail.
PSC 185.33(15)
(15) Each bill for service shall be computed at the proper filed rate.
PSC 185.33(16)
(16) A utility may offer a budget payment plan to residential customers. Any such plan shall conform to the guidelines set forth in
pars. (a) through
(g).
PSC 185.33(16)(a)
(a) A budget payment plan tariff shall be on file with the commission, applicable only to charges for utility services under commission jurisdiction.
PSC 185.33(16)(b)
(b) A budget payment plan may be established at any time of the year. The budget amount shall be calculated on the basis of the estimated consumption and estimated applicable rates. If the budget period is a fixed year, then prospective and existing customers requesting a budget payment plan after the start of the fixed year shall have their initial monthly budget amount determined on the basis of the number of months remaining in the current budget year.
PSC 185.33(16)(c)
(c) An applicant for a budget plan shall be informed at the time of application that budget amounts shall be reviewed and changed every 12 months, if necessary, in order to reflect current circumstances. Adjustments to the budget amount shall be made with the objective that the customer's underbilled or overbilled balance at the end of the budget year shall be less than one month's budget amount.
