OAR 860-021-0200
Establishing Credit for Residential Utility Service


(1)

An applicant or customer may demonstrate satisfactory credit for new or continuing service by showing any of the following, provided that a deposit is not required under section (2) of this rule:

(a)

Received 12 months of continuous utility service of the same type applied for (energy or telecommunications) during the preceding 24 months and the utility can verify, either by contacting the former utility or through an authorized letter provided by former utility on utility letterhead to include dates of service and presented by the applicant, customer or former utility, that the applicant or customer voluntarily terminated service and timely paid for all services rendered;

(b)

Meets Commission approved minimum credit requirements based on a third party credit report score or the energy or large telecommunications utility’s own credit scoring formula; or

(c)

Proof of ability to pay by providing either:

(A)

Proof of employment during the entire 12 months previous to the application of service for person(s) responsible for payment on the account and a work telephone number to enable the energy or large telecommunications utility to verify employment; or

(B)

A statement or other documentation from the income provider or an authorized representative, that the energy or large telecommunications utility can verify, indicating that the applicant or customer receives a regular source of income.

(2)

An applicant or customer may be required to pay a deposit at the time of application for new or continued service when:

(a)

The applicant or customer is unable to establish credit as defined in section (1) of this rule;

(b)

The applicant or customer received the same type of utility service from it or any Oregon energy or telecommunications utility, as defined in ORS 757.005 (Definition of public utility) or 759.005 (Definitions), within the preceding 24 months and owed an account balance that was not paid in full when service was terminated. Subsection (2)(b) of this rule does not apply to a customer who registered a dispute with the Commission within 60 days after service was terminated and who paid all undisputed or adjudicated amounts; or

(c)

The applicant or customer was previously terminated for theft of service by any Oregon utility as defined in ORS 757.005 (Definition of public utility) or 759.005 (Definitions), was found to have tampered with the meter or other utility facilities, or was otherwise found to have diverted utility service.

(3)

In lieu of paying a deposit, an applicant or customer may:

(a)

Provide the energy or large telecommunications utility a written surety agreement from a responsible party to secure payment in an amount equal to two months’ average usage. For purposes of section (3) of this rule, a responsible party is a customer with the same utility who meets one of the qualifying conditions outlined in section (1) of this rule. The surety agreement obligation will automatically terminate should the responsible party no longer meet the conditions set forth herein. In the event a responsible party is subsequently found not to qualify, the applicant or customer will be required to either pay a deposit or obtain a written surety agreement from another responsible party. The surety obligation ceases when the customer establishes good credit; or

(b)

For energy utilities, elect to use demand limiter or “pay as you go” metering, if equipment is available.

(4)

For energy utilities, a deposit required under this rule shall not exceed one-sixth the amount of reasonable estimated billing for 12 months at rates then in effect. This estimate shall be based upon actual use at the premises during the prior 12 months, if known, or will be estimated based upon the type and size of the equipment at the premises. Each deposit shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

(5)

For large telecommunication utilities, a deposit required under these rules shall be based upon two months’ average or estimated bills for usage of the applicable telecommunications utility’s tariff and price-listed services. Each deposit shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar. For telecommunications service, applicants eligible for Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (OTAP) funding and who voluntarily elect to receive toll-blocked service, no deposit may be charged. The large telecommunications utility shall make toll blocking available at no charge to all applicants identified in OAR 860-033-0030 (OTAP and Lifeline Eligibility).

(6)

A new or additional deposit, calculated as provided by sections (4) and (5) of this rule with the most recent information available, may be required from a customer as a condition of continued service when:

(a)

The energy or large telecommunications utility discovers that the customer gave false information to establish an account and/or credit status;

(b)

The energy or large telecommunications utility discovers that the customer has stolen utility service, has tampered with the meter or other utility facilities, or was otherwise found to have diverted utility service;

(c)

For energy utilities, a customer moves and the anticipated bill at the new residence will be at least 20 percent greater than the basis of the existing deposit; or

(d)

For large telecommunications utilities, if service records for the customer indicates unbilled intraLATA toll activity under the utilities’ tariff and price list is greater than the basis of the prior deposit.

