1. (a)

   1. (1) Utilities shall bill customers regularly.
   2. (2) The billing period shall be no less than twenty-five (25) days and no more than thirty-five (35) days unless it is the first or final bill.
2. (b) Utilities shall bill customers within thirty (30) days after a meter reading.

3. (c)

   1. (1) If a utility changes a meter reading route or schedule that results in an alteration of a billing cycle of more than five (5) days, it shall notify affected customers thirty (30) days before the change in the billing cycle.
   2. (2) A utility may notify affected customers by bill insert with the bill preceding the change.

4. (d)

   1. (1) If payment is initially made at a business office, billing records shall show the date payment is received.
   2. (2) If payment is initially made to an authorized payment agent before the utility’s close of business on the due date, billing records may show the date the payment was posted as long as the account record shows that the payment was not late.
5. (e) If a utility discovers a billing error, it shall promptly notify customers who may be affected.

Codification Notes: This section was promulgated as Rule 5.03 of the General Service Rules prior to codification in the Code of Arkansas Rules.