OAR 860-034-0260
Disconnection Procedures for Commercial and Residential Utility Customers


(1)

This rule applies to the involuntary termination of all utility service provided by a small telecommunications utility.

(2)

The small 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 boldface type and must state 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 utility 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 service customers under OAR 860-034-0270 (Emergency Medical Certificate for Residential Utility Service).

(4)

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

(5)

The small 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. Notice is served on the date of personal delivery or, if delivery is by U S Mail, on the day after the U S Postal Service postmark or postage metering.

(6)

If a premises visit is required to complete disconnection, the small 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 small 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 small telecommunications utility may temporarily curtail utility 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 utility 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 utility service provided by a small telecommunications utility to its customers served by an office incapable of restricting toll service, a small telecommunications utility shall not disconnect or deny local exchange service for an applicant’s or customer’s failure to pay for utility services not under the local exchange utility’s tariff or price list. A small 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 small 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 small telecommunications utility may request a limited waiver of the requirement of section (9) of this rule under OAR 860-034-0010 (Scope of the Rules)(1), upon meeting all the following conditions:

(a)

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

(b)

Demonstrating the small 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 860-034-0260 — Disconnection Procedures for Commercial and Residential Utility Customers, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=860-034-0260.

860‑034‑0010
Scope of the Rules
860‑034‑0015
Through Service
860‑034‑0020
Definitions for OAR 860-034-0030 through 860-034-0290
860‑034‑0030
Applications for Service from a Small Telecommunications Utility
860‑034‑0040
Information for Utility Customers and Applicants
860‑034‑0050
Multilingual Notices
860‑034‑0060
Dispute Resolution
860‑034‑0070
Designation of Third Party to Receive Notices
860‑034‑0080
Restrictions on Entering a Customer Residence
860‑034‑0090
Interruption of Utility Service
860‑034‑0095
Annual Fees Payable to the Commission by a Small Telecommunications Utility
860‑034‑0097
Estimated Annual Fees Payable to the Commission
860‑034‑0100
Temporary Utility Service
860‑034‑0110
Due and Payable Period
860‑034‑0120
Late-Payment Charge
860‑034‑0130
Adjustment of Utility Bills
860‑034‑0140
Establishing Credit for Residential Utility Service
860‑034‑0150
Payment Arrangements for Deposit and Installation Charges for Residential Utility Service
860‑034‑0160
Interest on Deposits for Residential and Nonresidential Utility Service
860‑034‑0170
Refund of Deposits for Residential and Nonresidential Utility Service
860‑034‑0180
Grounds for Disconnecting Utility Service
860‑034‑0190
Voluntary Disconnection of Utility Service
860‑034‑0200
Emergency Disconnection of Utility Service
860‑034‑0210
Disconnection of Utility Service on Weekends and Holidays
860‑034‑0220
Accounts Not Related to Residential Utility Service
860‑034‑0230
Reconnection Fee for Utility Service
860‑034‑0240
Transfer Billings
860‑034‑0250
Refusal of Utility Service
860‑034‑0260
Disconnection Procedures for Commercial and Residential Utility Customers
860‑034‑0270
Emergency Medical Certificate for Residential Utility Service
860‑034‑0275
Termination of Local Exchange Residential Service for Telecommunications Customers at Significant Risk
860‑034‑0276
Time Payment Agreements for Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0280
Telephone Solicitation Notices by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0290
Customer Notification and Information Delivery Services for Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0300
Tariffs of Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0310
Announcement of Rate Increases by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0320
Notice to Interested Persons of Tariffs Filed Under ORS 759.175 by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0325
Requests to Abandon, Exempt from Regulation, or Price-List Regulated Telecommunications Services
860‑034‑0330
Relating to City Privilege Taxes, Fees, and Other Assessments Imposed Upon a Small Telecommunications Utility or Type 2 Cooperative
860‑034‑0340
Relating to Local Government Fees, Taxes, and Other Assessments Imposed Upon a Small Telecommunications Utility or Type 2 Cooperative
860‑034‑0350
Forced Conversion of Communication Facilities for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0380
Maintenance of Plant and Equipment by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0390
Retail Telecommunications Service Standards for Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0392
Accounting for Directors’ Fees by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0393
Uniform System of Accounts for Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0394
Allocation of Costs by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0395
Annual Report Requirements for Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0396
Reporting of Affiliated Transactions by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0397
Use of Deferred Accounting by Small Telecommunications Utilities
860‑034‑0400
Maps and Records of Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0420
Location of Underground Facilities
860‑034‑0430
Construction, Safety, and Reporting Standards for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0440
Applicability and Formal Requirements for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0450
Applications for Approval of Contracts to Avoid or Eliminate Duplicate Utility Service for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0460
Applications for Approval of Amendments to Contracts to Avoid or Eliminate Duplicate Utility Service for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0470
Applications for Allocation of Exclusively Served Territory by Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0480
Applications for Allocation of Unserved Territory for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0490
Applications to Transfer Rights to Allocated Territory for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0495
Application by an Unserved Person for Service from a Small Telecommunications Utility
860‑034‑0505
Attachments to Poles and Conduits Owned by Public, Telecommunications, and Consumer-Owned Utilities
860‑034‑0580
Preservation and Destruction of Records for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0600
Definitions for Depreciation Guidelines for Small Telecommunications Utilities and Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0610
Revision of Depreciation Guidelines
860‑034‑0620
Filing Deadlines for a Request for an Exception by a Small Telecommunications Utility or Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0630
Information to be Included With a Request for an Exception Filed Under OAR 860-034-0620
860‑034‑0640
Review by Staff of a Request for an Exception Filed Under OAR 860-034-0620
860‑034‑0650
Petition to Open Depreciation Docket
860‑034‑0660
Review Procedure and Schedule for a Request for an Exception Filed Under OAR 860-034-0650
860‑034‑0670
Extension of Time for a Request for an Exception
860‑034‑0710
Extension of Time for a Request for an Exception Filed Under OAR 860-034-0650
860‑034‑0720
Announcement of Rate Increases for Joint Rates or Rates Charged for Through Services by Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0725
Telephone Solicitation Notices by Telecommunications Cooperatives
860‑034‑0730
Uniform System of Accounts for Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0740
Allocation of Costs by Type 2 Cooperatives
860‑034‑0750
Annual Report Requirements for Type 2 Cooperatives
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 860-034-0260’s source at or​.us