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CITY OF DENTON
MEMORANDUM
TO: Utility Review Committee
FROM: King Cole, Assistant. City Manager
DAM January 31, 1970
/ SUBJEM Rules of Procedure
I ` 1 We loot last weak for the purposes of establishing Rules of Procedure for the
Utility Review Committee. The purpose of this memo is to plane the Rules of
Procedure in writing so that we might have the document for Future references
j AUTHORITY OF TF;E CUSTOMER arRV` ICp 8UPPRINTFOENT
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If a customer has experienced an unusual "hardship situation" and is unable to
make full payment of their utility bill on or before the due date, the Customer
Servi-.e Superintendent is authorized to grant a deferred
the customer. The da°erred payment agreement to
payment agreement must require that the customer pay
at least 509 of the outstanding bill, pay the remaining amount out in not more
than ssix (6) equal monthly payments and agree to knep all future bills
the du,s date. Under no circumstance can any amount of the bill be waived byby
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the Customer. service superintendent except when an error in billing has occurred.
f For purposes of this document, only the following situations shall. constitute a
definition of a hardship situation"s
A. Verifiable loss of job.
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0. Veritiable illnosis or injury to ind,ividual or immediate member of individual's
family.
C. SovorG climatic change which results in unusually high utility bill.
j D. Verified City fault to bill properly,
UTILITY REVIEW COMMITT'EF
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There has boon created a Utility Review Committee to act as an appeals board from
doci.sions of the Customer Service Superintendent. The Utility Review Committee
shall. consist of the following individualsr
.I. Jim Blanton - Representative of City Attorney's Office.
2. Bill Bryant - Representative of the Finance Department.
3. King Cole - Representative of the city Manager's Office.
4, i4ob Nelson - Ttepresontative of the Utilities Department.
Lach member of the Utility Review Committee shall designate an alternate to serve
in his absence. .
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The Utility Review Committee shall hear cases referred by the customer Service
Superintendont, it shall be the duty and responsibility of the Customer service
Superintendent to make customers aware of the Utility Review Committee wnen it
becomes obvious that the customer is unable to meet the conditions imposed by
the Customer Service Superintendent.
The Utility Review Committoe shall meet each Monday at lj30 p,m. to hear cases
referred to them by the Customer Service Superintendent. The Customer Service
Superintendent: shall attend these meetings to provide the Committee with any
history or factual data pertinent to each case being heard. Under no circum-
stances shall the Customer Service Superintendent participate in the decision
making of tho Committee,
AUTHORITY OF 741E UTILITY REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Utility Review Committee shall be authorized to enter into a deferred pay-
I mont agreement for a period not to excoed twnlvo (12) months, 'rho Utility Review
i Committee shall, also have the authority to enter into a deferred payment agreement
requiring no
percentage of the past due account in advance.
It shall be the responsibility of the Utility Review Committee to refer any delin-
quent deferred payment agreements to the City Attorney for prosecution.
it shall also be the responsibility of, the Utility Review committee to review any
cases of motor tampering to establish the amount of oleotrieity not recorded by
the motor,
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it shall also be the responsibility of the Utility Review Committee to make appro-
prints reports regarding accounts to any appropriate credit agencies,
I hope that each of you will review this memo and lot me know of any errors or in-
consistencies contained herein,
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~ KTNG COhE
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MEETING
MINUTES OF UTILITY REVIEW COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 14, 1978
A meeting of the members of the utility review committee
met in the conference room of the city manager's office.
Members present were Paul Isiiam, King Cole, Bob Nelson & Bill
Bryant,
- The first customer to appear before the committee was
Mr, & Mrs, Stoney 14 Ward of 1215 Scripture, account #242-314-4
with a delinquent account totaling $632,71, Customer is to
check with credit union regarding a loan which is to be applied
to arrears, If loan is not attainable, customer is to pay the
current bill within a ten day period and 12 monthly installments
r as determined by payment schedule prepared by Bob Nelson.
~ The second customer to appear before the committee was
Edward Newton of 1515 N. Ruddell, account #129-113-03 with a
I delinquent account totaling $482,03. Customer agreed to pay
the aum of $125,00 immediately and 12 monthly payments, in
addition to current amount due, of $30,00 per month.
Evett Jones of 1236 McDonald, account #397-143-7 with a
delinquent account totaling $1,354,87 did not appear as promised,
I Members of committee agreed that utility services should be
terminated immediately,
The third customer to appear before the committee was
j Donald K, Byrom of N, Mayhill Road account #253-355-4 delinquent
in the amount of $334,93 and account #389-294-1 delinquent. in
the amount of $1,050.10, Memberq of committee agreed to the
following terms and advised Mr, Byrom accordingly.
1, Business account 253-355-4, Payment of full
amount of $334.94 plus additional deposit amount
of $50.000,
2, Residential account 389-294-1, Payment of 50%
or $525,05 plus signing an agreement to pay balance
over a six (6) months period in 5 installments of
$87,51 and final installment of $87,50,
3. Installments would be in addition to current
bills due monthly,
4. Ile has until Monday the 20th day of February
1978 to come up with monies required and to sign
the deferred agreement,
MEh10
CITY OF DENTON
DATE: December 18, 1977
TO: Public Utility Board
FROM: R.E. Nelson, Director of Utilities
SUBJECT: Customer Service Policies
/ Several areas of the Utility Dep&rtment's Customer Service Policies have
been under review. The following comments are offered as possible changes
in the policies. The areas that will be addressed are:
1. Deposit Policies
2, Connection Fees
3. Credit Ranking of Customers
4. Due Dates of Utility Bills
5, Termination of Service Procedures
b. Reconnect Fee for Account Terminated Due to Non-payment
7, Meter Tampering Policies and Penalties
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~ B. Average or Budget Billing
9. Extended Customer Service Office Hours
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Deposit Policy;
Presently: $25 for Residential Customers Ap1J'
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( Suggested possible policy for residential customers: 1
1, If customer has been a previous prompt paying customer of Denton's
i system or another utility system and can provide references, no
deposit will be required. A record of prompt payment for the past
twelve months will be required.
2. If customer has a good credit rating, no deposit will be required,
3. If customer can obtain a party who will co-sign and gguarantee payrnent
and co-signer has a good credit rating, no deposit will be required,
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Customer Service Policies
December 18, 1977
Page 2
4. If one of the above three conditions cannot be met, then a deposit equal
to 1/6 of the last 12 months billing at subject location shall be made.
If no previous history is available for the location, a representative
similar type facility shall be used to establish the deposit amount.
5. If the customer has completed one year of prompt utility bill payments,
the deposit shall be returned.
6. Commercial and industrial accounts shall be required to place a deposit
of 1/6 of the estimated annual billing or a guarantee provision such as
I a bond. Commercial and industrial accounts shall be refundable after
two years of satisfactory payment history. All small to moderate com-
mercial accounts will require a personal guarantee if the account is in
the name of a corporation.
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may have to pursue a credit reference check. The customer will be given
service promptly after application, but if the credit check proves
nega- tive, the customer will be required to produce a co-signer or place a
deposit, Failure to do so will result in the discontinuance of service
c within two days of notification to the prospective customer by the Gusto-
i mer service department.
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A change of the ordinance relating to deposits will be required if any changes
are contemplated. The above listed procedures are similar to the guidelines
of the Public Utility Commission. The City of Denton, being a municipal cor-
poration, is not specifically regulated by the Utility Commission rules however.
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Con'nectiori Fee
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A connection fee in the amount of $20 is suggested for all new applicants. A
transfer fee of $10 is suggested when an existing customer is transferring
from one location to another. These fees would be non-refundable if service
is provided, (However, if credit checks result in service being denied, 1;" e
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connection fee would be returned less any amount for consumption
The basis for these fees are:
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New Customer
1. Enter account in billing system - est. cost $ 5.00
2. Credit Check - est. cost 10.00
3. Place meter in service - est. cost 5.00
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Transfer of Cxisting~Customer,
1, Transfer account in billing system - est. cost $ 5.00
2. Read old mister out and new meter in - est. cost 5.00
There is presently no connection fee for new customers or for transferring
from one location to another.
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Customer Service Policies
December 18, 1977
Page 3
Credit Ranking:
It is suggested that a system be developed that will rank the utility
customers according to credit worthiness, It is suggested that this be
a multi-point system and that customers with the highest credit rating
be assigned the best rating and the customers with the lowest credit
rating be assigned the lowest rating,
These ratings will then be used as guides in determining the course of
action required in late payment or other credit action. For example,
r'T if a customer has a high credit rating as determined from their satin-
I factory payment history and if that customer should be late in making
payment of their bill, termination action will be extended for possibly
ten days. If a late payment history develops, then the credit rating
value will be lowered and the customer will be subject to termination i
within five days after the due
date of the billing.
Due Date of lJti" lity Bills: i
It is suggested that the due date of the utility billing fifteen days
after the date
If payment has not been made by the due date a reminder notice will be
sent advising that payment is due and that termination is possible five
i days after the due date.
This timing is in compliance with the rules of the Public Utility Com-
mission, Presently, the due date is ten days and proceedings are
initiated thereafter to terminate service if payment is not made,
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Termination of Service Procedures
if payment has not been received by the fifth day after the duo date, the
customer service department will attempt to call the customer at least two
times on the fifth day. If the customer cannot be reached the City's
collection officer will visit the account location and attempt to contact
f the customer. If the customer is not able to be contacted a notice will
be left at the location notifying the customer that service will be termin-
ated the following day, (the sixth day after the due date) if payment is
not made by 10:00 AM.
If the customer has experienced an unusual financial situation and is
unable to make the full payment on the due date, the customer service
supervisor would be authorized to grant a deferred payment ac~reement to
the customer, Under no circumstance can any amount of the b9ll be waived
except when an srror in billing has occurred, A deferred payment agreement
must require that the customer pay at least 50% of the outstanding bill,
pay the remaining amount out in not more than six (6) equal monthly payments
and agree to keep all future bills paid by the due date.
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Customer Service Policies
December 18, 1977
Page 4
If the customer is unable to,meet these conditions or if they defaulted
on a deferred agreement, they will be referred to a utility account review
committee for futher action. This committee could be composed of a repre-
sentative of the City Manager's office, City Attorney's office, the Finance
Director, and the Utility Director or their designated representative if
E they are unable to attend a meeting, The committee would meet at 1,30 PM
each Monday to review past due accounts and hear cases referred to them by
the Customer Service Supervisor.
\ The Utility Account Review Committee could be authorized to develop a
l deferred payment agreement beyond the six month period but could not extend
beyond twelve (12) months. However, under no circumstances can any account
f be waived, Any account that is delinquent will be referred to the City
Attorney for legal action to collect. Also, appropriate reports regarding
the accounts' crFdit rating will be processed,
Reconnect Fee For Accounts To-m1nated Due to Non-Payment:
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Presently a $4.00 fee is charged to reconnect accounts that have been term-
inated for non-payment, It is suggested that this fee be increased to $20.
j It is also suggested that a deposit equal to 1/6 of the past twelve months
E billings be required prior to r,,connection.
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I Meter Tampering Policies and Penalties:
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If a meter has been discovered that has been tampered with, appropriate
personnel will investigate the situation and record any pertinent evidence,
i The :account will be notified that a violation of a City ordinance is in-
f volvad and that a notice to appear in Municipal Court will be sent,
The City Pttorney's office will be responsible for prosecuting the case. This i
is a criminal violation with a substantial penalty involved,
f If it is evidenced that electrical energy has been diverted, an estimate of
the amount will be prepared and a bill rendered for such amount which will
require payment in addition to the fine involved with the criminal charges,
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Average or Budget Bluing.:
A possible method of establishing average billing would be to charge the
average of the past twelve months billing, this is acccsnplished by picking
f up the latest month's billing and drop the thirteenth month's prior billing
amount,
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Customer Service Policies
December 18, 1977
Page 5
Lone Star Gas uses this method and report that it is working satisfactorily,
They report that approximately 3% of these customers have requested this
method of billing.
It is suggested that this be provided on a voluntary basis to customers who
have at least twelve months of satisfactory payment history.
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It has been suggested that a policy allowing customers who are over sixty-
five years of agA and with satisfactory payment history the option of making
ayment by the tenth of the month. This service would disregard the cycle
billing schedule and defer any reminder notice or termination action
until after the tenth of the month. The reason for this service that Social
Security payments are usually delivered on the third of the month.
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Extend Customer Service Office Hours;
It has been mentioned that some customers would appreciate if the customer
service office were open other than Just 8 AM to 5 PM. Most people work
during those hours and have difficulty getting to the Utility Office ~e at
those hours. Y
If so desired, the Customer Service hours could be extended from 7:30 AM
to 6 PM, This would be attempted on a trial basis and if the response justi-
fied, the service could be reviewed for continuation.
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These policy suggestions have been reviewed with the City Manager's office,
the Finance Director's office, thr City Attorney, and the Utility office
in general principle. Some modifications might be required when the poll-
cies are implement but we believe that in principle most of these are
possible.
Respectfully,
R.E. Nelson, PE
Director, of Utilities
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CITY OF DEN'PON
MEMORANDUM R
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TOt Bill Bryant, Finance Director
FROM: Chris Hartung, City Manager
DATEt November 30, 1977
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SUBJECTi Delinquent Utility Accounts
1 As I stated during our discussion earlier, I think that it is absolutely
vital that the credibility of the City's utility collections
polioy established. In that regard, I am directing that the following steps ~ebee
J taken:
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1. A detailed record be maintained indicating the status of all accounts
delinquent in excess of sixty (60) days. This record should contain y
written justification, signed by the individual, for continuation of
service. Any deferred payment agreement should be in writing and
signed by the appropriate official and by the oustomer.
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I 2. Deferred payment arrangements should not n)rmallY be approved for com-
meroial accounts. These accounts should b,- closely watched and every
effort should be made to co),4,6ct any ooimex7ial accounts over thirty
(30) days old. In addition, deposits for ckmmeroial accounts which
are not maintained on a current basis should re reviewed and increased
there necessary to protect the City. A report should be submitted to
the City Manager's Office concerning the status of all commercial ac-
s counts delinquent over thirty (30) days.
3. A chart of the activity of the two new indiduals involved in colleotion
it F of delinquent accounts should be developed and maintained. This chart
I should show daily activity of this effort, such as the number of cusL-
3 omers contacted per day, the amount of money colloote.d per day, and the
fl number of delinquent accounts by billing route.
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In, general, the policy of the City of Denton should be to make every effort
legally possible to collect delinquent accounts including termination of
servico, except in oases where the welfare and safety of the customer is in-
volved.
Please report to me by December 9 on the status of this project.
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C3. CFIR S RU ATUW
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Proposed Changes of Laws,
I Policy and Procedures
Governing Customer Service
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Prepared For James White
City Manager
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f f William Bryant Tom Hopkins
Bill Davis Larry Yium
i Jack Lester
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January 7, 1977
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Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Scope of Study 1
Conclusions 2
Customer Service. Department 4
Denton And PUC 4
Situations And Recommendations 4
_ 1) Customer Relations 4
2) Due Date and Penalties 5
3) Refusal of Service 6
4) Discontinuance of Service
5) Deposits 6
6). Delinquent Accounts 9
7) Bad Checks 11
8) Utility Bills 11
9) Postal System 11
10) Arbitration Boards 12
Appendix 1 - Problems and Proposed solutions - I
Appendix 2 - Problems and Proposed Solutions - II
Appendix 3 - Memo on use of Mark.-Sense Reading of
Card Bills
Appendix 4 - Recant Court Decisions
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Introduction
Of all the major news events of the seventies the energy
crisis is one occurance which will be. remembered by history.
The sky roc.,eting of fuel costs has made consumers more aware
of utilities suer as water, sewer and eJectr.ic:it:y, The people
are discovering that utilities are not something coming from
an i.nexhaustable source,
but a precious commodity which needs
to be conserved, Along with higher fuel costs, inflation con-
tinues to be a problem of the seventies,
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These two problems have hit close to home especially in
the area of the utility system of the City of Denton, The city
operates four major utility functions Provision of water,
operation of a sewer system, collection of solid waste, and
production of electric energy, The problems have placed the ci.s.y
in the position "of getting it from all sides", On one hand,
the city must raise rates to pay for the increase cost of fuel
and chemicals to provide a service consumers demand at the flip
of a switch or the turning of a knob, on the other hand, citizens
complaining of higher rate3 without an increase of services, and
payments for utilities are becoming more and more delinquent due
to the customer's inability/unwillingness to pay,
f One other major factor is the creation of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (PUC) in 1976. The commission has issued a
comp licated set of regulations for utilities operating; in Texas.
