Section 810-RICR-10-00-1.12 - Proof of Financial HardshipA. Each public utility customer who seeks enrollment in a residential payment plan under the financial hardship category shall annually affirm in writing that his or her family or group income is at or below the annual or quarterly gross income levels established for financial hardship in these Rules and Regulations. The utility will provide customers with a copy of the Financial Hardship Statement (See Form V in § 1.21 of this Part (Appendix B)) on an annual basis in a separate mailing. The notice included in the mailing will explain the purpose of the Statement and indicate that the Statement must be returned within forty (40) days of the mailing date.B. Affirmation forms for implementation of paragraph 6A above shall be prepared by each public utility and shall be approved prior to use by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.C. If the utility has reason to believe that a customer, who has applied for enrollment, or who has enrolled, in a residential payment plan under the financial hardship category, does not in fact qualify for the financial hardship category, the public utility shall inform the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers shall then investigate and promptly determine whether the customer qualifies for the financial hardship category. In the course of its investigation the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers may require that the customer provide copies of such documentation as is necessary to accurately establish the customer's annual or quarterly family or group income. The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers shall send written notice of the results of its investigation to the public utility and customer along with a notice of the customer's right to appeal such a decision pursuant to § 1.13(D)(2) of this Part. The public utility and customer shall abide by the results of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers investigation unless revised on appeal.D. Within ten (10) days after receiving written notice pursuant to § 1.12(C) of this Part above, a customer or public utility aggrieved by the results of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers investigation shall request a hearing before the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers or designee of the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. Such hearing shall be conducted in accord with § 1.14 of this Part.E. During the pendency of a Division of Public Utilities and Carriers investigation pursuant to § 1.12(C) of this Part above, or during the pendency of a hearing pursuant to § 1.12(D) of this Part above, the public utility may not refuse the customer enrollment in a residential payment plan under the financial hardship category if that customer complies with all other requirements of these Rules and Regulations.810 R.I. Code R. 810-RICR-10-00-1.12