Section 736.660  Discontinuance or Refusal of Service

a)         The WETC may discontinue or refuse service for any of the following reasons listed in this subsection:

1)         Failure to make or increase a deposit pursuant to Sections 736.630, 736.640, and 736.650;

2)         Failure to pay a past due bill owed to the WETC;

3)         Failure to make payment in accordance with the terms of a deferred payment agreement;

4)         When a WETC has reason to believe that a customer has used a device or scheme to obtain service without payment and where the WETC has so notified the customer prior to disconnection;

5)         Violation of or noncompliance with a Commission order;

6)         Violation of or noncompliance with any rules of the WETC for which the WETC is authorized to discontinue service for violation or noncompliance on the part of the customer or user;

7)         Violation of or noncompliance with municipal ordinances and/or other laws pertaining to service; or

8)         The customer's use of equipment adversely affects the WETC's service to others.  This disconnection may be done without notice to the customer or user.

b)         Discontinuance procedures

1)         The WETC may discontinue service to a customer for nonpayment only after it has mailed or delivered by other means a written notice of discontinuance, substantially in the form of Appendix A.  Service shall not be discontinued until at least five days after delivery of this notice or eight days after the date on a mailed notice.  The notice of discontinuance shall be delivered separately from any other written matter or bill.

2)         Notice of discontinuance shall not be mailed before the third business day following the due date shown on the bill.

3)         Notwithstanding anything else in this Section, the WETC may immediately discontinue service to a customer when, upon investigation, it has reason to believe that a customer has used a device or scheme to obtain service without payment and the WETC has notified the customer prior to disconnection.

c)         The notice shall remain in effect for 20 days after the date of discontinuance shown on the notice.  The WETC shall not discontinue service beyond the 20 day period until at least five days after delivery of a new written notice of discontinuance or eight days after the date of a mailed notice.  This provision shall not apply with respect to discontinuance pursuant to subsection (a)(4).

d)         In addition to the written notice, the WETC shall attempt to advise the customer when service is scheduled for discontinuance.  The WETC shall not deliver more than two consecutive notices of discontinuance for past due bill without engaging in collection activity with the customer.

e)         Timing of the discontinuance

1)         Services may be discontinued only during hours when a WETC has personnel on duty who are able to restore service within three hours after receipt of payment, at any standard restoration charge.

2)         Each WETC shall have personnel authorized to reconnect service available until at least 5 p.m. on business days if the conditions cited as grounds for discontinuance are corrected and any restoration charge is paid.

f)         Service shall not be discontinued, and shall be restored if discontinued, where a present customer who is indebted to the WETC enters into a payment arrangement pursuant to Section 736.620, and complies with its terms.

g)         Service shall not be discontinued, and shall be restored if discontinued, for any reason that is the subject of a dispute or complaint pursuant to Section 736.670 and/or 736.680 while the dispute or complaint is pending and the complainant has complied with the provisions of these Sections.

h)         Service shall not be discontinued for an amount due the WETC that has not been included in a discontinuance notice.

i)          Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent immediate discontinuance of service without notice or the refusal of service for reasons of public safety or health.