With some exceptions, municipalities do not fall tinder the com-
missions jurisdiction presently; however, the point has yet been
tested in court.
Scope of Study
In an effort to become more efficient while continuing to
hold expenses down as much of possible in a time of rising costs,
the City Staff in November, 1976 was directed by the City Manager
to -.lo a study into the Customer. Service Department. Customer
Service personnel receive the brunt of the utility system users'
criticisms; however, with many of the complaints, the department
j has no control over, The purpose of the study is two-fold, one
is to look at problems in the department and at areas where proce-
dure varied from policy.
The other aspect of the study investigates how much the muni-
cipality's utility system's procedures vary from the PUC codes,
Appendix 1 and 2 are interoffice memos which reveal. the types
of problems considered and the proposed solutions, in order to
S deal with the problems in a more efficient manner, some proposals
are deferred until the more pressing problems are dealt with,
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® Conclusions
The City Star£ makes the following recommendations after
extensive study and deliberation;
1, Customer Relations
A. Notification on utility bills explaining how A-1
customers move into the A-2 classification
B. Posting of a notice in the customer service area
saying rates and rules relating to service are
available for public inspection I
C. Posting of the city's utility ordinance on the
bulletin board
j '2. Due Dates and Penalties
A. Continuation of the 10 day due date and 10 day
notice period which differs from PUC rules which
call for a 15 day due date and a 5 day notice period,
B. Deletion of the requirement of notice of cutoff
by certified mail from Sec, 25-6 of the present
ordinance,
C. Clarification of Sec, 25-6 and 25-60 of the City
Ordinances concerning cutoff t,otices
D. Reduction of penalty charges t om 10% to 5%. The
f j charge is to be applicable to all users which is
a variance from PUC rules. The Public Utility
Commission calls for the elimination of the penalty
for residential users
! 3, Refusal of Service
I ` A. PUC rules should be incorporated into the present
ordinance to coincide policy with present procedure,
PUr allows for the refusal of service on the follow-
ing grounds;
1) Applicant's facilities inadaquate
2) For indebt-ness
3 3) And refusal to make deposit (in Denton 's case,
service charge also)
4, Discontinuance of Service
A. In following PUC codes, the addition of the right to
discontinue service for a known dangerous situation
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to the power of the Public Utilities Director
5, Deposits
A, Modification of present codes to allow for the chnrg-
ing of a service charge in lieu of a deposit to all
residential customers,
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S. Follow PUG guidelines for commercial and industrial
„r+ users and raise deposit requirements to equal one
sixth of one year's average bill
C; C. Raise the reconnection fee from $4.00 to $5,00 which
4 requires an ordinance change
D, Hold all present deposit until the termination of
service and pay no interest. This is in conflict
with PUG requirements
E. New Fee Schedule
1) $20,00 service charge for all new customers to
the system
2) $5,00 transfer fee for transfer of service with-
in the city
i 3) $5.00 reconnect fee
i 4) 4,00 returned check fee
1 5) In addition to a service charge, the following
deposit requirements;
J 120 for B-1 customers
,2200 for B-2 customers
6. Delinquent Accounts
A. More public awareness of the situation and enforcement
of collection policies
B, Modification of present ordinances to allow for deferred
E payment plans to coincide policy with current prar:tices
concerning past due bills
C. General guidelines for Customer Service representatives
to follow concerning deferred payment plans
' D. Addition of a full time bill collector to aid in
collections and complaints
E, Monthly computer readouts on delinquent account and
closer communication between the City Attorney, Finance
Director, and the Customer Service Supervisor to follow
more closely large outstanding accounts
F, Future new customers to the system be required to show
i + some form of identification to help eliminate the use
of fictitious names and to help facilitate bill collect-
ions.
7, Bad Checks
A. Raise the returned check charge from $2,00 to $4,00
B. For persons who attempt to avoid the returned check
charge, the addition of charge to the customrar's next
utility bill
8. Utility Bills
A. A placement of additional information on the utility
bills to conform to PUG standards
B. Return to the card type of bill
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Each change suggested is not a total solution in itself,
but parts of the whole. Place into effect as a whole, the Staff
fells will eliminate many of the problems of the department and
improve service to the utility customers of Denton. A serious
attempt is made to conform to the Public Utility guidelines; how-
ever, any divergence is made in the best interest to the local
citizens, both in terms of service to the users and in resources
available to the city employees,
Customer Service Department
The Customer Service Department consist presently of twenty-
two employees under the supervision of Jack Loster. The depart-
ment operates as part of Finance Administration, The scope of
duties include handling of complaints and service requests of
utility customers, the processing and collecting of bills, and
the reading of meters. On the whole, the employees are very +
competent, but they lack adaquate tools and support to deal with
their present problems.
f Denton And PUC
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As previously mentioned, 9.t is still unclear how much muni-
cipally owned utilities must comply with the Public Utility Com-
` I j miesion's rules and regulations, in the case of the City of
Denton the City Attorney has advised that the City should comply
as much as possible, There are many variances Prow PUC recom-
mendations. After some investigation the City Staff feels the
city presently lacks the manpower, space, and funds to fully
comply with PUC rules] however, the staff does suggest the fol-
lowing of certain PUC recommendations which will improve service
! to the user,
Situations And Recommendations
Customer Relations
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Problem; PUC lists certain requirements for customer rel.ationsi
e 5inton system presently conforms to many of the standards,
The areas of nonconformance include; 1) the notification of
customers of changes in rates or schedule of classification; 2)
a posted notice in a conspicuous place in each business office of
the utility where applications for service are received, informing
the public copies of rate schedules and rules relating to service
of the utility are available for inspection,
Recommendationst 1) Notification will be done on the utility bills
to explain 'h6i A-I customers are moved into the A-2 classification.
2) A notice to be posted in a customer service area, and a copy of
f the rate ordinance placed on the bulletin board,
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Due Dates And Penalties
? Problemr The Public Utility Commission of Texas recommends a
17 M due date and a 5 day notice to cutoff .2 Furthermore the
PUC calls for a one time delinquent penalty not to exceed 5%,
This penalty is only applicable to commercial and industrial users.
The present policy calls for a 10 day due date and a 10 day
notice with a 10% penalty for all delinquent bills, The penalty
is applicable to all customers of the aystem. Sec.25-6 par, 2
calls for a certified letter to be sent to a usor before the
discontinuance of service for non-payment of bill. Due to the
cost involved and due to the fact undelivered letters take 10-14
days to be returned, the Customer Service Department does not
follow this policy,
+ Recommendation; The Customer Service Department feels a 10 day
J ' Tue ate an a 10 day notice
Also, the staff recomends theeremoval of ethmot esnoticeo fecutoffm,
f by certified mail requirement from the present ordinance and a
classification of ,Sec, 25-6 and Sec, 25-60 concerning cutoff
notices, Lastly, the penalty charge should be reduced from 10%
to 5% as advocated by PUC; however, in a variance from the
t Y, state guidelines, the penalty is to apply to all users of the
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system.
Discussion; Exhibit 1 is an excerpt from Jack Lester, the
+ Customer Service Supervisor, explaining the need for a 10 day
due date and a 10 day notice period and, the ambiguities in the
Code of Ordinances and the removal of the certified letter re-
quirement,
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Concerning Sec. 25-6 and Sec, 25-60, the ordinance does seem
to be contridictory. One possible intent of the law is that after
rl notice of cutoff has been given, r.o further notice has to be given
aytit at the time of the actual cutoff o): sere ccee, The status can be
a^s1 modified to read as such if that is the actual intent of the crdi-
nance to provide a clearer understanding.
The issue of
the Cit Staff, The penalty charges brought much discussion among
p costs the group realized that because of increase fuel
people unable to pay their bills in the first place
were being further pushed into debt by the penalty charge. On the
other hand, the penalty charge does encoura e
s` within the l0 day due date. The on time g persons to pay bills
' mensely helpful tool in maintaining the ciity'sncash flow, an ivi
of this, the reduction of the penalty charge to 5% will help main-
tain cash flow while aiding persons financially unable to
utility bills on time. Due to rising fuel costs and the smpae
alltperr
centage of monies that the charges provided, the revenue loss by the
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` Exhibit 1
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r` Collection policies and procedures, The Code of Ordinances is ambiguous in that Sec.
4 25-6, page 959, states that service may be discontinued (10) days following the due
M! date of the bill, and after notice to the custoiaer by certtf:ird mails Under Sec. 25-
1 60, page 961, it is stated that service to users having, overdue hills may, at the
' discretion of the utility, be discontinued without notice, It is not practical for
Xy'" notification to be made by certified mail, The number of accounts is too large, and
the the cost is prohibitive. But, the major problem is in getting certified mail de-
14, livered, When people aren't at home, delivery cannot be effected; and we nre not
,.'aware of this until the mail is returned by the Post Office Department about 10 days
to two weeks after being mailed,
` We have not been in a position to follow a clear and defifl to collection policy. The
many problems for-9 years with computer programs, Into meter readings, delayed and
{ rj,;catch-up billings, etc, prevented this. Just recently, computer programs have been
t4. revised which, we hope, will permit us to follow a schedule, as follows;
1 ~
1, Mail bill with due date 10 days later.
' s
2, If not paid, mail past due notice, with 10 days cut off (Into. (By rut•, off
date, approximately 22 to 26 dnys will have expired, depending on weekends;
j and it is nearly time for the route to be billed again. Due to the time
"-I needed for cash to be processed and runs printed, it is not possible to work
to cut offs prior to the next billing; therefore,)
r
3, Bill #2 is mailed with arrears, with due date 10 days later,
4. If arruara is not paid, a cut off order is issued, and contact is attempted
by a collector,
" By the time a collector makes contact on bill #I , the customer is already into the
third month of usage. This is a major problem,
ll'! It takes time and personnel to process payments, check records, otc. If we later
install computer terminals at the cash registers, :;o that payments enn be posted to
j' the account as received, possibly we can more closely f.ol.low the rule established
' by the Public Utility Commi.asion, which allows a due date of 15 days after mailing,
y; plus a 5 day disconnection notice, But, this 20 dnys is not allowing any mailing ar
processing time at all, wh:1ch just isn't renlistic, and means tint the i.ssuanre
of bill Q2 is approaching before you cnn finish the processing and collecting of
bill #1r and you are stuck with two months or more usnge, period,
,
i
reduction will be negligible,
Refusal of Service
Problem; The present City Ordinance does not address itself
to t e`matter of refusal of service, but procedurely, the
City Staff follows PUC rules,
a Recommendation:
The PUC rules should be incor orated into
t e present ordinance, p
may decline service to in part' the PUC rules say a utility
circumstances 11 applicants until compliance to these
indebtness applicants facilities inadequate; 2
>ty.;, 3) and for refusal to make deposit in Denton 's
case, service charge also) ) for
r
JI, (
Discontinuance of Service
I ~ ,J
I` Problem; While E0 ulatI the and already follows almost completely
regulations and the discontinuance Of service there are
two variational The first discontinuance failure to
b 5 days due date, The second is a discontinuance ofbsel after
for a known dangerous situation, rvice
Recommendations;
As previously mentioned the Staff favors
cont nuat on oO the ten day due date, As a consequence, the
five day due date rule is not applicable,
the discontinuance of service for a known dangeroustsituation
I should be added to the ordinance,
Discussion; Prasentl
anger a situation is seen asgatimpliedoff service for i
Director as the present ordinance does notoreally speak tonithes
matter, Due to recent legal activity)
ward the consumer, the iewnieh has orientated to.
addition of this ower tovtheilawsotoprotectdthenPublictUtilities
in applicable situations,
~i
Deposits
Problem; The present schedule of deposits is insufficient to
mWeE present delinquent utility bills, The average delinquent
ti} residential bill approximates $107 while the average delinquent
commercial bill is $939,00. Present deposit schedules call for for and a0$100 depositeforaall.slar e$50'00 for a commercial entity,
fi ommercial users, f
6
Furthermore, PUC rules, as Exhibit 2.shows, requires a
series of complicated and costly procedures for establishing
credit in lieu of a deposit, Also, PUC requires the refunding
of deposits after one: year of paying bills on time by the
customer and the paying of 6% interest on deposits held by
the Utility Dept,
The present city policy calls for the charging of all
customers a deposit, which is to be refunded at the termination
of service (Sec. 25-4). In 1971, the Public Utilities Director,
Doug Blackburn, ordered all deposits to be refunded after one
year of prompt payment of bills, The procedure was further modi-
fied later, due to the administrative problems involved, Present
procedure is to refund deposits only on request after one year
i of prompt payment or on the termination of service, No interest
is paid on any deposit,
Re6ommendations; A modification of present ordinances to allow
tTie ciarg ng o a service charge in lieu of a deposit to all
r""1 residential customers. For commercial customers, the city is
to follow PUC guidelines and have a deposit equal to approximately
1/6 of 1 year's bill, This would be about $112 for the B-1 cult-
omens acid $2110 for the B-2 customers. Also an ordinance change
to raise the reconnect fee form $4,00 to $5,00,
J~ The new fee schedule would be;
Service Charge - $20,00 for all new customers to the
system
X55,00 for a transfer within the city
5,00 reconnect fee
4.00 returned check charge
in addition to a service charge, the following deposit
schedule is to be instituted;
$120 for B-1 customers
$2200 for B-2 customers
+ 7;
In addition, the City Staff recommends that all present
deposits be held until the termination of service. No interest
would be paid on the deposits presently held or those taken in
the future,
j Discussion; The intent of PUC regulations is to insure the
consumer receiving fair treatment in the area of utilities.
With its present resources, the City Staff feels the service
charge is the most economical method to the consumer and the
most efficient means to the employees, The $20,00 fee is an
amount equal. to the cost of connection, disconnection, and the
paperwork generated to accomplish the two tasks for new customers,
The $5,00 transfer fee is really a bargain as the cost is higher.,
but the Staff wanted to provide previous users a benefit, The
® increase of the $4,00 reconnect fee to $5,00 is just to stream
r 7
Y!
line the fee schedule and to help recover the administrative costs
of reconnecting a usE, to the city's utility system.
The use of the service charge in lieu of the deposit will help
the residential users in many ways. Denton has a large student and
middle class population, To increase deposits to adaquate.ly cover
losses would require an increase of $25 - $75, A deposit in the
$50 - $100 dollar range is very steep, especially considering Lone
Star Gas and General Telephone both charge a deposit and a service
fee to new customers, As a result, a new resident to the city
could be required to plane over $175 in deposits and fees before
being able to have utilities,
I
The $20 service charge is in essence the shifting of costs,
Presently, the city has no service installation charge, The in-
stitution of such a charge allocates a cost incurred by the utility
system directly to the users, The revenues generated from the fee
j will help also to offset losses created from uncollectible accounts
receivable, Bases on the f previous ~ year, an
average of 3156 new
customers joined the city's utility system. This figure does not
{ include transfers within the city, A $20 service charge from 3156
new customers equals 1578 delinquent customers losing a $40 deposit,
Still, the forty dollar deposit does not cover half of the average
delinquent residential bill, Zia total revenue, 3156 new customers
If paying $20 yields $63,120,
I An additional benefit in this area is that a service charge be-
comes part of the city's revenues while with a deposit, the city ie
f only a caretaker of the money until the customer leaves the system,
For the city to continue charging deposits and to follow PUC regu-
E lations as outlined in Exhibit 2, the city will require the hiring
of two additional clerks plus part time help during the beginning of
semesters at the universities, Office space for these people are
presently nonexistent, Despite an increase of complaints in the be-
g-inning due to lack of understanding by the public, the number of
future complaints should be reduced to 1lmnst none, Presently, deposit
greivances are a major catagory of comi.•,laints to Customer Service,
{ The service charge is inadaquate to cover losses from commercial
users; therefore, the staff recommends a raising of deposits to
cover one sixth of a year's average bill as
deposit is in addition to the $20 service chargacribed by PUC. This
1
In conclusion, the Staff feels the service charge plus the other
recommendations will be more than adaquate to cover deposits, The
service charge will increase revenues; however, the amount of un-
collectible accounts receivables will be higher since there will be
no offsetting residential deposits, In the future if the governing
bodies find it necessary, the deposit for residential users can be
easily reinstated.
