Okla. Admin. Code § 165:45-11-42

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 165:45-11-42 - Penalty or charge for late payment and payment by negotiable instrument

(a)Late payment penalty. A utility may make a penalty charge in an amount not to exceed one and one-half percent of the charges for gas service for delay in receipt of payment by the utility past the due date of the bill. If a utility, prior to the effective date of the 1996 amendments to this Section, is charging a penalty in excess of one and one-half percent of the charges for gas service, such utility will be allowed to continue to collect the previously approved percentage until such time as its rates are next reviewed by the Commission. The due date shall be stated on the face of the bill and shall not be earlier than ten (10) calendar days after the bill was mailed or provided electronically to customers who had made an affirmative election to receive electronic notification of such information, except that for residential consumers, the due date shall not be earlier than twenty (20) calendar days after the bill is mailed, or provided electronically to customers who had made an affirmative election to receive electronic notification of such information. If no late charge is imposed, the due date of a bill shall not be less than fourteen (14) calendar days after the date a bill is mailed. The late payment penalty may be applied at any time after the due date to any unpaid balance due at the time of assessment.

(b)Delay of monthly bill. Utilities offering billing programs that delay issuing the monthly bill (i.e., summary billing, preferred due date billing, etc.) may request an earlier due date.

(c)Payment by negotiable instrument. The utility shall not refuse to accept payment by check from any consumer unless the utility has, within the preceding twelve (12) months, received as tendered payment of the consumer's account two (2) or more negotiable instruments which were dishonored by the financial institution on which they were drawn. If payment by a negotiable instrument is given in response to a disconnect notice, the utility may contact the financial institution involved for verification of sufficient funds in the account to cover the negotiable instrument. If the account does not contain sufficient funds for payment, the utility may reject the offered negotiable instrument. The utility may make a charge outlined in its tariffs for negotiable instruments which are dishonored.

Okla. Admin. Code § 165:45-11-42

Amended at 13 Ok Reg 3259, eff 7-25-96

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/12/2014