News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
521-4180, FAX: (405) 522-1623, www.occ.state.ok.us
August 16,
2001
COMMISSION VOTES TO MOVE
FORWARD ON POSSIBLE CHANGES TO RULES GOVERNING DISCONNECTION
(Oklahoma
City) After hearing from the public and utility representatives, the Oklahoma
Corporation Commission today unanimously approved a motion to consider changes
in the rules regarding disconnection of utility services to residential
customers.
Just
a few of the examples of the options to be considered by the Commission:
1)
Make changes in requirements regarding who the utility must notify
before a disconnection takes place, and how such notification is made (i.e.,
requiring personal contact with the person or a designated representative).
2)
Develop and/or revise service tariffs to reduce rates for qualifying
families and individuals.
3)
Develop optional tariffs that would allow for additional physical
equipment to be installed on the consumers cooling and heating equipment to
limit usage, enabling limited use to heat and/or cool their home while avoiding
the danger of a running up a utility bill that is already overdue.
4)
Mount aggressive education campaigns targeting consumers about their
rights under the rules, and utility company personnel about their
responsibilities under the rules.
5) Consider changes to the various methods under
which utilities recoup non-payments from customers, through extended or
otherwise structured payment plans, requiring the utility to help the party in
question make contact with such funds or organizations that might be able to
help.
Technically,
the Commission today voted to open what’s called a Notice of Inquiry regarding
the disconnection rules. Under state law, this is required to set in motion the
process under which the exact proposed changes in the rules will be formulated.
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