§280.70. Preferred Payment Date

a)         Intent: An eligible residential customer who is billed monthly and who can demonstrate that his or her primary source of income is derived from a benefit that is received during the 10 day period after the customer's regular due date shall be entitled to a preferred payment date to enable the customer to submit timely payments.

 

b)         Notification: When a customer pays late two times in a 12 month period, the utility shall notify the customer of the availability of a preferred payment date. The utility shall make a record on the customer's account of the notification, and notification shall be made by any of the following methods:

 

1)         Message included in the customer's bill;

 

2)         Separate written communication; or

 

3)         Verbal communication.

 

c)         Eligibility: Residential customers shall be eligible for a preferred payment date if they are included in any one of the following:

 

1)         Customers receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD);

 

2)         Customers receiving benefits from General Assistance or Supplemental Security Income;

 

3)         Customers receiving income from Social Security benefits or Veterans benefits; or

 

4)         Customers receiving unemployment compensation benefits.

 

d)         Options: The utility shall inform an eligible customer of the following options from which the customer may choose:

 

1)         Enter into a budget payment plan with a preferred payment date that is not more than 10 days after the customer's regular billing date and is agreed upon by the customer and the company; or

 

2)         Establish a preferred payment date that shall not be more than 10 days after the customer's regular billing date.

 

e)         Removal: If the customer fails to pay on or before the preferred payment date more than four times in a 12 month period, the utility may remove the customer's account from the preferred payment date and return the customer to the regular bill due date. After the removal of a customer, the utility shall not be obliged to offer the preferred payment date to that same customer for a period of 12 months.