8
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Delinquent Accounts
f;
Problem; With the rise of utility bills due to fuel costs and
- __Bavid Nichols case, delinquent accounts have not only grown,
but have become newsworthy items of late. Often delinquent account
implies an idea of persons with a permanent inability to pay, but
the problem involves also persons not wanting to pay and persons
unable to pay their bills temporarily,
The problem of inability to pay goes far beyond the local
level government, Courts are ruling that utilities afe a necessity
of life and cannot be shut off to indigent customers, There are
federal subsidies for food, housing, and health care but none for
utilities. A localize example is the "Section 8" rent subsidy
program of HUD, which is operated in the area by the Denton Housing
Authoeity, The program provides for rent subsidies for persons to
live in adaquate housing, but provides no allowances for payment of
utilities bills. The problem is especially acute for "Section 8"
renters living ir. all-electric homes.
Recommendationsc The Staff feels the institution of the following
policies an procedures will help to solve the problems, one solution
is to inform the public that the problem goes beyond the local level,
An offshot of this idea is to pursue further cooperation from state
j welfare agencies.
A second recommendation is the modification of present ordinance
to allow the Public Utilities Director or his representative ( in this
! case, the Customer Service Supervisor) to establish a deferred payment
plan at his disgression, with certain holders of delinquent accounts,
( The plans will be individually designed to meet spec~fic needs, but
1 1k t'` waithin the btoad considerations outlined by the PUC. The considerations
1. Size of delinquent account
2. Customer's ability to pay
3. Customer's past history
4. Time debt has been outstanding
5. Reason for outstanding debt
6. Other relevant factors
° A holder of a delinquent account will be required to come down
to the city offices and sign some form of agreement after counseling
from the Customer Servicn, Department, Also, the person will be re-
quired to pay a yet; undetermined amount of the outstanding bill. The
counseling and other requirements are to insure the customer under-
stands all aspects of the plan and to insure the customer's intent to
pay.
r
Thirdly, the Staff recommends the hiring of a full-time bill
collector, 'The person's job description is to attempt to collect
.3,•
i 9
y
delinquent bills and help with complaints In Customer Service.
The starting salary would probably be around $8300/yr., and the
collector will be under the supervision of the Customer Service
Supervisor, The collector will be concerned with only active
delinquent accounts while the collection agency continues to
handle "final" delinquent accounts.
Fourth, in an attempt to follow more closely large delinquent
accounts, a computer readout of all delinquent accounts at the
first of each month is to be given to the Finance Director. The
City Attorney will be informed of any potential. large defaults,
\ Swift action is suggested to prevent reoccurance of the David
Nichols situation and to discourage others from allowing utility
bills to remain unpaid,
Lastly, future new customers will be required to show a driver's
license or other forms of identification before receiving service,
This ID number will be placed on the service agreement, The identi-
fication will be used to discourage the use of fictitious names and
to help facilitate the collection of past due accounts,
Discussion: Presently the Salvation Army and the Texas Welfare Agency
aid-impoverish families with utility payments, These donations are
usually very small and really nothing more than token payments.
The staff feels that deferred payment plans are not the volution
to the problem, but only a tool. In the past, summer bills were
traditionally high and winter bills were lower, With this being the
case, an indigent customer could pay an "average" bill year round to
eliminate the debt; however, with the high cost of fuel there is no
more valleys in the billing cycle. All bills are high; therefore,
averaging utility payments does not work, Presently, the Customer.
Service department follows an "unofficial policy" of allowing deferred
payments for past due accounts, This policy has no legal basis, but
the department feels that without allowing deferred payments, many
past due accounts would not be collected,
i
The city presently uses meter readers to make collections of
active past due accounts, The meter readers attempt, to make collections
in their free time; however, the meter reading personnel are kept
fairly busy with their other duties. Furthermore, the readers are
not trained in the area of bill col)_%:_tion, One of the most unpopular
persons in today's society is the bi.l•i collector. If a person is not
adequately gained for such a ,job, the person could create poor public
relations between the city and the utility customers. "Final" deliu-
quent accounts are turned over to the Credit Bureau, which charges
a 50% collection fee for its services,
With. the use of the collector plus the other suggested methods,
it is hoped that delinquent accounts will be cleared more quickly,
To aid in finding large potential defac-ts and acting quickly to
resolve the situation is to be partly accomplished by monthly computer
readouts and closer communication betwee•t city officials, Lending in-
stitutions have helped greatly with this problem as Exhibit 3 shows,
10
1
Aparti'dent tehancy,
r censtructien, rents
ol" EXHIBIT 3 on the increase in 176
8y CRAfG ENDICOTT ~
r. TENANCY sl ram, icaccording e president to Waller Bond, e.
3 or dve vice of Murray In nvemst.
Aplf artWmengert construction is getting menace.
Conllaued from Page U•9 back on track after a hiatus of more Bond says the cost of money is direct.
than two years. Jy related to the drop in the bond mnr•
:..soaring uuilty costa and the high coin. Improved financing, increased occu. ket. Major construction lenders like
struction loans directly related to a jump panty and higher rents are once agaht Murray Investment Co. generally invest
„ In the prime from 6 to 12 per cent. making aparlrnent projects profitable, their funds in tither the bond or Mort.
"Lenders still are very restrictive In say hadiistry offkials, gage market.
their yield requirements and uuderwrll- Such factors are supported by the fact The bond market proved mare popu•
Ing procedures," says Bond, that the number of multi-!orally prrrmta Jar last year and eadler this year when
J.;: Bond estimates that more than halt for Texas increased 98 per cent through Yields for high grade honds wens
the lenders in the country now are re. l the first 11 months of 1976 over the tor- Found 10 percent. The differential he.
L qutring developers to sirgie•r their responding period tho year earlier, twe¢n bonds and mortgage rates is tra•
projects, a procedure not practiced In while on the local level permits were up dtilonally 1 to 1.5 per ce,tp which means
w Dallas where apartment complexes ere. 167 per cent over the previous period in lenders would have required a 11,6 per
p on a maoter system which qualifies 1875, cent yield in the mortgage market at the
y, them for the lower industrial utility But before the apartment construcRon time bonds were enjoying their high
rates. Single metering, among other market can return to tf.e heydays of the yields,
`;things, would place ouch complexes in early 1970s, money will have to oosen Bond yields, however, have dropped
.:,the higher cost residential user category, up even further end apartment develop. the past six months, and lenders have
yk, Such a factor makes financing that ors wIIJ have to single-meter their pro. re•enterod the mortgage market, But
much hoodoo to get In Dallas, says Don jests If markot finance trends continue, that doesn't mean that apartments will
r, Shine, Dallas operating partner for Lin. 6%Ie a 157 per cent increase may ap• start springing up across the city.
ootn Properties Inc, Apartment owners pear to be an apartment boom, the fi. A steady growth is anticipated in
1.. would like to go to single metering be. Sure Is somewhat misleading since most quarters since lenders remember
eat»e II would Insulate them from udl• apartment permits hit rock bottom dur• only too well the countless projects that
ill Increases, he Allyn, Ing the comparative year 1075, reverted back to the fender over the
1J. Single metering not only requires However, the sizable increases for put I6 months when prolect davolopers
more cash, but the concept also contains D211as and the state are a reflection of could not cover with Increased rents
o, a psychological disadvantage. A paten. the cost of money and Increased rental
W tenant faced with paying his or her See TENANCY on Page Dd0
r own utility bill al a single-metered com• - -
j ; plex surrounded by complexes on a range for the omlre city as 1016 draw to ettom. was up 60 per cent In value from
toaster system is more than likely to a close. In areas primarily north of the previous year, according to MIPh'
Jeaw an apartment where his bills are Mockingbird Lane, occupancy rose to Research Inc., a Dallas housing market.
i paid, the upper 90s. Itt firm,
~j. To lenders, a single-metered apart. As occupancy rose during 1976 so did The steady growth In the homebuild.
rnent complex means one lase variable to rents, which climbed from $101 per unit Ing Industry Is generally trnctid to a
;worry about For example, apartment at the end of 1075 to $211 by Weber drop in the Interest rotes and An Ito-
Owners the past three years have been 1076. And more Increases can be expect. ptnved economy, both laclors that hm,$,
t bleed with utility Increases of from 25 to ed, says Shine, historically had a tremendous pa,vc hrn
S 30 per rent per year, and only m"rilly Apartment construction, for all practl• lagk•nl Impau on the construction mar-
.1b have they been able to recoup such op• cal purfwse•s, Icl All other typos of de• km
t erating increasee by charging higher volopment lit yearly Increase, The Improved housing market also
rents, Ilomebulldmg, for the 11-month boot- ha% Iwun AvcrimparlM by higho,r hops.
j, shine says Lincoln Properties, the od, was up 28 per cent in the state, and log cotta, Thp Average purchaso prkrl of
elty's largest apartment owner, built noortwdenliol autherintllons increast,l new humes bought during October in
• about 1,000 now unl4t In Dallas in 1076, by 12 per con(, according to the Bureau the 0.111os nod Ilouston areas was
compared to nearly 500 units In 1976, of Swinem Research tit the tlnlvei,ity $90,100 and $54.260, rfatxcuvtly, ae-
Such steady growth will 6oillnue in of Texas, which role.isrd Its monthly cording to the 7•001 Real Estate lie.
1871, he says, plseing the number of torah uchun survey trxlay, warrh C'emer Ili Ausini,
new units for the caning year at 1,600. (.ovally, in 1)1161%, Collin, IA-ilrnn, Such prict'a, well alsn'e the mutrmnl
" Occupancy else has begun to catch up Kaufman li kw•nli and i?Ills rannue,s nvtaage of $ IR,300, an, prpdnK mart, po-
with the apartment mdustty, risoIg singledomily pcvnnts avers up :12 per tumid hmnvbu}ers oat or the maker,
from a cilywide average In Inle 1975 of ennt fn the same te'rirsl, while noore4l. whlrh pLldas a furchor demand on
s80 per coo to the thv mid-96 per cent dential activity, which Included alter- apartment construction) i
~O~-D... ~1 ?1,l,nuatY4.a91ta ~A~L~~ LID
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Being a university town, the utility system has a lot of {
involvement with transcients. Many are collection problems. They
move from place to place using different names, Groups room to-
gether. With the id?nti.fication requirement, the problem will not
be totally .solved, but ID's will prevent most of the abuses,
Bad Checks
Problem: Bad checks are becoming more of a problem. The number of
returned checks are increasing. Furthermore, often when a check is
returned, the customer calls and says to send the check through
again. Under the present system, the people who call in avoid pay-
ing the $2 check charge.
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Recommendations: The Staff recommends the raising of the service
charge or returned checks from $2,00 to $4.00, This is in line
" with what most merchants now charge for returned checks, In addi-
tion, any service charge not paid with the returned check will be
added on the customer's next utility bill,
Utility Bills
Problem: The present utility bill does not totally conform to PUC
E regulations in the information required to be on bills. In addi-
tion the present bills have been difficult for Data Processing to
work with.
Reconvnendations: Exhibit 3 shows the present bill. In order to
conform the PUC regulations the following additional information
j needs to be placed on the bill;g
1 1, The date and reading of the meter at the beginning and
the end of the period for which the bill is rendered for
LJ both electric and water,
2. Number and kind of units metered for both electric and
water,
3. Monthly fuel. charge
4. Applicable rate schedule for water
5. The changing of the use of words "net" and "gross"
E, Addition of information regarding A-1 customers moving
into the A-2 classification,
Tom Hopkins, head of Data Processing suggest the return t:o the
"card" type utility bil.l and the use of a mark-sense reading device,
His comments are in Appendix 3. The new bills will continue to con-
tain a return envelope,
postal System
® Problem: Serv'.ce from the postal system continues to deteriorate,
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The cost of postage is rumored to increase; however, service is
getting poorer. Recent billings have gone nationwide before reach-
ing their appropriate destination. Exhibit 4 shows local problems
of undelivered bills and delays in delivery.
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Recommendations At this time, the staff makes no formal recommend-
a on, but only wish to inform the governing body of a future situ-
ation.
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Discussion; The city sends out almost 11,000 utility bills a month.
Thiss cosr approximately $17,100 a year in postage. An additional
penny increase in postage amounts to an extra $1,330. The most popu-
lar rumor is a 3p increase in first class mailings, The increase
1 would add $4000 a year in postal cost.
Some cities have switched to the hand delivery of bills, Denton
has a problem in that the city provides four utility services - elec-
,I tric, Tgater, sewer, and solid waste collection,
i
This has caused problems in establishing a delivery sequence,
Preliminary studies indicate the cost and manpower involved make the
conversion unfeasible at this time; however, further studies are be-
ing conducted, E
Arbitration Boards
Problem; Legal trends indicate the possibility of arbitration
f oa6 rUsfor utility customers in the near future, Courts have ruled
recently in some states that customers must have a hearing before
{
utilities can be disconnected for nonpayment of bills.
Recommendation: Again, the staff has no recommendation but only
w`isS to- n rm the governing bodies of possible future issues,
Discussion; See Appendix 4
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Y!
Catu of Denton unities - - -
iVICF CHARGCS SERVICE AUURESS RESS
Municipal Buildingenton, Terns 76201 IIEPBic eNnii ~ USAGE ACCOUNT NUMBER ~ J.
1 PINISI .A F9MI 1'AI !el
FPAYMEICE NTS APPLIED TFiRU FUN AowSIMEr.n - clip or DaNTON uT1Lli-tes
i' THRU cuAao EIGHT IE PnID oN oR ICE ADDRESS TAx BEFORE
',ktwere AI Ao~ Ic USAGE Y
PAY NET AMOUNT
THEREAFTER PAY
' - SEWER - GROSS AMOUNT
GARBAGE
/ ARREARS
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„J
fIk51 CLA55 MAIL
CITY OF DENTON UTILITIES u s POSTAGE
MUNICIPAL BUILDING PAID
DENTON, TEXAS 76201 oNr ouPJCE
PERMIT NUMBER
507
x ;0_
pr~
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1 Al
Exhibit 4
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M~IIAAIr+Mw -.:„a . ...,~.Y,,,,.,d_-. ..a _ - ...e..:.u 1".
Si
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PyISY41 r-
Exhibit 5
l~ ,Vif~ Q~f .,~Q N
y Yf\ I ,,_-I~ a.r0 M'C LLOYD wGIGNiI 19A1Ir 40YO W01~
v • f1m u) Vol pr. i'rokkuom wa r
~ RIB ~
• yti
TOI-
I j~ «j r'7 CITY OF DENT dN TI IT~IES-~.
MUNICIPAL IJILDIh~G
~ ''h' - ! • ~ , rank uoY 1 rou~r tfGYE'wn ,~d
DENTON, TEXAS~/b'1Qbn...,~
'A A
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IMP
CITY OF DE:NTON
MVNICIMAL BLDG.
t DENTON, TEXAS 76201
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S, Footnotes
1Substantive Rules (Austin, Texas; Public Utility Commission
o Texas, 97F;-p, 25,
2Ibid., p. 29,
3
Ibid,
4Ibid., p. 28,
5Ibid., p. 29,
f BIbid., p, 32,
r 7
See Appendix 4
BSubstantive Rules, p, 27.
gIbid., p, 34.
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Appendix 1
Memo
Enclosed is the first list of problems and proposed
changes with the collection, billing, and custorner service
of the utilities. Please take these items under cons fder.a-
tion and in about one week we will get together and discuss
them. A second list will follow.
F
*Note- PVC should have been FUC
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De osits
® Problem; Deposits are not sttfficient to meet
bills - avg, res. delincue pr cat' uLiL.it
.
comm. delis;tuent bill is $g38bg2~ is $101.07; avg.
Proposed Solutionss
1) PVC allows for deposi.t• to be 1/6 of 1 year's avg,
billing;-for Denton approx. A-1 22,00
A-2. 75A0
B-1 112.00
2) House or apt. B-2 2110.00
(all electric) $100,00
House or apt, (other) $ 50
Commercial '00
(ssnal.I) $100:00
large comm & industrial deposit to 6 determined
f on individual cases, security bonding; on some
cases.
