OAR 860-021-0505
Disconnection Procedures for All Commercial Electric and Gas Utility Customers and All Customers of Large Telecommunications Utilities


(1)

This rule applies to the involuntary termination of all commercial electric and natural gas customers and all utility services provided by large telecommunications utilities.

(2)

The energy or large telecommunications utility must provide written notice to the customer at least five business days before disconnecting service except when the disconnection is made:

(a)

At the request of the customer; or

(b)

When the facilities provided are unsafe creating an emergency endangering life or property under OAR 860-021-0315 (Emergency Disconnection of Utility Service).

(3)

The notice must be printed in bold face type and must state, in language that is as clear and simple as possible:

(a)

The reasons for the proposed disconnection;

(b)

The earliest date for disconnection;

(c)

The amount to be paid to avoid disconnection of regulated services;

(d)

An explanation of the Commission’s complaint process and the Commission’s toll-free number; and

(e)

An explanation of the availability of an emergency medical certificate for local exchange residential telecommunications service customers under OAR 860-021-0510 (Emergency Medical Certificate for Residential Telecommunications Utility Service).

(4)

The energy or large telecommunications utility may not send the notice before the due date for payment for the services billed.

(5)

The energy or large telecommunications utility must serve the notice of disconnection in person or send it by first class mail to the last known addresses of the customer and the customer’s designated representative. Service is complete on the date of personal delivery or, if service is by U S Mail, on the day after the U S Postal Service postmark or the day after the date of postage metering.

(6)

If a premises visit is required to complete disconnection, the energy or large telecommunications utility must make a good-faith effort to personally contact the customer or a resident at the service address to be disconnected. If the energy or large telecommunications utility’s attempt to make personal contact fails, the utility must leave a notice in a conspicuous place at the premises informing the customer that service has been disconnected.

(7)

In lieu of permanent disconnection, a large telecommunications utility may temporarily curtail service by preventing the transmission of incoming telephone messages and/or outgoing toll messages while continuing to let the customer make outgoing local messages. Temporary curtailment of service, as defined in this section, shall be permitted only upon five days’ written notice as set forth in section (3) of this rule. The notice shall state that permanent disconnection will follow within ten days unless the customer makes full payment of any overdue amount or any other obligation.

(8)

Except for telecommunications service provided by an office incapable of restricting toll service, a large telecommunications utility shall not disconnect or deny local exchange service for an applicant’s or customer’s failure to pay for services not under the local exchange utility’s tariff or price list. A telecommunications utility may limit access to toll and special services using the “9XX” prefix or Numbering Plan Area (NPA) for the failure to pay for such services.

(9)

A large telecommunications utility may not disconnect or deny local service to customers or applicants, who are eligible to receive OTAP, for failure to pay toll charges.

(10)

A large telecommunications utility may request a limited waiver of the requirement of section (9) of this rule upon meeting all the following conditions:

(a)

Showing the large telecommunications utility would incur substantial costs in complying with the requirement;

(b)

Demonstrating the large telecommunications utility offers toll-blocking services to customers identified in section (9) of this rule; and

(c)

Showing that telecommunications subscribership among low-income customers in its service area in Oregon is at least as high as the national subscribership level for low-income customers.

Source: Rule 860-021-0505 — Disconnection Procedures for All Commercial Electric and Gas Utility Customers and All Customers of Large Telecommunications Utilities, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=860-021-0505.

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 860-021-0505’s source at or​.us