4901:1-18-09. Combination utility companies

(A) The residential customers and consumers of a combination utility company that provides both natural gas and electric service shall have the same rights pursuant to Chapter 4901:1-18 of the Administrative Code as customers and consumers who are served by separate natural gas and electric companies. In the event of disconnection or pending disconnection of both gas and electric services, a residential customer of a combination utility company has the right to choose to retain or have reconnected both utility services or one service, either gas or electric.

(B) A combination utility company shall apply the payments from residential customers to their gas and electric accounts separately and shall apportion the payments based on the total balance for each service, including any arrearage plus the current month's charge(s). For purposes of applying these payments:

(1) For customers billed only for services provided by the combination utility company, the utility company shall apply payments first to past due amounts, then to current regulated charges, and finally to any nontariffed charges.

(2) For customers billed by the combination utility company for any competitive services provided by either a competitive retail natural gas supplier and/or a competitive retail electric provider, the utility company shall apply payments as provided for under paragraph (H) of rule 4901:1-10-33 of the Administrative Code.

(C) Whenever a residential customer receiving both gas and electric service from a combination utility company has received a disconnection of service notice, the utility company shall give the customer each of the following options:

(1) An extended payment plan for both gas and electric as provided for in rule 4901:1-18-05 of the Administrative Code.

(2) An extended payment plan to retain either gas or electric service as chosen by the customer. Such extended payment plan shall include an extended payment plan as provided in rule 4901:1-18-05 of the Administrative Code.

(D) If a residential customer of a combination utility company who has entered into one extended payment plan for both gas and electric service receives a disconnection of service notice and notifies the utility company of an inability to pay the full amount due under such plan, the utility company shall offer the customer, if eligible pursuant to paragraph (B) of rule 4901:1-18-05 of the Administrative Code, another payment plan to maintain both services. The utility company shall give the customer the opportunity to retain only one service by paying the defaulted payment plan portion for either the gas or electric service, as selected by the customer.

(E) If both the gas and electric service of a residential customer of a combination utility company have been discontinued for nonpayment, the utility company shall reconnect both services, or either service, as designated by the customer, pursuant to rule 4901:1-18-07 of the Administrative Code.

(F) The combination utility company shall in its disconnection of service notice, as provided for in Chapter 4901:1-18 of the Administrative Code, advise combination residential customers of their rights to select the service(s) for retention or reconnection as provided for in paragraphs (C), (D), and (E) of this rule. The notice shall state with specificity the conditions under which customers may exercise their rights and shall state the telephone number and business address of a utility company representative to be contacted to inquire about those rights.

(G) For a customer who has received a disconnection of service notice and who contacts the combination utility company, the utility company shall inform the customer of the total past due amount for each service, and with respect to the extended payment plans available under this rule, the monthly payment due on the past due amount for each service.

Replaces: 4901:1-18-10

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/24/2014 and 11/24/2019
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 4905.04
Rule Amplifies: 4905.06, 4905.22, 4905.261, 4905.30, 4933.17, 4933.12, 4933.121, 4933.122
Prior Effective Dates: 10/6/82, 9/1/04, 11/1/10

Prior History: (Effective: 11/01/2010
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 11/30/2013
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 4905.04
Rule Amplifies: 4905.06, 4905.22, 4905.30, 4933.17, 4933.122
Prior Effective Dates: 6/6/81, 9/1/04 )