3) Elimination of deposits for residential users in
lieu of. $20-$25 service charge
i a, Would not have to bother with deposits and
refunds except for commercial & industrial
b. Would not have to pay interest or refund
1 c after a certain period
LI ox. 263 new customers montlity in Denton
! j d, Continue deposits or require honding on
o commercial and other large users
4) Keep present policy
Residential - $25,00 S
Commercial- - $50.00 1
Large Comm, - $100.00
j Problems Col,',ection of deposit b. Credit
l 1) PVC has complicated list or procedures; (see enclosed
handout) for Denton to Lmptlrnent would require 1. I
I new employee minimnn and several part time emplo!'ees
during beginning; of classes at Chc uttf.ver.s iti.es; also
space, furniture, & egUi.pnscn(: would he necessary:
2) PVC also calls for el..iminat:ion of deposlts for all
customers over ng;e 05
3) L:lim.innti.on of deposits in lieu of service charge
would solve this problem
j 4) Present Policy - No credit ;riven to deposits - deposits
1 are required from all customers
i
Problem; Refund of deposits and payment of interest
Proposed Solutions
1) PVC calls for a refund of deposits after one year of
r "Being Good" on paying utility bills and payment of
1 at least 6% to be paid either annually or at the time
deposit is returned to residential customer,
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2 years period is applicable to commercial customers,
This can be paid to customer or credited on customers
account, For Denton to implement, the present 2 clerks
would probably require additional help
2) A continuing problem is complaints from customers
that deposits have not been refunded when in fact they
have. Solutions to this include;
a. Make all refunds/int, payments by check as Lone
Star Gas does. People feel more secure if they
can see refund. Would cause additional work for
accounting at all. levels. Solution does not eli-
minate problem completely,
b. Partial solution is to not refund deposits until
service is disconnected.
C. Continue on present policy of just answering the
complaints
' 3) Elimination of Deposits - If deposits were eliminated,
the following could be done with present deposits on
hand.
a. Refund all deposits
j b. Hold deposits and refund at discontinuance of
service
c Make service charge retroactive
4) Present Policy - Deposits are refunded after one year
if requested and no interest is paid Refunds are
credited to customer's account. According to personnel
in customer service, more customers become delinquent
after deposits are refunded.
t 5) Present Ordinance - Hold deposits until service is dis-
continued; Ordered change in 1971 by Public Utilities
Director to refund of all deposits after one year of
prompt payment. yy
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Collection Policies and Procedures
Problem; Due Date
j Proposed Solutions;
i 1 PUG recommends 15 day due date & 5 day notice to cutoff
2~ Denton ordinance calls for 10 day due date and 10 day
i notice
Problem: Penalty Charge
3
f Proposed Solution,
1) PUC calls for a one time penalty not to exceed 5% ni%be
made on delinquent commercial or industrial bi11s; how-
ever, no such penalty shall apply to residential bills
under this rule
2) City ordinance calls for 10% peralty for all delinquent
bills
3) Eliminate the penalty and just charge a "gross" bill
4) Present policy is 101, penalty for all delinquent bills
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Problem: Cutoff Notices
Proposed Solutions:
1) PUC calls for 5 day notice with proper notice being
a mailing or hand delivery - under present office
procedure, impossible for Denton to follow
2) Ordinance calls for 10 day notice sent by certified
mail
3) Present operation - regular mailing or hand delivery
due to cost and practicality
Problem: Utilities are being deemed as necessities by recent court
rulings; therefore, they cannot be disconnected without a
proper hearing
Proposed Solutions:
1) PUC does not address this problem
2) Establishment of arbitration boards
3) Further reasearch into new developments and legal
trends in this area
4) Continue present- policies until tested in court
Delinquent Accounts
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J Problem; The poor - their inability to pay; for example, section 8
renters have rent subsidies, but no utility subsidies
Proposed Solutions:
1) Contact Jim Carter of DHA and began discussions on
the possibility of adding the cost of utilities to
~ the rent of section 8 housing units
2) Pursue further cooperation of the Welfare. Agency in
this matter; presently Salvation Army helps in paying j
off delinquent bills more than Texas' Welfare Agencies 1
(at least here in Denton)
t 3) Deferred plans probably will not work according to
staff members because of rising utility bills, but
is an alternative
4) Continue preaent policy - no established policy
Problem: Deferred payment plans
Proposed Solutions:
1) PUC recommends cities to have one but does not require-
however does have regulations covering those cities
which have them
2) Establish a deferred payment plan patterned after PUC
suggestions but geared to the City of Denton needs with
the following guide lines;
a, Allow the city staff to individually design plans
but within broad considerations as outlined by PUC
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I Size of delinquent: RCCOMIL
~ 2• Customer's Abi11ty Ln pa,y
3. Customer's hirlnry
• 4. Time debt hats been outstrrndtng
5. Reasons for ottLsLandittl; etch:
6. Other relevant factors
b• Regqwire customer to come in to establish plan
and sign some farm of agreement
C. Require customer to pay an undetermined amount
of outstanding hills
d. If penalt:y f.or resider~tial users is eliminated
to conform to PVC, the 5% charge can be added
back in according; to C'V(;
3) Establish deferred tiItans, but: do rtnt publicize the
\ fact to hold dowrt ahttses,
ru i 4) Presently, city does riot have an "oEEi.cfal" policy,
but the customer service (lept. does follow "unofficial
plaits" based mainly on their own disigresston, flits
policy has made lhr. r service wr
eople L[r r.uslome
p -
r" comfortable, and they desire the city make some sort
of official stand, i
Problem: Apartments and Other Large Accounts Defaulting on Accounts
Proposed Solution: '
2) Larger deposits or. bonding
) Requirement of ittdi.viduaf mcLers on all units of
i apartments - for. Apartments with more.
3) A computer run at: the first of the mont:thn nit
11 ato5print5Out
tip
all delinquent: bibs to be
i and City Attorney , Oven to Vinance Di.recLor
Mimt, over x doll.a`rs,trnro. of s dafor ys overduen etchf)1s
Printed to be decided by finance DI-rector, CiL,y Attcrney,
I 4 Customer Service Supervisor, and Date Processfnr Kip,er
) Closer c.oimrtunications between Cost.omer Service Snperlisor,
finance Director, and City Attorney on matters concerning
del iriquent bills
5) Swift prosecut:Lon with mucPi publ.icf t:y on delinquent
i cttrLomers to encouraf;e others Lo pay bi.l.l.s
t ,
{ 6) Cannot cutoff uLilil.i.es to tenant;
7) Presently, no set policy or Procedures
? Problem: Clad Checks
t
Proposed Solutions:
1) Raise service charge oti all returned checks I:o $4.00
2) Add service charge Lo uLLII'Ly hill if. service charge
is not paint when re.curned check Is paid
3) Charge Penalty ff check is p,-it(! on Lf.nte but in returned
4) further Lego: action, if r.onstwer is a habitual returned
check writer
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a " Problem: Fart of the p:ight of poor is thnc there are minor,
but easily corrected plumbing problems which roues
their uLilityy bi11s. These problems usuaily can be
fixed with ttie changing, of a washer or some changing
of tubing or. wiring, The problems to uncorrected due
to lack of knowledge of the mechanics of the devices.
Proposed Solutions:
1) CnlisL the shops at Denton iil.gh School in holding
clinics of How To Do Minor Repairs
2) Borrow or buy films that: Dailris uses in their re-
habilitation department: chit dent with such subjects
as how to fix a toilet, electric switches, eLc,
3) Enlist aid of Denton Housing Authority in Lhis program
4) Present golicy - Jack Lester goes nut on his own
time to help customers who have these problems
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Appendix 2
Memo
i
Enclosed is the second and presenl;ly the final, list
of problems and proposals for changes in the collection,
t
billing, and customer service aspects of the utilities,
i
This list deals with customer relations, service, and in-
house changes.
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Customer Relat;.ons
PUC Requirements 0n Customer Relations
1) Mnintain a current set of maps showing the physical
location of its facilities
2) Assist the customer or applicant in selecting the most
economical rate schedule
3) Notify customers affected by change in rates or schedule
of classification
4) Post notice in a conspicuous place in each business office
of the utility where applications for service are received,
` informing the public copies of rate schedules and rules
f relating to the service of the utility are available for
inspection
5) Furnish such additional information on rates and services
as the customer may reasonably request
6) Upon request inform its customers as to the method of
j ' reading meters
Proposed Solutions; 1
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1) Conform to PU±" on all points i
2) Conform only on selected pointe
Present Policy - relates to # in PUC requirements)
1) LoLated in utility offices
2) Assistance is presently given
3) Customers in A-1 rate class are not notified when they
move into the A-2
4) No notices are posted
5) Information is provided on request
I 6) Information is provided on request
Problem: Image of the utility is very poor
Prooosec: Solutionr :
1) The publLcation of a rate, policy, and procedure (garbage
pick up days, etc.) booklet to be given to all new customers
and/or old customers
2) A public information program
1T
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a. Frequent news releases to local newspapers and radio
stations (KDNT, KNTU); also NTTV ( North Texas Tele-
vision Network)
1
b. Insertion of paid advertisements in the local news-
papers and engagements of radio time for paid adver-
tisements, all designed to promote a greater under-
standing and appreciation of the municipal utilities
c. Promotion of
speaking engagements for top officials
of the City at local service clubs and other groups
for the purpose of expanding, understanding and ap-
preciation of the municipal utilities
3) Keep employees informed of activities so they can discuss
Flo matters knowledgeably with their neighbors ,end ucquaintences
4) The establishment of "repair" clinics as previously discussed
5) If converted to another type of bill, the inclusion of in-
formation in the customer's monthly bill
i ~
6) The printing of fuel adjustment cost on utility bills, This
practice was discontinued, but the computer still does the
calculation. Either a memo from the manager, Jack Owen, or
the Finance Director can restart the practice
~ 7) The city presently has no information booklet or any public
relations policy
i Problem: Customer Complaints
Proposed Solutions:
f 1) iPUC ts calls for that upon complaint by a customer eith
ffice, by letter, or by telephone, the utility shall
j promptly make a suitable investigation and advise the
com- plainant of the results there of. It shall keep a record
1 of all complaints which shall show the name and address of
the complaints, date and nature of the complaint and the
t adjustment or disposition there of for a period of two
IJ years s,Ibsequent to the final settlement. Complaints with
reference to rates or charges which require no further
action by the utility need not be recorded
2) follow PUC recommendations would ~ probably
necessitate addi-
tional clerical help
3) Present Policy - complaints with the exception of rate or
charge complaints are kept
Service
Problem: Billing & Form of bills as required by PUC
rII
MOMMEMOr
4,.
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Proposed Solutions;
. 1) The PUC requirements of information on bills which Denton
presently does not follow
a, Requires date & reading, of the meter at the beginning
and the end for the period for which the bill is rendered
for both electric and water
b. Number and kind of units metered for both electric &
water
r~1 c. Monthly fuel charge
I I i
! d. Applicable rate schedule for water
e. The improper use of the word "net" and "gross"
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j ~L) Present Policy - The city lacks the information listed above
I I
Problem; Refusal of Service
Proposed Solution:
1) PUC rules say a utility may decline service to applicants
until. compliance due to these circumstances
a. Applicant's facilities inadequate
E
b. For indebtness
r
c. Refusal to make deposit
2) The addition of this section to city ordinance
3) Continue present policy - The city ordinance dues not ,
address itself to this matter, but procedurely, the city
staff follows PUC rules.
Problemi Discontinuance of Service
Proposed Solution;
1) PUC requirements allow discontinuance of service for
,
a, Failure to pay bill after 5 day6 due date
b, Violation of utility rules
c. Failure to comply with deposit or guarantee arrangement
i d. A known dangerous situation
e. Tampering with utility company's meters or equipment
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2) Present ordinance allows for cii.scontl.nuance of sar-vi.c(.,
for all of pUC recommendations except d (Discontinurance
for a known dangerous situation)
3) Discontinuance for a known dangerous situation .is probably
seen as an implied power of the utilities Director - could
be added to present ordinance his legal protection.
Problem: Meter Records
Proposed Solutions;
i
- 1) PUC requirements
a. Each utility shall keep a record of all its meters.
Showing the customer's address and date of last test
b. Records of meter tests should show: I
j 11 ID number and constants of the meter
f 2. Standard meter and other measuring devices used
I 3, Date and kind of tests made
4. Who made test
5. The error or percentage of accuracy at each load
tested
I b. Sufficent data to back up all calculations
2) Presently, the city keeps records on the location of all
meters, but it is doubtful records are as exact as re-
quired by PUC
j Problem: Meter Tests on Request by Customer
Proposed Solutions,
1) PUC calls for test of a customer's meter on request - if
request is made within four years of a previous test and
found to be within the accuracy standards established by
i the American National Standards Institute Inc., or the
American Water Works Association, the utility may charge
a service charge up to $15 for a residential customer
# 2) Presently, the city tests meters on request for no charge
to the customer
In-House
R
Problem: Due to location of two universities in the city, there
I are many transcients who move from place to place often
f leaving, unpaid bills and using ficticiou:s names.
Proposed Solutions:
1) The requirement of the customer to give a driver's license
number
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2). Less effective solution is to just require
ID or credit card some pictureless
3) Continue present proceduere which requires no form of ID on
deposit cards but does rquire a permanent address
Problem: Customer Service does need an additional clerk to help
in office work and collections
Proposed Solutions:
1) Hire an extra clerk fulitime
I 2) Hire a part time person
I 3) Keep present setup ~
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Problein: Basej on a month's computer reads
over a gut, there is constantly
{ $100,000 worth of outstanding bills in the hands
of about 1,000 customers
f Proposed Solitti.ons:
i
f 1) Hire a full time bill collector to spend his/her time colle In free tg, and at tem ti-Wggtt to collect delinquent bills,
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Service. Salary wouldpprobablymbeaaround Customer
$ UO/year
2) Presently, a meter reader does bill collection when he
F is not pulled to read meters, connects and disconnects,
and other duties
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Problem: High cost of postage
Proposed Solutions:
1) Switch to a
i post card bill which will reduce bills from
13c to 9c; 80 if we presort
~ cards by zip codes
j 2) Mailing bills at 12c b
1 and deliver in y presorting hills b lip codes mon but would acquire padditionaleclericalatime intsorting the
bills
8
3) Hand delivery of utility hills - preliminary studies in-
dicate it would take 1 person working at least 1 month
full time to set lip a delivers a bill which includes electr1ic, wate e Denton
a
and garbage watr and sewer,
4) Present procedure is the use of 13c first class mailing
a VI
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Problem; Present bill his been creating a lot of computer problems;
Also, presently, due to present form of bill, a duplicate
copy is made. The copy is good for those customers who
forget to bring bill, but results are that at the end of
the month a great deal of paper is Lhrown away; Also re-
lated are keypunch errors & other clerical mistakes
Proposed Solutions:
1) Return to a mark-sense bill
Imo` 2) Use of optic scanner to read meter, read cards, bills, and
tax statements
Both methods above would eliminate the time consumed presently I
and the errors resulting from keypunching, Both probably could not
be instituted until the new Data Processing System is installed and
! the new mechanical
E envelope stuffier is bought.
I
Problem; Reading of Meters
j
E Proposed Solutions:
1) PUC calls for a general practice of reading meters on the
same corresponding day monthly
2) Presently, the city policy agrees with PUC recommendations
3) Presently, the procedure has been an "impossible dream" to
those involved due to turnover of meter readers, bad weather,
j morale, and sometimes the amount of supervision often the
! reads will be more than 5 days behind, presently timing of
reads best yet.
