Title 3 . Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

Chapter 52 . Telecommunications

Section 430. General billing and collection requirements

3 AAC 52.430. General billing and collection requirements

(a) A utility shall bill monthly for services rendered. Charges for service may commence when the service is installed and energized.

(b) Each bill for service must contain the following minimum information:

(1) customer's name;

(2) customer's service account number;

(3) rate schedule designation, if applicable;

(4) utility telephone number;

(5) meter reading at the start of the billing period;

(6) date and meter reading at the end of the billing period and number of days in the billing period;

(7) billing date;

(8) amount due and date after which payment is past due;

(9) past due amount, if applicable;

(10) delinquent amount, if applicable;

(11) late charge and finance charge, if applicable;

(12) customer charge, if applicable;

(13) total kilowatt-hour consumption;

(14) monthly kilowatt maximum demand and associated demand charge, if applicable;

(15) fuel or energy surcharge rate and associated total charge, if applicable;

(16) power cost equalization amount and statutory notice statement, if applicable;

(17) levelized billing amount due and accumulated variation in actual versus levelized billing amount, if applicable; and

(18) any other adjustment factor, applicable.

(c) A bill for utility service is due and payable on the date rendered, as designated under (g) of this section, but may not be considered past due or subject to a late charge or finance charge if paid within 25 days after the date rendered.

(d) All amounts due for service from one billing cycle which are not received by the utility as of the close of the subsequent billing cycle must be separately identified as past due on the subsequent monthly bill. Any late charge and finance charge must also be separately identified.

(e) All past due amounts and associated late and finance charges from one billing cycle which are not received by the utility as of the close of the following billing cycle must be separately identified on the next monthly bill and defined for billing purposes as "delinquent." A customer account with any unpaid delinquent charges is subject to disconnection under 3 AAC 52.450.

(f) A utility's tariff may provide for a finance charge for any payment that is past due or delinquent. The tariffed interest rate may not exceed the rate set by AS 45.45.010 (a). A single late charge may be imposed when the account first becomes past due.

(g) A utility's tariff may designate either the postmark date or the billing date shown on the bill as the day the bill is rendered. However, the billing date may not differ from the postmark date by more than three working days.

(h) All payments by a customer must be made at, or mailed to, the office of the utility or to the utility's authorized representative.

(i) A customer's failure to receive a bill or notice that has been properly addressed and placed in the United States mail does not prevent the bill from becoming past due or delinquent, or excuse the customer's responsibility for payment.

(j) A customer who tenders a nonsufficient funds check is not relieved of the obligation to pay the utility under the original terms of the bill nor is that customer entitled to defer the utility's right to disconnect service for nonpayment of bills.

(k) A utility shall accommodate a customer's request to pay for utility services in advance.

( l ) If a single application for service is made by two or more individuals together, a utility may collect the full amount owed from any one of the applicants. A utility shall notify customers of this provision at the time of application for service.

(m) If a customer, either in person or in writing, requests that service be disconnected, the utility may hold that customer responsible for all services up to the later of the date the disconnection is to be made or three working days after the customer places the request.

(n) Except as provided for in 3 AAC 52.465, a utility may render a "make-up" bill, without finance charge, for service that has not been billed as a result of utility billing error or more than two consecutive estimated bills. Make-up bills are subject to the following restrictions:

(1) the initial make-up bill must be issued within six months after provision of the previously unbilled service; and

(2) the period for payment of the make-up bill may, at the option of the customer,

(A) extend at least as long as the period during which the excess amount accrued; or

(B) extend as long as necessary so that the quantity of service billed in any one billing period is not greater than 150 percent of the normal estimated quantity for that period.

History: Eff. 1/1/87, Register 100

Authority: AS 42.05.141

AS 42.05.151

AS 42.05.291