R12‑08  DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE FOR NONPAYMENT

No utility shall discontinue service to a customer or impose toll denial for nonpayment of bill without first having diligently tried to induce the customer to pay the same and until after at least five (5) calendar days written notice of discontinuance of service to the customer.  The written notice may be given by first-class mail, or by other delivery to the premises served, or by other legal means of service of process, and the five (5) days' notice period shall begin to run from the day following deposit of the notice in the post office or from the day of otherwise delivery of the notice to the premises served, or from the day of other legal service.  Provided, however, that in the case of any customer who has a record of abuse of or excessive use of metered or toll service for which the customer's deposit would not furnish security for such five (5) days' notice period, service may be discontinued after 24-hour notice.  Further provided, that in the case of any residential telephone customer who has a record of abuse of or excessive use of toll service for which the customer's deposit would not furnish security for such five (5) days' notice period, local service may not be discontinued but toll service may be globally denied after 24-hour notice.  A report of all such service disconnections or toll denials made on such 24-hour notice under this proviso shall be filed with the Utilities Commission within thirty (30) days after the discontinuance of service.

(NCUC Docket No. M‑100, Sub 28, 5/6/70; NCUC Docket No. P-100, Sub 140, 4/3/00.)