4) The Finance Director, Bill Bryant, feels the value of meter
readers has been understated, The meter readers provide
the city cash flow from the revenue generated by the bills
while fighting off dogs, weather, and inconsiter.ate customers,
Often the meter reader is the only city employee a utility
customer seep:, Mr. Bryant feels that a raise in salary will
help to lower the meter reader turnover and overtime. By
superior personnel, one possibly two, meter readers can
be eliminated
5) By encouragement and training, aLt:empt Lo improve the
supervisory and managerial skills of the chief meter reader
s
Problem: People who pay their bills of cr receiving cut off notice
r still have utilities cut off due to slowness of office
operations
Proposed Solutions;
1) Use of a special envelope to be included in cut off notices
6 VII
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• to
quickly identify payments when received by mail or in
the night depository
2) Continue present procedure which does not include any
special marks or identification
Information:
Sec. 12.08 (f) of the City Charter calls for a management
study to be made once every 10 years by a management firm of
utility systems - this has not been done as last known survey
is 1962; However, this does not include information gathered
1 for the Power Pool.
Information: Sears has made a request to be allowed to make utility
bill collections. Jack Lester feeds the disadvantages outweigh
f the advantages. Negative points i.ncl+lde a service charge of
I 1'Op on each bill and daily pick up of. payments each day from
Sears.
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Appendix 3
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f
Memo
}Enclosed is an analysis and proposal for returning to
the card type utility bill, tax statement, and meter read
document utilizing a mark-sense reading device,
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The purpose of v'Ls proposal is to present a solution
to the following pro.l ms associated with customer relations,
the customer service partment, and the data processing
department. The idc,-ifiable problems are as follows;
1. Illegible utility bills
Due to the construction and quality of the present
form of utility bill, legibility is a problem. This
results in three possible mistakes;
a) the customer remitting an incorrect amount
b) the cashier recording an incorrect amount or
account number I
C) the key punching of an incorrect amount or account.
C number
The consequence of these types of errors are obvious.
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2. Turnaround time for cash receipts
I The trunaround time for cash receipts is approximately
three to four working days.
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3. Turnaround and accuracy in meter reading cards
Presently the turnaround on punching meter reading
i l cards is about one working day and the cards are not
! verified.
i f 4. Keypunch personnel
j Presently, the Data Processing Department employs 2,5
keypunch personnel and three data recorders, it is
most probable that by next fiscal year this will ire
! f increased to 3 keypunch personnel and four data record-
era,
The following table details the time spent keypunching
various types of data.
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1 KEYPUNCH TIME ESTIMATE
PER MONTH ;
! meter reading cards 20 hrs
1 tax receipts 15 hrs
l utility receipts 100 hrs
U5`Trs per month at 4,40/hr= $540,00
rental of one data rocord- 180.00
total cost per month
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The return to the use of card type bills and mark sense
meter reading documents is here proposed, and below described,
as a solution of the four problems,
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1. Illegible utility bills
Because the new form would be one part rather than
six parts, illegibility of the bill would be elimi-
nated.
2. Turnaround time for cash receipts
Cash receipts would be processed by the mark sense
reader thus eliminating the keypunch time involved.
Additionally all keypunch errors would be eliminated.
3, Turnaround and accuracy In meter reading cards
Turnaround would be reduced to about 3 hours, and, as
ff in the case of cash receipts, keypunching errors would
be eliminated.
i 4. Keypunch personnel
1 The keypunch load would be reduced to the point that
i two keypunch personnel would be sufficient,
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The following gives an approximation of the cost of the
necessary hardware to process the card type form,
mark sense reader: $300 per month
(including maintenance)
4 stage envelope stuffing machine: $15,000 one time cost
This type stuffing machine could also be utilized to insert
various circulars into utility bills and tax statements
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r ` Appendix 4
/ process hr{,u•,• it roil Irrusinnlr Firers-: to surlt srr-
i vier or hvi irfil. in II ruse mr ony _,Ivrn ittdivid•
nn 1.".hill h'.Snl+p. 111 417 1 F11111 11nfrs notified.)
i~ U c G„n(hr}~'(1 Ilinintr ir•rrlrl,rl 1111• Fir ion ILuI fun ];riit, s .ehrtl• f
Cf.4fl5l~.yt15 off lirnr•liw t+u, lu lie f
nirmnrrd :rR•amel frr rrquirr-
l 111r'nls of rhtr prurrss, Ihr rnurl smttihf. In dotrrodne
just wbnl Ihose vorluirrnu•mis arrr.
I-0snorioinl,' Ihr ndrilmiry of Con Ildisou's prnrtien
A Utility's Cmistitutional Ditty to rl,rlnrdinf! rtmtirr, Ihr• rnorl fnuud tlinI nhrn n rnlt,s11m-
Affor(1 Due Process of Law to or u'n.s doted fill, accrue fermimtltmt, tiro only 10.
Its Customers firr received wnv o ;1" }ry k" slip or paper, which,
AN411- from rlnJrs• duller nmomils, Fircntml. nttntbors,
(Part II) will adrirevs, staled simply:
By NORTHCUTT ELY' r'7'nrn.tlff Nedier--Il'r arr .snrr•y, hsrl your ter.
oed oirr wid br di.sconlimird mdr.cc Ihr, total amount
fAEDERfCK H. KITTS, Esquires shntrn lrrlmr is lsnid.'r
Analysis of Recent Cases Involving I'hr r0ur1 betel 111111 Ibis rlolirr of Irrutiunlinn tans
iruulrrlurHr--•Ilral it fniird In pn~s "C`nngtilutinurl
the Right of Electric and other Utilities r,,stcr":
to Out Off Service for Non-payment
r of a D118 Dill ")it drtrrloining file rrrttslttutiomtl ndrquney of
lvhn! Inn pit is In hr umlirr in ntt5' I:irrn rnn(r~l,
1111 Several recent )''actual enurf deekion4 hnvr invniv011 courts Innlc fn Ihr prnrtirnl rrililic of rirrunt•
notions by Wilily eits}rnnrrs rhnllmtuinl ac vinlnftvr slaurl,s of hnnrl. Jlitlhtne t', ('mind llnuncrr'rrt:st
of due proem the r}rrlrioity rill off proeedurrs em. Co, *w }I.,r,, ,toll, 70 9.0. 11+2. Od f, A55
ploYed by A utillly, Iu Fill bill, Finn insfnllt e, al"or (ltlyit}), 71rr 'rralilry sn Ihr ruse at brim how.
welghina file inlerr.09 of the rnrtknnn'r agnim'l 1- e, rorr, is lhnf f;oi girl, ba,I:.nu_l undrr_Ialrrri„I'll , any
l int(wMR of the niftily, Iho roods hove hrhl Ilt_nf- 11-0111 to advisr lire ruclnl}err nJ lhr rrrurrr,erc nl.
due m_crtis rrltitlrts nnl lrp• Find n hrnrntg prior to 1r(lrrllq urvdilrrblr in 1l- i»r or lrrr, JIMP01/mIn Nd I'll (I
J w' puhlinufillfyRgry Pltrsninnltnn Crnl air rilrprnj,rmir lrnrnlprrph arrur(n!il?l millet br
r,. '
I I The most recent prmtomieemptH by it Federal ronrl adelrrl to thr rrlrlity's nnlirr of lnrn•a/f faun with
f nn Will sobject is file ,mullrrru f1kiriel of New '114611( rnsr and urinlntal r.rprrrse." 754 h'.Sup{s
j York's dreislo11 in Brenton e. Cnusnlirlafr,d ISdt:con 111~150(1",111111111sfsoddrri,)
t",a. of Neill York, life., 1150 7.14ujip, 445 (S.D. N.'1'. Af. Ihr• very Iru%l, Ihrrerorr, it Could wom hint All(..,
1072), In thin Rnfl it cousumrr rltnllooped Con 1'ldl lr unlace prior to 11011111 srrcirc 114-1111111111011 hr•
i 1 ( stet's cut-off prnrrdurrR oil, vinlnlivr of Ihr. Duo 1 ro0rs4 CH rptuIN, err non-pnytnrt f rrgltirrs n dr•ritoin mitfemont
j ('lAUSr of the 14th Antenrhnruf, Cmt ltidisou tens nil- lttlvi41t1r,+ till- rnnsrtinrr of the rrlptrdiOR 0111111 fn hint
thnrized by 4tnttslr In fuminnfo urrvil-e to a eusttutlr'' rhis court did Fir,t rluhnrelr nu rile rss„nlinl4 of loch
for non•plyntrnl. of charges nn five clays' notirr, 9'hr trtrtil,l,, or soy' tehnf rrntedirs shutdd have barn Ctrl-
court }sold flint, I}rrrn was sufftrirni slnttl1ory rind Ii
urrl.
reRtslFitnry invo)vowent hotween file SIMI, of Now 1'orlc cl Irrwsiup ifsrlf In t}u• second rlrn+rnt of clue pens
j nod ihn prirntr utility Ru Iluil Ihr Intlrr s nrlinus r,~,s, 11ir leer-h-i-mimidwi Itrmins, fhn rmcrl nrkr+nts•1•
h were "mate Fiction" for pltrposr,s of snit. ruder 41983 rdl+rd fhol 11101cilrh lam ('ausli1n11ou rrquirrs n prior
of the Civil ItirhiR Act, will lhnl alfhnuah it rnnld Itrart11l; when nit "rufillenirnl" is 1}1rrAienrd tetllt
nol be tktrrmitrd whelhrr file ovnilnble prnordurrs Irrntinolin11, IhWr, is nn tu•rrise farm thnl such n
t for rom Inhiln to file ii0illy or file cnnuiNsk11 I'In, Conti } i
1 1f hririm(+ must tulle, uni'rt'rr, ern ihAtirnllt•
i Comported with chic pror4,44, file. nnlirr of Iermtnnlio:i, IT f.rtrd Iwo "nnu-ullrrnaftrrs" oflrn proposed by
which fallyd to woke the oi,0onter of tltn remmiles 101111h-s, rriluitinl,• flip rrr4Nmter, ttpmt reveipl of it
Fivnilablo lu her, was not idequntr. trrolltmllmu mulirr, to cancer 4rrlt rntrrl:rnry relief ht
In Ihlx regord Ihr wntrl, unlrrl till, 4lriking %halinr' Ile, slnfe rnurl.4, or la lur,t' fir.~l corn rnnicsi Ihr loaf-
Ify between utility srrvloa Irrmtinlinm prnoilrr4 And fir uflrr+vlyd4, 'I'l,r reolrl fell Ihr fnrnter uirrAlistir in
ofhrt' IPrntilllrflmlt siluntlnns which hid butt helm to lrt;i lire iml firr Inll,-r merely nvoidnnrr, of nrut evil
rngttiro dup prorrss prior }o cutoff, As rile cnurf snicl by orrrplance of nmrlbrr.
I Itns now hero elrorlt' ranhlisbed heft. '11w coon then pr,irrrdrd to rxrnuinr the tnformnl
1 t
, rl of n
uuor fhn singe has undrrlnlu,n to prnvnlC n errvter trimdi,s open fn ulstouurs nhn, upru rcu dl
In the public, ba it welfare or nnrntpim,vttteul I,•rmiunllnn nnlirr, bmnf(hl l1wir divpotr rlirrr•Ily It)
bpnrfils, thivrrs' lirl,nsrs ml- Ins rxrmpliotrs, it 1110 nfilil•v or Ihr blliNr Public Srrvirr Commissimt.
munt thou Comply with Ihr. rrquirrnunl4 of (1110 finafrnll}', flip nlilily's prorrduri runt;kdrrd of pla0ilig
n "I+nld" on Jilt, ilnntinrnJ, srrvirr slini•nff, invrsif-
'M Ely Is Control Counstl for Iha Ameriten Puhlit Power As. Kltfin+ Ihr outlier, Finial}'Jul! Ihr ritlmlirr •+f Ihr fiurl•
mlofion, ing, with n hrrlhm offal it willing Ihr mnller hrfnre
r1nECAS AP"A 1l`]] YY[(jt
2 REPOR11N0T7ERV 111
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P I'lo i till ll l lAP 1•vr pis, it, prnrf irr 111' IlP ,~tl air (~Ur11- wall fl I'Plllll ll' it~l 'q If ill( rlnll~N' pl'llr l' f, i'i'in it it- 1
mission tt;ty rssrntinily for saolr. Nfifinl! Ihul, sra'11 lion of flair nlihly urtior. tint it is highly on. 11
prarllres wore uol Ilia Ili InIPil, Ill rI oxi%IvrI suhjrrt only tito.Iv Ihnl file 0-him fir hr.
}e fhr ihrhrc Ihnl 11 hrnrlug
n'illingnrss of flip Itlilily aurl flip enaltrii."inlt, hi 11011141 lV 1 ogni0mI to rlor 1lof ier and prier to frr•
Iltr crr cunrrael foul} "nn drlrinninnlinl as
n' fn ulinniion, iN t; pipnl fir Ihr r11'IioN fir tilt rill s.
I:rihrr }ilrsr prnel i rrs in furl II rl'rn'd rd fit I td n I PI v It I if If is Ii l•r'IV Ihal Kn1np ru cI milt 1q of IN fI1•I hprII
fnirnrss rap' hr tundr oil tllr prr.erul slatp of Ihr rev. Wnrlfit fool foal Illy nddiIinaol rxta-lisp of spell a
arrf." 1Fi0 1'.RufII, ill 4M, Arenrflinl;l}, ill(, rnlirl do. prnrorhn'e, if it is iudrrd rrquirl'rl, rnulrl rnn•
mi,d 6(1111 parliel' mnlinn.v fnr snminnry judgatnnt, rrivubly rpslrlf in 11 troll, inrrrns, 9a fill eu.lA nt•
and surnmarivil ih holding nt rollott•s; ors, ;Ind This eerinirty would tint Ill, rnrtSirlprril
" . [Alllhough phriniiff is em'reel im hrr rnn• 11rs'rrn1dr. by nll of Ihr oilmeribors of Nor}hrrn."
11,110ort Itint norm, form of In'r.let'miflat inu honr- 469 M,'>d ul 472.
img Ls (4rHttihifintmlly regnirod, Ihr rrrnril ns .Inrlrson I,, Norflirrn Rbrfrs !'open Co,, 24,1 P."npp•
it stands ('moot sopporl n defrloninnfiart ns In ,roil 016111, 1!17^), tens nnnllirr eivil rights IwOoll by
Ilse advifnney of prosonl. In•nVfiew;, And, rlnspilp (ousmua'cs ni!1111 l the snnm' utilily rr.nlpmly for Its
ill, finding hrrviu Ihnl Ihr ox isfitir notier of rlrolrlrilr Nervier I+v'ninal!Flit prr;rrhtrrs. in ildq ill.
Irrminalinn rimlaol puss rnusfilnfionnl mtlstpr, ,lmu'p flip ill Pity had frrndoo; od pmt Ihrfalened to
no tlriernli intinn of splint would hr nrlegiWo in fermilnllep ael-viro' in Iwo of flip ennttrarers hepnus(, of
i Ilia rrl;nrd enn br, mode tviihiml Inlting intn ac- arrears in Rte nrrnools of Ihrir sri:nralrrl hnshnnds.
Vaunt flip nature of flit, hrnriug for which )iotier The rmnprlnv hart Ierm;mntrrl crteirrs to itrn nftlrr
i will be given, rnnsanuvx hrv;m~v of arrpnts in 111, nr,rnlmf of their
"Sutuninry judgment ill favor of either pnrly is lumllnrd. At nn time hod flip rnnlpnnJ' prneirlrrl any
afore innpprnprinle of tbix dmV," 360 PP giIIll,, or file piniwiffs trio, if prr.irrmhlnllon hoaring be-
f 'I" ~*-~tl"~~ fnrp all impariinl hruriliv affirm.
1 i It,battgll flip lbna.rltrr drrisinn nrlnpls the propose. Citing ithrke r. Nnr•lhern Valr,x l'nreer Co., mepra,
lion fltnf Ihr eatleepf (if dllr prnlv's, rprptires flatier of Ihp rmn'i aehnonlrriy+erl thnf plainfilTs' r,gnrsf fnr
hrorblg prior to utility trrminafinn of nlettrie sl,r• t''rlipovory mild prrrnallruj in.junVfive Irlirf, datnfigrs,
_ ','Ire to oustorapm breauso of alleged mnnpnynu-131. it and rLrnntinu []flit flit, iatpl(,Fir(,nllolinn hurl rn•
it dory not elaborate. tnffivionfly se. ns to rifts rnlterme forrrut(,r1t by flip Illilily of its lumina}Ion pronpollrea
gtridt'hlrtVA n.. In pxnV}ly u'br11 lyllp of nnflee fill(' ranslitutrd n vinlnlirln of phljnliffs' highs fir plop
f hearing wmdd tltffiep fnr (1110 provesq pmrpozes, prnrrss undrr Ihr. 11th Anrrmihnrnf, did indppd
1 , n 1 It IV I N ty N t ni otitis In nml<r nut a vausi, of anion nndrr fwn elvil righl..9
j 1972 on flit, tubjrrf of Mrof1•hily srrvie, Inrminfili„a sNllulirs-._.12 11,S,C; 6 198:3 nud 2 3 11,,5,0. § 1741(3)
flit,' to flail •paylil It shed tome nr(llllmlal light on nail (I).
