23 CAR § 466-608. Payment requirements to prevent suspension

(a) A customer must pay the LEC or its authorized agent before the LEC’s close of business on the last day to pay as printed on the most recent shut-off notice to prevent suspension. (b) The LEC may require the customer to pay any applicable late charge to prevent suspension. (c) An LEC 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 LEC’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 LEC to suspend service and charge a reconnect fee if the service was suspended. (e)(1) An LEC shall not refuse to accept payment made on an account after the LEC’s close of business on the last day to pay printed on the most recent shut-off notice. (2) However, an LEC is not required to reconnect service if the payment made after that time is less than the amount required by the LEC before reconnection.