Filing Requirements for Sewer Utility Tariff Schedules

PURPOSE: This rule prescribes the form, contents and procedures for filing tariff schedules by all sewer corporations under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. (1) Each sewer utility shall have on file with this commission a tariff schedule and all forms of contracts and agreements of whatever nature made by such sewer utility for each and every kind of service which it renders. For purposes of this rule the term tariff schedule shall include: schedules showing all rates and charges; all rules relating to rates, charges of service; all general privileges granted or allowed; and all maps of the area served or professed to be served and the legal description thereof. (2) All tariff schedules now on file with the commission, not in accordance with this rule, shall be reissued in the form and manner prescribed and all tariff schedules issued after March 2, 1973 must conform to this rule. (3) Tariff schedules shall be drawn up substantially in accordance with this commission’s Form No. 13 and shall be plainly printed or typewritten on good quality paper of eight and one-half inches by eleven inches (8 1/2" × 11") in book, sheet or pamphlet form. A loose-leaf plan may be used so changes can be made by reprinting and inserting a single leaf. When the loose-leaf plan is used, all sheets, except the title page sheet, must show in the marginal space at top of page the name of the sewer utility issuing, the PSC number of schedule and the number of the page. In the marginal space at bottom of sheet shall be shown the date of issue, the effective date and the name, title and address of the officer by whom the schedule is issued. All tariff schedules shall bear a number with the prefix PSC Mo. No. _____. Tariff schedules for each sewer utility shall be numbered in consecutive serial order beginning with 1. If a tariff schedule or part thereof is canceled, a new schedule or part thereof (sheet(s) if loose-leaf) will refer to the schedule canceled, by its PSC number; thus, the PSC Mo. No. _____ canceling PSC Mo. No. _____. (4) Each schedule shall be accompanied by a letter of transmittal, in duplicate if receipt is desired, which shall be prepared consistent with the format designated by the commission. (5) Each sewer utility shall keep a copy of its tariff schedule open for public inspection and readily accessible to any member of the public upon demand during business hours at its principal operating office and in each division office which is now or may be established. Any proposed changes in the tariff schedule shall be readily accessible to any member of the public upon demand in the offices of the sewer utility for a period of thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of such change. If, for good cause shown, the commission allows a change without thirty (30) days’ notice, the sewer utility shall display such proposed change at its office for the period prescribed by the commission prior to the effective date of the change. (6) The following shall apply to all sewer utilities operating in the state of Missouri and each utility shall have on file as a part of its tariff schedule, rules which substantially conform thereto: (A) Each sewer utility shall have on file with the commission rules relating to advance payments and deposits. If a utility requires advance payments for sewer service, it will not be permitted to require the customer to make a deposit to insure payment of bills. If the utility does not require advance payments for sewer service, it may require from any customer at any time a cash deposit, provided that the amount of any such deposit so required shall not exceed the amount due for service for one (1) billing period plus thirty (30) days; (B) Interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum covering the period of the deposit shall be paid by the utility to the customer or applied to the customer’s account, upon return of any deposit to the customer or the application of such deposit to the customer’s account; provided the cash deposit remains with the utility for a period of at least twelve (12) months; (C) These provisions shall not apply to any deposits or guarantees made by the customer for the purpose of securing an extension of or additions to a utility’s collecting system in accordance with the utility’s rules covering the extensions as filed with this commission; (D) Interest shall not accrue on any cash deposit after the date the utility has made a bona fide effort to return such deposit to the depositor. The utility shall keep in its records evidence of its effort to return such deposit; (E) Each utility shall issue to every customer from whom a deposit is received, a nonassignable receipt; (F) Each utility shall maintain accurate records of customer deposits which include the original amount, the date of the deposit and any transaction relating to the deposit or interest on the deposit; and (G) If a customer requests discontinuance of sewer service to the premises, the utility will refund the unearned portion of any advance payment on a pro rata basis, provided the customer has given proper notice to the utility as required by its rules on file with the Public Service Commission. (7) Each sewer utility shall file with the commission a sample of each type of customer bill form used by the utility, which shall provide for inclusion of the gross and/or net amount of the bill and the date by which the customer must pay the bill in order to benefit from any discount or to avoid any penalty. The utility shall specify its billing period, which shall in no case exceed a period of six (6) months. (8) Each utility shall specify the conditions under which it may discontinue service to a customer, which conditions may include, but not necessarily be limited to, nonpayment for services rendered in accordance with the tariff schedule on file for the utility with this commission and noncompliance with the utility’s rules filed with the commission. (9) Each utility shall include in its rules that prior to physical discontinuance of service, the utility will mail at least thirty (30) days’ written notice to the customers by certified mail return receipt requested and a copy of the written notice will be forwarded to this commission. The written notice shall state the violation and service may be discontinued at any time after the expiration of the specified period, provided satisfactory arrangements for continuance of the service have not been made. The requirement of a thirty (30)-day written notice prior to discontinuance of service may be waived where discharge of materials which might be detrimental to the public health and safety or cause damage to the sewer system of the utility are discovered. In the event of discontinuance of service for this reason, the customer and the commission shall be notified of such discontinuance immediately with a statement concerning the reasons for discontinuance. (10) Each sewer utility shall include in its tariff schedule a statement of the practices and policies of the utility governing extension of its collecting system to provide service to prospective customers. (11) Each utility shall specify the conditions under which it may refuse to provide service to an applicant, which conditions may include, but shall not be necessarily limited to, noncompliance with the utility’s rules as filed with this commission, rules of this commission or local governmental regulations. If the utility refuses to serve an applicant under the provisions of this rule or any other rule, the utility shall inform the applicant in writing of the basis for its refusal and the applicant may appeal to the commission for a ruling. (12) The utility shall physically inspect all service sewer connections to its system. The applicant for service shall provide adequate advance notice to the utility to facilitate the inspection. (13) Each sewer utility shall also have on file as a part of its tariff schedule, rules applicable to, but not limited to, the following items: applications for service; availability of service; interruption of service; and right of access to customer’s premises. (14) All proposed changes in rates, charges or rentals or in rules that affect rates, charges or rentals filed with the commission shall be accompanied by a brief summary, approximately one hundred (100) words or less, of the effect of the change on the company’s customers. A copy of any proposed change and summary shall also be served on the public counsel and be available for public inspection and reproduction during regular office hours at the general business office of the utility. (15) Thirty (30) days’ notice to the commission is required as to every publication relating to sewer rates or service except where publications are made effective on less than statutory notice by permission, regulation or requirement of the commission. (16) Except as is otherwise provided, no schedule or supplement will be accepted for filing unless it is delivered to the commission free from all charges or claims for postage, the full thirty (30) days required by law before the date upon which such schedule or supplement is stated to be effective. No consideration will be given to or for the time during which a schedule or supplement may be held by the post office authorities because of insufficient postage. When a schedule or a supplement is issued and as to which the commission is not given the statutory notice, it is as if it had not been issued and a full statutory notice must be given of any reissuance. No consideration will be given to telegraphic notices in computing the thirty (30) days’ notice required. In such cases the schedule will be returned to the sender and correction of the neglect or omission cannot be made which takes into account any time elapsing between the date upon which the schedule or supplement was received and the date of the attempted correction. For rate schedules and supplements issued on short notice under special permission of the commission, literal compliance with the requirements for notice named in any order, regulation or permission granted by the commission will be exacted. AUTHORITY: sections 386.250 and 393.140, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-3.340. Original rule filed Aug. 16, 2002, effective April 30, 2003. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-3.340, AND INSURANCE effective Aug. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 393.140, RSMo 1939, amended 1949, 1967.