Llrr prnhlrm, Nnl!lit, that pbrimI ffil burl 1111-1 t[lei r burden of
in thr'ke I'. A'orlltrrn Rlrrfes Potter Ca., 429 V.2d 646 sbon'ing irnowilinor and lrrepnrabir lojory, flint Ihpy
(RIh Or, 1972), vnii-minevif brought if Vlvil rights ne• would prolmbly slnvrerl nn llte ntrrils of their rnnsll•
3 Half ngntutt a nflllly rompauy alu'tting Ihnf its rnlpa lulinnal rhlinl. and, Ilurf ill light of }Ill, rssrnlinl on.
Anil regitinfinns rognrdhrg shuf•offs tart niwoilgfifa• tilt'(, of 111( .,l,lviu'N, Ili(- puhlir intVrrsf n•ould also by
j ffonttl iIt flint they pprmitlyd vurh option n'ilhnnf xr'lvrrl, 1111, rmuf nrdrrrtl }hr Wilily lit rrrunnrrl (110,
{ I udr+lnntr prior Holier. and wiflrnnt n fair and im• fernlinuiorl sl rvfrr,s mul Viijoinrrl Ilrn niilily fram
pnrlial llrnrinq, Irrmia;lIirlf! srrvivos ppndhq delrralinntlmt of 1116 Is.
+ I sore, snhjert In flu Ltvunnll by Irlajnliffx of s,enrlt
Thr Court of Al+prals Far ILr l;if 11th C'irenif, in I y
t reversimg to lnivvr rliMrirf 0onrl hold thul }Ill, ufility'q dr'Ilw il.N +n1d , nlov of r-hargr s ns Ihrv eranr dtir!.
ni-Ontl regnrrfing Irrminnliom tvnq ,otop npiinn" snr. Whnl k nmal kignifivnol rlhomt Ihr ,mtrt'q grunt of
firj,nt for Anil under Ibe rivet rlghls shilufrs, till' Ilprrdmuinnry im.ilnlelinll is fh(1f Hilt only dill Ii
Ihnt lloialifl.N would rrnlmn, t turrVrd nn ihn
1 / ilull Ihr pnntnntrrs cni! ehull n;ini. , !ii'
! 1.I 1110 vnuNlifm• I I L'
tiottilifv of tiro 1111111.1"c'; oermiruthon proerflnres rrrls of Ihrir runsliltlfirniui rlilhu, but 111111 Illy cnrn•
r Vnuirl trot hp mninininod os it r1ncN Minn. wnmlri nnl sushltn gaol iiijmry if lujnnelivp re-
A llhnugh Ibe ronr'I never nrirlrrss'rd ilsrlf dlrrr.{It, lief urle flrpulrrt.
p}nrt
f to Ihr rnttslihtlluml ksile, filar is Ito flnnbf, ill load u~nulri pro probba aibl,ly Fill'
u rr+i! rsrl oil Ihn stil Ifirt tnrl' 1-rilsf, hr Ih, pounrlrt
Stith retpret in Ihr is mw of not 10-04 dial flip pmtrl Pifer! Voris e. II'rrr.114 I'Supp. (117 (1\',17; On. 1911),
woiIId havo rprfllirerl this noltrln print' fn 14, Inn „
flan of Ihn utifhy't .Nrrvirrv, liI dlsr111otvhlr IIriN tvns it ehws nefinn 13%, npitr'InivIlf lenrnlfq In re..
ih0 Aui}, 1(11,1 flu• fr'rill iit it Iinn of icnivr v,rvire il} flail' )I rmo-
to be nininlainpd as n Vlasq 110 loll fhr Court uotprl' Nes. I1nder the ferrns of it lrnap flit, III411'Ilrlenl inurf•
"The rinse iv nllegrd it) ilelurle Fill Ilosp prr• lll•,I lutd nssnIofmI Ihr nhligatinl In prey all wafer
smt.q n•IIn rVSide in Sfp hills who bnvr made n1.. ehin'rres. fluwovrl•, hrpnu.r of rlVlrellve Illnmbilig
pllefiflun to N}orlhrriI for nlifiII- srrvfrr. it is It hi do rr tlllrrf iu ;m e.xnrbilnut wa.etr of tenter, the
pncgihlr film all slrh pPI-mim who art, arionl snh. Innrlln•41 rn mr,il it, pnI' flit, r-imiiufr sizable littler
serihrru \ii-toOd sharp Ihr deshr of Ihr Ihrhrs for 4-1111twr. '1'111. llrpnrfmenl or Willer' C'aricv s',Ihsequrnfly
it ehnllge in the rmlVS nild rofnllnlious n'hieh ir1'Ininnlrri rcni0r mer'vires of phlinfiff's prrlnisVs and
JANUARY 1974 3
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rrfttsrd to rreonrlrnt lullif the blrap no lsl;urd!it, bill have paid 911911 In 11 I,latll+lI'll wItoln Iu'hhn ry hofinsur, tu
9191•
' WAS fully paid. The Cily of Allmiln, 11,•I,;Irfmrnt of lire! ul,nu In I+n' Ihr rcnlrr bills and
rn
Wodf-r Works, nl,torl porslnnll }n eify ordi11AU4-es prr• ahlurlimi-d Ihr hilil,liu-, rild ifs pmt (lull Ai nfer
lit iII!upt t0rmiif AIiut of wrvirits Ilif oil Ihrrr' days' Lill, noel Ihr winenli,nl of Ibuse lrnanl" t• ififfi•
notice for nn11•pnylnpat of inrnrrod vhnrlro"., dllbollph 911111, if null iulpr~siblr with Ihr rrilienl hnnslnK
nnNer was given to fit(- Imlrflord, uurt(o n'n'< Kiveri In Ihr "hnrlilKl' in IIll, I)iOrirf of ('411111111in, it Lrnlthl
Ipunafs. flu ,snppnrf of }heir soil, plnintirfs aruiwd bo rill abuse n. Hint dilwrelhal lit sIml off Illy
thal file sotmmary Irindrtnfinn nF unlfor srrvirrs wolor 111111 1 wrrht• four fit(, 10-1141111" In forty for
without, nolivo or llparinr violdod Ihoir rll;hla to (tile Wlial tfloy puny Fond hr li;ih!v." 121 Ir.Supp, nt 071.
prnrtrsa under Illy 1-11h Amendrru,rlf.
The rourt f; rnn riTllir rr'•"fi'nlnirui';rilr,jlrurliml snnt~hf llnsrznrrirr srrrex In it 11.1-f fhr ern'rfnl Iwllrinl Fob. t
by the feuntils, notiuft thief, wnfrr !s "fill nbsntuli, srrt'rr In 1110- rrnl pussihillly 11u1f 911111911 luny come In
nrrrssity of life." '1'1191 0-n rely Ill-1161%, nn fill, 114,1 iou thrll Ill! Illy IornliliAlinlr
trrl Inmpnrrn 115' ru,jrlined
drfrtulanls from tr'rloinalln{r wnlrr s0-rvi,es In plnln• pt1wc-tires for nun•pnrln„ul rerfnlr0- rquilnhlr (.0111 1.
nniinus trhrn nn11•pnymrnl i11vnlt'rs r11"ndnlnfrd
lift, And from refwdiig to 4-nnfrar'1 dirrrll,v n'ilh flip
I(,mnts solvly nil the uro11nd 111011 Ihr bill was mrrr4 lrna111s
by for landlord. In !'nhnr•r 1•, ('r,lnrnhio f!r>v !.'n, )J f)hin, 112 h'.5npp,
211 (NA), Ohio, 11',1). 1972), plaintiffs rnrltlnourr'd a
Noling }lilt n hearin{," tvnldli spry !idle 1111 rI vmv ill 1'1!1"5 11,•114)11 fn rll,jnlrl dr'frrt,la elf Kris t'nlltprrily Frotll
IIfi" elIRe, slow All lutrlirr; nlleedrd Itmt Ihr }pit II III ill t•nhlIll it rily IrrulilulllnK 19111" sc,I•viI - I ht rnndravril-
Avert, never legfilly linlllr for Ihr %votfrr bill, flip rnlu•l
lion of Ihr, fnnrrdurrd due hrnrr"" rrquirrrnrnlx punr•
rnncrntrnled oil for requIrenirnt of nnllrr, The courl it rllrrd by 111 to f,ll1 m11 11111 Atnrnrfulrnls.
dlsnflssrd 1111' "p0ssih10 (1] Is l no 191" pmrd by file fold 'I'hr rnul'I swirl Ililt 1 11191 evidpt[er rr-,
flint If tens Ihr Inndlnrd, Allot pool fllr fellnnt, lvho hod Ilrfrlrrl nrdbtf thr
ill(-
y }he dirret pa,yin{,r r0illlnnc!1if1 ui111 Ibr I)0-I,nrhnont anl 's olHia1lnnflnn (nnerdurrs 191 flifled n rather
, r ,ahnrkinpl}• rnuus sort ingn'rxnuul 4)!f!}11!!91 ol,ml ill(of Wolfer !forks and u•hn u'Aa Illrrpfurr, rtlfiftrd lip nn- pnri ❑r ihr
fill R•ndanl119 h'.5upp. 111 241. 511th
tire. As Ilte:enurl ."n hluntty pill it, "Iruildlnfrs Qri not Irrrllirnlliml prn,,rdntrs inrlllrlyd shol•nrr unlirrs re-
n"r natrr=prnple dn. 1111r Inp1- of privily between 1111irin;,1 pnymenr Arifllin floor 11nys, sb111•off nnlivos
tennntaiirl wnfrr suppllrr tens unl print ml ling i bosrd nn rsfiuoltell rrrultufa with hide moll,!' I!)nea
"The Cunrt. belireps Ihr NO flint flip C:ily fins t_rrealrr flrnll the runs11polop's tlsnnl hill, .6111-tiff ualiees
/11Fotlorlnkrn In prnvidr u•nFrr fn rill nu11111ors of brims new aria 11 rlisplrlr wrs rrsulvrd, Kns service
flip mtinicipntify vpnn ltpplienfiml (which !I ulna Ierull11nlinll wifhnul fifty nurutnnrrnlrul fo life 04111•
I' it d11f}' In do) renders Ihr- irnpnrlnnl hlnlrfit he- sumvr, lerpidwilinn nfder pllyAV'Ilf or 11 cli"liitled bill
! '1 stowed by file C6. s11rfivie11ffy nrultnl(ntls In nn mid drlnts In 111i, IC-111111 rrslurnlirn or Vila "reeler,
i onlhlrulmtl' fo sill lafy Ally rrquirr'lnrllf Atnrlft The rnnrl, ttofiag flip Turf flint 111110 wh)lers fire 0-a•
this ling in Ihr recall tiiiftrrmr, (burl dveisinns, pr,riolly rolrl told billow, willdpodrd:
The erurial fnrtor Sn file loslunt rase, !s flint fhr,
} "ry'hr 911idenrr leaves nn dnuLf whAlvver flint
effect of Ibr rnll(r.limt Irnrrrlorr is In Irrlnlna}r
Ihr onnsrgorners For diollimt off qns srrvier !n•
All important bl,nrflt, prnvirlorl b0- it {ruvvrnml,ulal rliels havil4hlps tpmrr fill- eons,wwr flint far Irou-
f ageliny (t}hril At rwd In Ihr otlMo er) wifhnul srr,11d Ilrr luxe of drivinfr privilrxes, clrbly
E ! uollre lit !hl, per"An whn iv Ihr A0-}nlil rreiplrill in {u1+'inI nnolnpln}'atrul rnnllnnlsufi011, For
of that bon-fit mid whn is Ihr person tvhn will evprl Ill, dionIn I of Ilirrrl rrlior pnymrilk.
r ? "offer A "rrlous lnvs willinnl (hoof bl,nrfil. ''11is r0-- '
(n!dbrr r, ICrlly, :%!117 II,N, 211,1, 90 5,C'I. 1011,
\ atilt is ununrr ilrthlr unclrr (;Iddhrr !Cell!', Ilril
1 t; r. 2'i li,Nrl. 2d 247 (19111). 0-l prrsnu enn freow in
v, )iursnn, and Ihn duo proms" rlnoso of file hnur' drnlh fir (fir of linrurnnnin 111114-11 Inner 1111irkly
irenlh Atnrndiurnt. The City ronool frratiunfe II11n1 hr rnn xl:nr„ lip death." !1.12 V.SupP, it 1 214.
venter rrrvlco wifhout 1)0fipp to Ihr tichul user of
fhr "rrtivo--In this (ww" Ihr plain Iifr." 328 1:;1rlirnlat9y dnllirwilltr wits Ihr r,rolpnlty's prnrlirea
F'.Sapp.nt32l(fnnU+nlrsumiflrrl,) of uuricing Foul vrod number" of Oml-o!T 11nffros, only
nhnul 4CS of which taro ftillt vrrl up l,% aellml term!.
( lfrt,ectnuiq u, IS'n.cbir7f/inn, 12f P.5upp. 966 !I)AVI nn1i011, 11111ki1ir 1In 11!1'-ti if fu I0-! ,
1071) lnvolvr(t a siinnlinil Ainr,sf irtrtiliwnl will) Ihn! l f t0- nollm! nnllrr whin
iliariir11y irlrl
r of Nitis r; 11'rir, supra. Low iurninr Irtnols for. nglif ar rhilli l1y lvr %viihnisluil nu !vas 11114 (.11,
soli} In rlijoln (ho DWI-10 of ('nlu11ihia frunl lrrnllnn(. insli I.IM1,l11nrlml Ill giving rum nn oppnnn ily in }fin
loin wafer sr•rvlrrs (hir In nniopnymritl by Ihr nIInrl• f glilla For rrsnlce the dl.spnlo. lThe y rode!
muld drfrndnul's "1111! off plnr r(ture`• "r4rnrly nffpn•
f mmpil Inndlnrd. A!Illaul,h no due, prnrr"C rlniols urre vivo fn (von 111e uuisf ilruuenwr} Ittdinu or what eon.
rldard 1y Ilolntiffs nerd file rolled mole an nlln"lrltl .1 it It 10-s dill, lrrueix••." :142 V.Supp. Al
11,11.
wiliff orver }o Ilse rinji0remr'nls of nnllrr fir hrarill" hllnIllig Ibr rrqui..ill, sluf0 Avlinlt III.].,j for salt
1lrlnr to Irriulnnfiml, It rxuttinrd Ihr .e1n}Ilfr w•blrll umlor 11191 Civil W!rhls Ao, 12 11,5S 1981, An
vrst0d dl.eeroNonnry nullinrify !it flip 1A,IHeI of Co - rnllrI IIafit loprl plrllnlifr.. rrrnirst 11111 ru,jnlnrtI Ihn
lunlbin to stint off water srrvirrs for nnuiu}'men}, ('nulJill 11y fl-not IrrnllnAliutr srrrvfro wilhout (life Iron,.
and anld i
res.
It is clrnr flint, vlrpro low lnromo Irnclnfs In SlaoiJarr! r. flas Rrrvirr Col„ '116 h'.511111Z17 (D.
NA90A~'AA PA..)
