23 CAR § 455-608. Payment requirements to prevent suspension

(a) A customer must pay the utility or its authorized agent before the utility’s close of business on the last day to pay as printed on the most recent shut-off notice to prevent suspension. (b) The utility may require the customer to pay any applicable approved collection fee or late charge to prevent suspension. (c) A utility shall not require a customer to pay for usage that has not been billed, or that has been billed but is not yet overdue, to prevent suspension. (d) After the utility’s close of business on the last day to pay printed on the most recent shut-off notice, payment made within twenty-four (24) hours of a scheduled shut off shall not affect the right of the utility to suspend service and charge a reconnect fee if the service was suspended. (e)(1) A utility shall not refuse to accept payment made on an account after the utility’s close of business on the last day to pay printed on the most recent shut-off notice. (2) However, a utility is not required to reconnect service if the payment made after that time is less than the amount required by the utility before reconnection.