Section 480-100-148 - Service responsibility(1)Customer responsibility. The customer must notify the electric utility, in writing, prior to all changes to the customer's equipment or usage that will materially affect the service to be rendered. The customer must give such notice within a reasonable time so the utility can provide the necessary facilities and acquire additional power supply, if needed. The charge for such necessary facilities, if any, must be in accordance with the utility's filed tariff.(2)Electric utility responsibility. Each electric utility: (a) Must install and maintain monitoring equipment at appropriate locations within its system in order to determine the operating characteristics of the system. The commission may require the utility to provide additional equipment in connection with performing special investigations, if economically feasible;(b) Must promptly notify all affected customers of any substantial change to the service that would affect the efficiency of operation or the adjustment of the customer's equipment. If an adjustment to the customer's equipment is necessary, the cost may be recovered in accordance with the utility's tariff, except that, when the customer has been notified of a change in service prior to receiving service or when such change is required by law, the customer must bear all costs in connection with making changes to the customer's own equipment.(c) Must maintain its plant in such a condition that will enable it to furnish safe, adequate, and efficient service.(d) Must make those efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to avoid interruptions of service and, when such interruptions occur, to reestablish service with a minimum of delay. Interruptions as used in this subsection do not refer to the discontinuance of service to those customers receiving service under an interruptible service schedule. When it is necessary for an electric utility to make repairs to or to change its facilities, the utility may, without incurring any liability, suspend service for such periods as may be reasonably necessary and in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience to customers. When practicable, such interruption will be during the working hours regularly maintained by the utility. The utility must individually notify police and fire departments affected by such a suspension. All customers affected by a scheduled interruption associated with facilities other than meters, will be given notification through newspapers, radio announcements, or other means at least one day in advance.
(e) Must keep a record of all interruptions of service affecting a substantial number of customers, including in such record the location, the date and time, the duration, and, as accurately as possible, the cause of each interruption. Utilities must submit copies of such records to the commission upon request.Wash. Admin. Code § 480-100-148
Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, and 81.04.160. 02-21-066 (Docket No. A-020405, General Order No. R-504), § 480-100-148, filed 10/16/02, effective 11/16/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and 80.04.160. 01-11-004 (Docket No. UE-990473, General Order No. R-482), § 480-100-148, filed 5/3/01, effective 6/3/01.