' EPOATtHO v/Willl
n
t
f.•
ICnusns }972 plnlit iffe retnr1)1,1, l a rlnws nrliou l'hr rntn'Ic hrn•r nnf rlrurlY ~lrlirulolrrl whiii 119111 1%1 drrendtult gn.v vompolrr
allegros! Ibnl 'ho f;o~ elilulls ~nfririrur ruilirr ;air! n hrarinff Ire snllsfy due.
forlninnlinil prurwhirrs rynplgard hy' !I violnlrrl Ill r: prnr„•v rrgnirenu'rlle.' RrIaIrJ rn:r.e in ollu r arras of
adore! trot prarr,ss ro,quirvoirtifs profow vd br Ile „rnli!'rrnrnl" .ill rsr nv n grtidol or- fill. ufililies. 'I'br,sr
!retail! ('toil Uigltls r1rt, 12 lt.N.l', $ I IN;1, I'luiulil's rnsrs ;i;l Ilrn-lirnlrn'I}• isMI-tirlis'r in light of Ihr
canivIOvd (lint a pre-lrrrrlinnlioa prnvedurr, shnltld a• !'nlurr+' d,rieian, cnlrrn. aherv Ihl' callfniuul IIIAI
rsfnhlishrd In nllnw• Ihr rinrtpnIf.'s rnxtninrrs nn ill. shglfing all' ofilIf.K l:tiErr "inlNrlc ImdshlTrt_npml
pIsrtIIII!ly' In vnnlrsl "lilt!} vhnl'urs r11Adr ngniIs for vFshNniwur flat for ttnp`iinl Ihr Ilse" _of nlhrr
Ihein for gn.s wrvirrS rrndrrrrl. ivrltllrriti•ill r.•'''"
1 91lrr i.ssur brfnre Ihr marl svns ss4u•Iher lrloilotifI's
hart, n runs) it 111 innrtfly nrnivelyd rig I rf -nil's dhle FFt-Fnvr srec iGrnny avoided oily ace Cc as
r I Itf or rnliflrnu'nt !a vrhat sn!isfeue process. Sea I+nrlrtl v. Puhlit Service Co. ill
r In glhs servirr, Nulblu IhAt lard, rlulhing [lift 8hrllrl• Colorado, 350 F.Supn 240 (D, Co'. 111721. One court, howrver, in
urr eonsillr`rrl nrrrssnry' In sllslnlit lift," and riling dicta, opined thal nbunco of a notice roolaining inshuellons for
both !'alrltre s v(,vq resolving n dlswne "is nor a lornl defref." tucas v. Wisconsin s
And ll•rir, spprn, for sbollrlt' t1ori0c Power Cn„ 466 V ?d 638, 653 (11h (it, 19721, But see,
prnjsnslllnrls rrguttllllg gn.e mid n'nlrr srrYicr4, Ihr Bronson Y. Cnnsalidaicd Fr1 an, 350 FAvpn, 443, 450 (S.D. N.Y.$
vmirf, finding the rrgUitifr, sI,lf1, nrlinn, I I rld !lint. 19721 where Ihr tour) pink font the Goldberg . should be I7"
1 tfvded in rile notice. See drsrussiart of dberg Y. Kelly, Infra,
Ihr enIs tpntty''s fis illire rslnlrfish rffrrlivr Inr•Irr-
minnHnls tsroerdnrnl sufruntu'ds n'it Is trfrrrurr In s'7horl'rr or not water, gas or olociricity are considered as
malts r „ "life nocosshios" Iles no bearing on fnvohing tor. due process Clouse
fl. I (,ttB xrrvier hlllllltrs 01i;fht svrll hr n oin• Fuentos Y, Shmvin, 407 U.S. 61(1912). Caregodring n service or brae
Entinn nF plnhtfiffs' vnuslifuliolmllti• prnlvvIet! rttllllr• (11 as a "life nocossily" has never born a condition far invoking
111rnIR tlndrr file In'nnd nllruulinus loudr in Ihr rxlcl- due process. E.g., Opp Cairo" hiills'v, Adrninislralor, 312 U.S. 116 111
(1941)3 Unucd Steles Y, Illinois Cons. R. Co., 291 U.S. 457 119341.
n
Ilig i hmm~ds- t." 3'14 1'Sapp, 111 421, lariat!, in Ilir,
rntn:sr of its disrsrssion rrgrtrelinu utility srreiees in Part Ill of this article will run in the February Issue of IRS.
I'riAllnrl to rnnslilnliartnl prated Eon, file euttrf rc"nunrd
up Cllr IIAClg tot- IN dreNinn "lost rlnq"r"Iflyr
'Nothing 18 nlnre hAv Ili flo Altirrivim gy41nin ~
of vilines, hldred 11Anltind, Ilum ill(, vonlintlrrl . • r
exktoner of life iferlf Yrolvellnn of rights nud il~~ (~J~p j 6 C~ t s
i rnllllrntrnf,, llffreling Ibis basin lni11riplr is Ihe~ 111 it(
rr.apnu4UlI111y' of for , irdlrlnrv operating within 1
the frrilooworlc eahsbllehr•1 hr Ihr ir7,rl,00ntr. In F bruar 9.10 NRECA Legal N alt an Union S u
8117", therrfor'r, whnlrsrr flu' ,hwsifivillina of y Y q are
Utility' srrvivp%, be toe} Iiplrls, prtriirrrs, or SominarXlll SanFraodseo,
j Mlllllrlarnts, 8nrh IIFrvsOSlniuhl r sr•rvlrrv Calllornla
j ti tvn"111 pill 29•Mny l NRECA Leal stem in fall ailhin (Tit, snrtrr rnn8ti}uUrrurll pro. 9 Majesllc Hotel
feetions Afforded welfare benefits, nmg,s, dris,• Sell I/!I Hot Springs, Arkansas
rrs' IlrenArs, rrpntttlion In Ihr ens"nlduifs', and uner 24.25 NRECA lag
of Sheraton Billmere
pt mmian of permsmil properly, lilt 118 has hren Seminar XIV Aflanra, Goorgla
previously' drrirle,l by Ihr 11"iterl Stnlha Su srrtnr
j Court." 314 h`, iupp, lit T«1, 1 July 15.16 hIRECA legal linrrnh's Hotel
Seminar XIV Reno, Nevada
INDEX TO VOLlZE-q; LEGAL REPORTING SERVICE, 1073
I GUEST ARTICLES Month Page Month Page
Preparation and Negotiation of the Colloa April 2 Norfhcull Ely and Frederick N. Rills,
1 Ilve Bargaining Agreement (Port 1),--Dell Es'l0ros
Bush lohannesen
Preparation and Negoliallon of tho Collec• May 2 STATUTORY REFRESHER
live Bargaining Agreement (Pori 11).-Dell A Basic Guide to Reprnsontallon Procedure Feb, 2
Bush lohannesen in labor Low (Part 1).a-•W, Brillon Smffh,
The Rural Electric Cooperative and State Sept, 2 Jr.
Regulotlonr The Rote Case (Part f),-.Girls A Basic Guido ro Rapresenlufion Procedure March 2
Krumins in Labor Low (Port II).-W, BrUlon Sntrlh,
If,
Rural Electric Cooperative and State Od, 2 r
Legal Interpretations of New RE Acl Am
Ro ulallonl The Amend. Aug.
fl Role Case 3
rt II ,-G'ri
(Pa rs
Kruminl ) morals.
Considerations Involved With Joint Eleclrlc Nov, 2 RECENT DECISIONS
Power Projects.-Frank E. Martin Antitrust
A UIIIity's Constitutional Duly to Afford Due Dec, 2 Suprrnne Court of fhe USA--Oiler Tall Power March 3
Process of law to Its Customers (Part I),-- Company v, United Stales (On Appeal
JANUARY 1974
5
t
Y
•,i
it
h
hnsir prnhlrlns trill hr ronvidr•rrd. 'flirt exist nl rorll nllt, nliirh, nnfurlnnwlydv, us111 rrquirrs it divnsfrr
curl of Ihr sprrhnm nod po.er file diffrrrul suri;tl +uul of snore ctrl unrl m,n• 1prllirr sII- I in„r In properly
rromomliv run"ifivrufious. ;Ipldv Ir+ 11 it, IwrliP-War rrnsrm for the"
he lorrtl enorgy
TI Iv final x1111 11u,st imporlaIll I'rnur II l1 4, 1 011 onir nr r•risiv. AI,ntdwlnrt' ra1Wilnr•rtl of olrrfriv rt+rrvy whit
F ' fiunnvinl sfnnrllwint aiurr it rehlII'.s rssrnlially to Iltr l,rtuillt' I,I ,risiuliv nrIA, ,rnrk in Pori do rn+miril,nlly.
inl11sir,111 or rnnunrroi;ll vousnnlor, IN fbo IIrohlrta of owned ..4% fvIIIN them Ihr holier powers uu+v 11 Ill horize.
I) 11tnlltIory ot11-1of1numt lr ransr of rll,rlriv e11erttr Ilmr rerr,1lnlirr Imtvrr's ;Irv ant rxeroislthle n+dsidr
hhorln{nv roused 6,t• lark of or 11unvitiiubilily of fnrl Ihr rurpolkifv Iilnily null would Iran users so Inrnled
fur gevi vratiof , In it h,vrlro hlravl xyslrm Ibis rrvnlIs l,xrugn. Tlw loval vxvrdw of poliov flown Iony not
from tlnwmally vrlliral uatrr rromdiIions. ill it strnat- provido snffivient iwuounimlinPi from liability fnr
hosed sysh•nl from lark of rolnnn,hty avnilablr srmrrps resnllnul (Ilunalm.v Pvmoj)l vfft'4..t vhnif fd, 1Itrref0re
of furl. The r11fif, ronuitIIII, husinr.ea and soeiI by vmdr i+r rurlr doll, h+ ,srrlrlr wI- Iiris I at- ,elmlr14,We
fa I I ffevfe(I by slut ,nftr.v of Piny nult;niludv, IrI)i0011i,+a fov IV'aslrinf/11111 nor 70P.rryoa hnnc doac,
Leval Iiobilily u' 11 lint mnt•tntIly rr.vull frool im. II is I'midnnit•11tw1 ofilily 1(i , Ihaf there should not
po.aCiIli Iit y of lterto toitn'r, provif lrrl IhnI 1I ryas m,l br +Iisrrlii lilUilidlt in al,rrill roudilions or robs with.
dnr to frurll fill thr parf of IIle nfilift•+'ill I,htuninl in Ihr s,IUio vi'lW1•11 l r•lasslfirnliatt of ruslnnrrr hvapr,
fur, providing, nnrl moill lit ill ir,p faeiIif irs for Ihrsr ill A%balr,rrr lo.11~ram iy' arloplyd In wrhirrr r11rlnil•
pnrposvs, Ax it vurol ary, Ilip nlililt• islhol Illy insurer nu•nl, rveovnilian 'lailsl/ltr prnvidvrl for fair aml rrn•
of till, rvlnsltn11•r or fur Ihr rnslomrrJ~' dit:prv ition or snnablr drlrrulina'iutl of priorities. This ngain
4 i list of } le earrl y suet> I'm ``r points Ire Ihr uord'> fnr Ir11WIllivo inttuunirnlinn of
l Thvi;v huvr hope Ilir raurrpts 111 it foprartlyd os n parf surh drleln1imnfiunIt ivI I ulhvrwise may rouse n
v~ of Ihr rmltrt+rl, exiin'essrd or liultlivd, boltvevn the mix and rrnv.otrr ufta lturruls of rllumifirnlinna Ln
parties. Such noweplm would hr nftheld in Ihr proper n,bioer Ihr 1nlltl de'slrrrl rf~rrl.
1'nlunl;+r~' rlo'loilmrnf prn;,rrarns hove prorru sir
tortoni nilnnlinns,
/ rrscfnl durinlr ibe Inlv1 ;;r~r noel if rnoourogpd ('1111
today, there is su el, +11w.rr1(1 inly Pihottl. Ilu• relin• 1,
of s hear ronrr ,l s, pn rlf'i nhn lt tchpn diss nr6ivre dr,virnhll, 1•vsalts III Ilouf such liability ex-
bility fipd ro fit Il rs, with Itillyd flint rnnusri, ll (I i nl li is • a lumir''' II wmllrl If unrrulis~'V, bunrvrr, to expoet n
mitme Probe 1 sndelon or malirt11vrI rI, vpisrll\I,f 101 np•Irrm habits of
flip ittilit,v opprotirn+s I ud riisenver, as In flip guttural tt.osly ou the earl of r0nann rs audrr either mint'
Ins rases, n pet•tasivo u'anrAgonu•nf of lisp mill over.
L sell from it por•pnrlvrl tlnrlf•r smpplt• ro.vulting from h+lnrr ur vultullnrt proltrnmx9'hus, rule Innkhrg,
1 priding controls Despilrllllr irr'mvi11g rrI, rli1) iIitA, grIp, I+ririnlr.frtifrlrliuu•I +md laiq•.trrtl rnulrarl.q nrusl he
tIIII •rr onsi4 1 prrd n11d remIrrlellli'rrI fn more reatia•
it has been easier to rrtij, riI I, J!I }hI pnhlir pvI, ; 14 4111'rltlle lirully I,rl (I finaN•i11 r•apmhiIiIA. noel +narkrtiute
it flrtrf )hi- 11 P4; to r hnvn hero d ui i1!hl, Ikau in vu nuvin IlrxiI I i I i I y npr s,lire In n.asurr the rampletlnn and
f j u ih to AI11;1 ( + 114 r v n r b i rxr N l y a ! for o I h r t vv u ll s of o operallou of nrrrssrn' t' phull harp-lip by flir lit BUY.
Inad rqunte plnnr+ in g 11 null oll ptrnti ul use rote 11'e', I- Ihr fulllri Iond I?roIV I III14t he 1) rovirtrd for,
hr xprlnus if ,vml vo11shipr Hit, rods of litilailinn tuul Ilnd must pot ile men trot' and n.hsumr a fair shirr
the snhel n nl inl d1nrul get that', eauld hr It tt';t l•d ell,
of till, tki+s of rurhlihn•uf, hul Ihero most nil lit,. no
1'rrhups iutanuriwrf'on fnr' s+uh liahillty inn br. 1' fir
of rlrrlipnt.•rl plwll rapahi11ly h,v the 1111110',
found In Itieder'ml nr stole lrfrislulioo. The rvrrnt rev Till, Irgal pr11nlly fnr r;lmlrsv projoelions or plant aa-
j porting and nuke re+Ily vimerueAwy orders of flip li'l't! rlimition run lims If(, eotrd.
