RS 45:1222: Rules and regulations; deferred billing program; discontinuance of service

A.(1) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations to ensure that all utilities subject to its jurisdiction implement a deferred billing program or other similar program that allows eligible customers to pre-enroll with the utility to receive the benefits of such program during energy emergencies.

(2) The rules adopted pursuant to this Subsection shall, at a minimum, do the following:

(a) Require utilities to inform their customers about the deferred billing program to be used during energy emergencies by various means, including but not limited to biannual inserts in all customers' billing statements or by any other means as required by the commission's rules.

(b) Require utilities to adopt application and enrollment procedures, which shall be approved by the commission.

(c) Require utilities to provide customers with adequate means for contacting the utility to enroll in such program.

B. No customer enrolled in a deferred payment or similar program shall have his utility service discontinued as long as he continues to make the required payments pursuant to the applicable program in which he is enrolled.