The utility shall bill each customer as promptly as possible and render a receipt of payment upon request.

103-532.1. Customer Bill Forms

The bill shall show:

1. (a) The gross and/or net amount of the bill;
2. (b) Person to whom bill is sent;
3. (c) Dates for which bill is rendered;
4. (d) The applicable rate schedule, or identification of the rate schedule. If the actual rates are not shown, the bill shall carry a statement to the effect that the applicable rate schedule will be furnished on request;
5. (e) Telephone number where utility can be contacted during regular office hours and non-office hours;
6. (f) Date payment is due; and

7. (g) The telephone number and email address of the Office of Regulatory Staff.

   103-532.2. Late Payment Charges.

   A maximum of one and one-half percent (1 and 1/2%) may be added to any unpaid balance not paid within 25 days of the billing date to cover the cost of collection and carrying accounts in arrears. This method of late-payment charge will be made in lieu of any other penalty.

   103-532.3. Payment by Check.

   The utility at its option for good cause may refuse to accept a check tendered as payment on a customer’s account and require payment in cash or other certified funds. Good cause must be justified by a sewerage utility by evidencing a credit history problem or by evidencing insufficient funds of the utility customer or applicant. For the purposes of this regulation, the sewerage utility may not consider indebtedness that was incurred by the customer or any member of the customer’s household more than six (6) years prior to the time of application.

   103-532.4. Charges for Disconnection and Reconnection.

   Whenever service is disconnected for violation of rules and regulations, nonpayment of bills or fraudulent use of service, or at the request of the customer the utility shall not be required to reconnect such service until any arrearages have been paid and a reconnection fee of two-hundred-fifty dollars ($250.00) has been paid to the utility. A reconnection fee shall be reduced to thirty-five dollars ($35.00) when disconnection has been made by the use of an elder valve or similar device.

   103-532.5. Deferred Payment Plan.

   The utility shall provide for the arrangement of a deferred payment plan to enable a residential customer to make payment by installments where such customer is unable to pay the amount due for service. The deferred payment plan shall require the affected customer to maintain the customer’s account current and pay not less than 1/6 of the outstanding balance for a period not to exceed six months. The outstanding balance may include the late payment charge authorized by R.103-532.2. Service to such customer shall not be terminated unless the utility has informed the customer that such deferred payment plan is available. A deferred payment plan is any agreement to extend or defer a payment cut-off date by more than 5 work days. If a customer fails to conform to the terms and conditions of such deferred payment plan, the utility may terminate service upon fifteen days written notice, with copies of such termination notice mailed to DHEC and the ORS.

HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 14, Issue No. 3, eff March 23, 1990; State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 5, eff May 25, 2007; SCSR 48-5 Doc. No. 5183, eff May 24, 2024.