N.H. Admin. Code § En 1205.03

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section En 1205.03 - Disconnections of Service to Medical Emergency Customers

(a) A utility shall not disconnect service to a customer who has provided current verification of a medical emergency and is complying with a payment arrangement.

(b) If a customer does not enter into a payment arrangement or does not comply with the terms of a payment arrangement negotiated in accordance with En 1203.07, the utility may seek permission to disconnect service to the customer.

(c) When requesting permission from the department to disconnect service, the utility shall provide the department with the following information:

(1) The name of the customer or customers:

(2) The service address;

(3) The mailing address if different from the service address;

(4) The customer's account number;

(5) The requested date for disconnection;

(6) The history of the medical emergency certifications on the account;

(7) The amount of the arrearage;

(8) The amounts and dates of the last 12 payments received by the utility;

(9) The amount of the utility's proposed payment arrangement;

(10) The last 12 months of billing history;

(11) Summary of collection activities on the account;

(12) The number of children in the household under the age of 5, if known;

(13) The number of household members over the age of 65, if known;

(14) The existence and nature of any financial hardship, if known, as documented on an annual basis by the customer claiming financial hardship; and

(15) Any other information the utility deems pertinent.

(d) When the utility seeks department authorization to disconnect service pursuant to this section, it shall notify the customer in writing of its request and provide a copy of the request for authorization at the same time.

(e) Notwithstanding any other rule to the contrary, the department shall not approve disconnection of service to customers with a current medical emergency certification when the customer has made a good faith effort to make payments towards the utility bill.

(f) The department shall provide an opportunity for the customer to respond to the utility's request to disconnect service under this section.

(g) The department's decision on a utility's request to disconnect under this rule shall be:

(1) Valid through November 15 of the year in which it was issued; and

(2) Issued in writing and sent to the utility and the customer.

(h) Upon the department's approval of the utility's request to disconnect service, the utility shall provide notice to the customer as required in En 1203.11 prior to disconnecting service.

N.H. Admin. Code § En 1205.03

Derived from Number 24, Filed June 13, 2024, Proposed by #13986, Effective 5/30/2024, Expires5/30/2034 (see Revision Note at chapter heading for En 1200).