Section 16482 Of Article 3. Utility Works And Services From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 3.
16482
. (a) No district furnishing its inhabitants with light,
water, power, heat, or means for the disposition of garbage, sewage,
or refuse matter may terminate residential service for nonpayment of
a delinquent account unless the district first gives notice of the
delinquency and impending termination, as provided in Section
16482.1.
(b) No district shall terminate residential service for nonpayment
in any of the following situations:
(1) During the pendency of an investigation by the district of a
customer dispute or complaint.
(2) When a customer has been granted an extension of the period
for payment of a bill.
(3) On the certification of a licensed physician and surgeon that
to do so will be life threatening to the customer and the customer is
financially unable to pay for service within the normal payment
period and is willing to enter into an amortization agreement with
the district pursuant to subdivision (e) with respect to all charges
that the customer is unable to pay prior to delinquency.
(c) Any residential customer who has initiated a complaint or
requested an investigation within five days of receiving the
contested bill, or who has, within 13 days of mailing of the notice
required by subdivision (a), made a request for extension of the
payment period of a bill asserted to be beyond the means of the
customer to pay in full during the normal period for payment, shall
be given an opportunity for review of the complaint, investigation,
or request by a review manager of the district. The review shall
include consideration of whether the customer shall be permitted to
amortize the unpaid balance of the account over a reasonable period
of time, not to exceed 12 months. No termination of service shall be
effected for any customer complying with an amortization agreement if
the customer also keeps the account current as charges accrue in
each subsequent billing period.
(d) Any customer whose complaint or request for an investigation
pursuant to subdivision (c) has resulted in an adverse determination
by the district may appeal the determination to the board. Any
subsequent appeal of the dispute or complaint to the board is not
subject to this section.
(e) Any customer meeting the requirements of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (b) shall, upon request, be permitted to amortize, over a
period not to exceed 12 months, the unpaid balance of any bill
asserted to be beyond the means of the customer to pay within the
normal period for payment.