(7)

Paying a deposit does not excuse a customer from complying with the energy or large telecommunications utility’s tariffs or other regulations on file with the Commission, such as the obligation to promptly pay bills.

(8)

An energy or large telecommunications utility may file a tariff that contains less stringent deposit requirements than those specified in this rule.

Source: Rule 860-021-0200 — Establishing Credit for Residential Utility Service, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=860-021-0200.

860‑021‑0000
Applicability of Division 21
860‑021‑0005
Scope of the Rules
860‑021‑0008
Definitions for Regulation of Utility Services
860‑021‑0009
Applications for Utility Service from an Energy or Large Telecommunications Utility
860‑021‑0010
Information for Utility Customers and Applicants
860‑021‑0011
Multilingual Notices
860‑021‑0015
Dispute Resolution
860‑021‑0017
Designation of Third Party to Receive Notices
860‑021‑0019
Restrictions on Entering a Customer Residence
860‑021‑0021
Interruption of Utility Service
860‑021‑0033
Annual Fees Payable to the Commission by an Electric Utility
860‑021‑0034
Annual Fees Payable to the Commission by Gas Utility or Steam Heat Utility
860‑021‑0036
Annual Fees Payable to the Commission by a Large Telecommunications Utility
860‑021‑0037
Estimated Annual Fees Payable to the Commission
860‑021‑0045
Installation of Electric Service
860‑021‑0050
Installation of Gas Service
860‑021‑0051
Main Extensions for Gas Service
860‑021‑0055
Temporary Utility Service
860‑021‑0057
Connection of Residential Energy Utility Service
860‑021‑0120
Meter Readings and Bill Forms
860‑021‑0125
Due and Payable Period
860‑021‑0126
Late-Payment Charge
860‑021‑0130
Meter Test
860‑021‑0135
Adjustment of Utility Bills
860‑021‑0170
Billing Error Reporting
860‑021‑0200
Establishing Credit for Residential Utility Service
860‑021‑0205
Deposit Payment Arrangements for Residential Energy Utility Service
860‑021‑0206
Payment Arrangements for Deposit and Installation Charges for Residential Telecommunications Utility Service
860‑021‑0210
Interest on Deposits for Residential and Nonresidential Utility Service
860‑021‑0215
Refund of Deposits for Residential and Nonresidential Utility Service
860‑021‑0305
Grounds for Disconnecting Utility Service
860‑021‑0310
Voluntary Disconnection of Utility Service
860‑021‑0315
Emergency Disconnection of Utility Service
860‑021‑0320
Disconnection of Service on Weekends and Holidays
860‑021‑0325
Accounts Not Related to Residential Utility Service
860‑021‑0326
Disconnection of Gas or Electric Service to Tenants
860‑021‑0328
Reconnection of Residential Energy Utility Service
860‑021‑0330
Reconnection Fee for Utility Service
860‑021‑0334
Transfer Billings
860‑021‑0335
Refusal of Utility Service
860‑021‑0405
Notice of Pending Disconnection of Residential Electric or Gas Utility Service
860‑021‑0407
Severe Weather Moratorium on Involuntary Disconnection of Residential Electric or Gas Utility Service
860‑021‑0408
Disconnect Reporting Rule
860‑021‑0410
Emergency Medical Certificate for Residential Electric and Gas Service
860‑021‑0414
Equal-Payment Plans for Residential Electric and Gas Service
860‑021‑0415
Time-Payment Agreements for Residential Electric and Gas Service (Nonmedical Certificate Customers)
860‑021‑0420
Field Visit Charge
860‑021‑0505
Disconnection Procedures for All Commercial Electric and Gas Utility Customers and All Customers of Large Telecommunications Utilities
860‑021‑0510
Emergency Medical Certificate for Residential Telecommunications Utility Service
860‑021‑0550
Termination of Local Exchange Residential Service for Telecommunications Customers at Significant Risk
860‑021‑0575
Time Payment Agreements for Large Telecommunications Utilities
860‑021‑0610
Telephone Solicitation Notices by Large Telecommunications Utilities
860‑021‑0620
Customer Notification and Information Delivery Services for Large Telecommunications Utilities
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 860-021-0200’s source at or​.us