I 111111 Il+r shapi11g ti l of Iltr 1'odelul Rorrgy Offirr` r srPont ' iropru'Innl rurfullml•nl 111-11141-111. but ill
j lrrnprall', hmvrvvr, Irner If rrrlil+v of Impose flrrninrh. flip miler ruq of the thintiviol sprrlrmo Pis lu dollar
oil flip ufiIiIIr4, h~rlh ptrhlit- mn1 in crslnr•ntrurd, Pis r,xlalsllrr, rrl;It es In the rlllif rr of Nervier fnr Pion.
to Ihr 111timolr If, at exposure rumlilionre wilh rnu+ Impor-uf, This rrh,lrs la•ueraily In Ihr flimlivittl__fail_
dnfnry rrlrlailmvii~ miftllt fnslrI, or I- rrofr, Sums II IIre• lots iarar - r, m ud p0vrrfy Itl1 0f ronslimrP. T I I e
Ihr Atolm, 11'nshinjilnn mill (lrpl(o11 ill pallivulit y, huvr :i iorf of srnirr for nnirlnltlnenf rrrPdpN n hrearb
r' - rrrerdly rlmrlwl rslalr httvs Ihal, 1%11ile Pet Inlenlvd• in Ihr rnslumrr ulilify rehiflomhip will pnhlir rela-
hnprflilly will InI I vidr vnrll hif ltnltiify, The AYnvh• iron prorram gertr•roflr Ihaf, if not hnullwl r•refully,
inglon Statulo, JIMA' .I:L2I 11. nufhor~zr.v flip ffotrl'rt"I' r+lr1 email, sl,rinns prrjudfee 1a Ihr iutnge mfr) ego
1 to exprehri r•11up't!rnry pou•rra nhrn muprIll' ndris''rl of fill, wilily, nllhough m+iuor prpjudive Pis in ifs
by o vo11rtnit lee of prrsoms lrnn+vlrrIgvn'+dr nv f,r rlprlrir rrronllr IIn,S', whvrnt rrrardrllinn error nn t}IC part of
ill Ilily rosnurrps 11nd np,unlinns 'I'l0• NVIlmltf11gfon low till, nlililt•.
word( lllpusr. Iho lit riIIIv I, fn1. dilrr.flt on `•rC'ini irlrr for n nunnrul whin n prnrliral knpnrl nn
Ihr rnflsuiner and tints should rlintilt.+, sump of Ibr e14,jokwd imo-povmrnt r•ulnff program rrslllling from
} puufusioll regarding potrntlal 1111661,11 fnr rrvultnl,l n class Itrrfun tvpr of litivafinn pond havo. This is
tlling s thnl Inny It(, nfhrrtvi.ep rlirrr rd tntvar(I Iltr tvhol-I'irrs'IT`o-nlililt• uhioh Iw.v rlmsrn fa ir!nnrI, Ihp
1 illilify, limy tall o.alnhliehrrl tvnroilivs of file rooms And
In Orrgou, Iltr saint. orfeef shnnld 6l, rvnrluvl Ill. rnnusri otill -em;nlt {Ile IoPisfiNIionll prolvelinls of
i at tltoltgll 'flip dirrefive u'ntdd t4tilnulrlt isvur 0111 of Itrnrwlin'nl rhlo proems Piotr rxlrndrrl over Inaut• elit,•
7 file pnhlir 81:1vIve Cnill Ill issi0n liner Ihr ffnvrrn1 off silu;lliults. 'hie k tyro! settled Inn', after n
pmdeltlntloll. Snow, slntos nrny he rrlying lilt Ihvir 1`114 of rases, trrnrrwlly by nrtivisl lmtvyer grn11ps,
Unvernor's utilizing an emerponvy powers net Vmirr• sonoli+urs Fvdrrally funned, 111141 an rxhanslivv supply
JUNE 1974 J 3
I
-f
F
p
~i
of yowpnlhr nsiu 111 t1' revirn m•lirlv4 loll the solljryl This court knows lvdictally there Is always a chance to lose
{(-11rrulh', nil uilhl0 Il14• 11041 rrn' years, in any kind of lawsuit.
bteidrntall it, fhr 1Joil) ri- pgI'iI•rd hit ofV rumu•! --frnesl S. Clarke
Vurlhrtit I 75111 mill hi.v nsxnriellr /'I'^rlrl'irh Nill4, 1N',.
vialr.eljj pr•r.errlfrrl in 191 .7. onrl rrprinfrd Irernlly fit
® 111,1 A716'L'A•,IPI'rl Lellnl N0,11110 ill, Nej-vivo, r,r0lniok ,l 1141111 Jim 'tivs , 'I'hi, rviufeullHnH4 !hr 414,1 ul' n pnud
lilr mml .enr(fimI n;urlp.kic of Ihr.sr ntnffrra, rNair tpnrr hurl''(-01-11(1P111 1iul rniug rlr•yire null 1141, em-rvisl- tor fimid
ruun.v(I! Ithoirld rlhloin rnpirc Jar Jnltfre rr/rmir-r. A 11dinaenl ahrlhrr Ify Jilt imrlivid001, sorb ns n rrliverl
Ifsl of fhfs I111d nlher Istthliell]iuus iN Jill nthr,l lo uilrr or ullorury, ;If' it 14pl-cm-olilI VV panel of eon(.
eopfeN of fins paper. 'I'hp do11tfnofll pou'r'( of Ihr o11ufilt• roroibrr.e.
ofilify ill 111,1x,1 nmllif'rs Los hrr11 Ieslpr€ nod folnul fhr ae41 nl' 11 hv,lritw tinily rmapusrrl of ,Iilily Nf,irr
wito Hog ill ill; sunlit imel Irlml rrhtlimWOI s willi Ibis 11114 1 111111111W1111rrll orl'irrrs nod prrsmliu•l, it Ill r In roll-
Nfrlall bet nnH• nroLlNPd mid vxlrvmrly v11enl vNis, of omi. Iinrl.V rml.idrr Nmrl( nl+lirn111, luny hyllrr snli4v the
xururl'11' ransluIk Id oho I,I oIIi -I,I h as hr'VI rl'11slI'll ImI in iftorf4
11110 sit Pgromtwi rr'1l,NIi(IN fur nyoidimr till- 11113..,; 11 1,r• or hJivr his xlnr} IQI1I In 11111 11111nIHCyJiIP111• A (Into.
xmll of xurII e11f1) fr.v ItOVe rlIlvvtI front Ilse ox lrrou' ~l,iuolien 41.011111 ot iose tltr rinol h(InI'iI I,!• if Iltl•IIvr
of prot'ftlbw frrr Nrrcire to povorfy r,mtsnou'm,, drrlufll drrrlups, fn tin ad,judirldrrl Itt Ihr nor prysbn
Ihroutah f.,rndlltim.I of plrlrrmWOlimi hrni-ing pro. IItit limilyd Imm,11 11•
, h n l- t e r pmredltl'y iv pmll„wrl
It tit rpx or im udminislrntiv;, mill ilunsi •jnrlirinl list . l.honld lie Jim a irial bnkis, IloprroIlk. the till imalr
+ hUe 1011011 ofree Ihr plnelivol r.ffryl ur rfrln}• and II n+lo ltinu or it Nuul;rrrl Ilfnewhr + sift ,1,1,4,1 Ihr frnsinnx
to 11 ly -rifl-•off u1, r'rd11c}rntt of pu~nrrol of djspoll-d Inrrrlnililr n( a lmiuislralicy relit-l' rum roprndrr,
j OhIiK~linJ1'N' 0ml Mimilutf . uto.l or Ihr Iili;rali+ml. If "'011041 041110111.
IrrroU till- l}nveruur of Arirnnn sJlylul, ill IIIO utndntr Ill(, rnidinr di,,prmlinu or Ihrxr hufhrrsnuin
moms AI VA sprpeh prvvionsl, rob-i-vid In, Ilrnl he ur1N disputes in a morn orIf1111 t' uoufnrl• of 11 rensnn11hle
m poor Hptt'xhn}' olive omf used to Ionlr IunRiml;ly al 41st rmd 111111 er plrsrly Ilu• lolnl 11uhlie rrlufiuns
f Iln' railrood p11l}rmr11 Jinn rlinrl' 111111'(1114 n.4 the e111's inlaRr of lhr '11lilify tt•iIIItinl srriuos offpel oil its
passed b,V Ihr N1111io11, 11ou•et•rr, iI dill nut nmke Itisn pmoI -rs.
fool fruslrnlrr# 11vl-ue4r he rsprrled snnle 1141(- In b1,
rleh will fn hp rrh€v if) orfard mach IuN11rip.4, A1111miTh 81BLIOGRAPHY
fills wax Ilml ix flip drl-rtut or uutny A11u'rfrons, fllyrp 1. WASHINGTON STATE LAW
t 14 it l-br434 of poor who will nltr11y.4 ren111i11 No. RCW 43.210-OKIPIC POWER USE-EMERGENCY CURTAILMENT,
AIILnTIy h fire nrrvirl- fn pnt'rrly rfussirienllolls ALLOCAFION
2. A UTILITY'S CONSIIIUTIONAI DUTY TO AFFORD DUE PROCESS
Milli Ili, allowed lit xlnlrv xnrh 114 Washiut,,lnti• Isnl info of LAW 10 ITS CUSTOMERS fi
i Pmislr4llfiti11al prnVisiolll• speriflvully vNepplinl,, 1!i It Norlhcult Ely and Fledorick If, Rills
rrsf6-1 fo11N ox in flu;luri0l 111(1 la Ill( pnul,, .It, Pbrfs I, U, III, Rec. 1973, 1a „fob, 1974
111 NRECA-APPA legal Reparting Scrvlce
i
proyedur, 1111x not hryn ruynrl-d. '1'11,1 1rfl,,unu'n14 llffnin41 3. Uli111Y SIIUiOFFS-A VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS UNDER
i x11rlt proposals Itayp pp11l-rnflr eouodrd vnriml4 diffi• COLON Of STATE IAW1 J
<'ultipx ht dl-lprnlj11inlr s111ndnydN fur r mnlif#rntfnrt U. of atchnlond Low Rovlow 1972.3 1
1 Vol.? 977.304 i
1 111111 W111111 Pit rot lo11• „Ihux(I in frivol, IroliPlirnll} pui11t 4, 1I01 A CARRLE AND (All AN ATTORNEY-
THE UTILITY SHU10fr CASES
,_olit_ Ilfuf till- ttlfiululr nNrrmnlirr solo}inn to Lhr
Iowe Law Review 1972.3
' potrrl,v'loifiiulii•r iN 1st sllffrl 1110 tilt of unu•pn}'aurtl Vol, 581161.1193
11!1dIovvI1Il1ol e11toff irre..prvflre of Ihr 11tnmhrl n1, slyly 5. TIN RIGHT TO A HEARINO PRIOR TO TERMINATION OF Ui I1Y
SERVICES
ilf prrlrrnshlnfloll hvjivi ;1,s• Tlly atnrv priudirnl 11111'r.
~J 1 Buflolo Low Rovien 1912.3
1111f rep mol illoli ~ilidd 111 Irpisleliou nl' ngeapy I -g- Vol. 22 1057.1060
! Notion providiliv 11dnlirli4ll'ntiyr fl(,.N ily in ill, 6, THE EMERGING CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES IN PUBLIC UTILITY
i Ilispns#IIrill of tPrlfnre and purrrlp fnndg dirv(Ilr In CONSUMER LAW
Univorsily of floride Loo' Review 1971.2 f
fill Ilfilitl rather rhea to Ihr fmdiyid11rtl (n11siltill- l. Vol, 24144.768
11614 nllrrn11fivl- does lint w'ynt In lulu 0lpliv%• 41111• 7. (ONSIITUNONAL SAF(GUAROS fOR PUBLIC UTILITY CUSTOMERS
port, nltBnuuL 11111114"1. ouumlmmrld is a Imisir 411",11• POWERS TO THE PEOPLE
New York k1❑iversit^ Law Review 1973
1101111111,1 of mim,v it ,,it maxi of fhr ifup0yrr ishrd Vol, 40 491.521
(10111411M M4. 8. IOURIHNIII AMMOMENT nu( PROCESS IN TERMINATIONS OF
1
I Ax for The t'Itl'I+'l), of (Ilslildrrt uhliffJllinJi4 P.enr'rnll UTILITY SERVICES fOR ILOLIPAYMENT
l'. Harvard Iow Revirw 1913
f fhr prrlpl'miullfi0n hrluRt{N Jrrr r1Ilf0rde4I ns fru•rrl,r Vol 861477.1504
(Irlnyfllff fhmlorN 111111 m'1, rrrxtr111i11ff In Ihr VVe 1)1,111411• 9. THE SLUMP OF UIICIIY SERVICES FOR NON-PAYMENT, A
PLIGHT Or TNT POOR
Ing volivoli0e reprusimilffives of Ihr wilily. rho lotvo Woshin9lonlowRovfew1971
b,9 Urfx Nflige {tenela€ly vxhnnxtr l till rvilmmobh' efforle Vol. A6 745-783
to provide vnrinfiunx of nt'1tl mid tyriflr11 fullirr, of 10, FPC NATURAL GAS ALLOCATION: CURTAILMENT IN CONTEXT
f1 Texas Low Revirw 1971.2
defoo€t mid teritilmolfm mod till •rmiHvr mrn.mrr4 fo1• Vol. 501370.1400
worRhig mif file problrul natirably h}• vorhilionN of 11. THE LIAOeI1Y Or 14ATURAI OAS PIP[LINE COMPANIES TOP.
Llrlnyrd 1)n}'fne11L 13utyrvrr, hnaum rrl11fimtN brine BREACH OF CONTRACT DUE TO FPC ORDERED CURTAILMENT
Duke Lnw Journal
whet fl1l-,V Orr b,v'1I11W1 of prrsnJinlily and iL•Jilh. 4.011• Vol. 1973867.099
I rl.a, n more foruorllzed appolluly OUnnsphr•r,, 11110 12. A1GE AUNfORITY TO CURTAIL ELECTRIC ENERGY DURING SHORT.
`!Iy ronpdUre (-till gwilesvllly nllevintr ho dislrr.es
Ik, Opfnfon of The Allorney General of Idaho, Sept. IS, 1973
HpEC~-1,i A
+1,j„ k n TIrICFnVIr,%
y
of
L,
A 11uu'11 Ivss %4-114.11 or how. 'I'bt,rr m'4. 4impl~ Ino I V Bold; 'I'lir Ho;u'd aw+wcrrrf ill Ihr urgnlfvr In It Ill
"IIINnwllinus--rt110rgrnrir4, fIli u 4 1111111 apIIII which qur41inus, L„Itrlnt nr:rit rlI IhnI siii r4. fho rrpnymP'. `
siIIlply hove la hr nllrllriod In 11t1 1114. 41111, --fa prrnlit iII„ 4r11r•d111r haul Iran it rl'nngerl nAdet' Illy 1111-rnl of die.
rnnlrola In illenrinlll}' nftPly. I''nr A Ina' }-4.r, rsllrvinilr ,',+ourr•lion, it (cos 11111114. 1111114,3. 41111-em Anil wn4 11111
nur ar-ll ill .rlmr front of Irinl prarfiev, rl4 well 114 for hindittg. TIIV II11a1-11 4lnly0 !1111! IhPrr w'n4 nn d I I I-V ki
it dW'Iit ro rsit eiii llr n .4Itl'genn ur to hslpIril•inn, his pro. si11re Ihr 1-11041lllel• 11111 Ili Hilt, Ihr Klnff of iIll, , fill).
fr.Woit 19 of VII,(T b}' In11 n[nny forces liver which lip fir tirrt'irr Nwrd whirl) nrh'If ns rill iulfunlial orhiler.
e11111url (I xervise linlitIg rnntrol to hnpr IhAI Ili% doily 'I'll(, 1)1)11 r, slto lyd 111111 it is lspll erllh'd 111111 n I I 111iIy
work approach inn itself hr prt,ftlhrirulad, nun• dfs4.nni ire for nnll-paymrIll of proper hills
flnr hltllit i hil Arvrlnltl'd foltnll uo 11 11151irnlin11 in nnrl e11 ittgrs. I IlrHlet'lllnrr, ItIiIiIirs I I A y 11i4enunrct for
Ihr rtnrlor's work slyle. 1 14 111 g Ago b(Ignu pulling vv r- nml.~rllvI 111 'nl r vin in Ihr'nbNr11rr of 4lnlulto ry It ulllnrity,
Iniu fyprs of sr'lledolrs ill Illy enlrndnr ill red----lhi11gs '71Tuf, rGlsnnrrf Ihr H11ard, "iwiherr flip customer ran•
s11rll ns hriel l! drndli11r(, nppeals dradlhLes, roud or ;to)/ pay 11 Im:'lln'r in 11tH, if w01nld ho Il11rrnsonnhlr for
ndirniuf.slrtliive nlmoey hrnviog fibs, t,fr. In olher 51'll14rIN. Ihr rnnlpnul In Ir•rloilulfr Y-1 Cie(' for unll•pAyIl1r111, (Islip.
111ings faihirr, lin,rty Io do a'Itirh Inil.'hl lih'rllll%, "harp Ihr vi;llly ill cars w111'1-r 1111. rt[•Innu'r prnniki-4 la pn•y All
day" nud'or rnnslif11le AvIinnllble lu•nfessi011at nrgli. (Ilinl'p mills us Ihry brr•nlnp rlup nnrt a rpnsnunbin pnrtinn
/ uwlrr. Willi dill defl,ronee for lilt, ttilrormwes in Itlr of lilt, l,nrh 101 irl ioJ;Ilhnrnl.N." 'flw purpnso of permif•
f drlunnrl.a of our rrsprrNvr profr,rsions, I n'nN nlmr Ihrlr.as ling nlililirs 11, r1ko-minor I is In runblr ihr'ul to 4.11114.4.1 for
nmusrrl of my dovtor's reneknn to this pancvutnr hnhit, Ihrir mimmnblr rl+nrtes Ifmvrvor, if the, rllslomer 1R
"Mvevy rlny 11 lid Iligilf of Ills life -nud 4.iriy hnvr 114.111614. In pay. Ihr disrnnnr„linn w'r,,,'s 1111 ns,'flrl purpneo
daring malty n (ky--Is n'rod' Irftrl' ,ilmilimi for tut," rxrrpl for plllibhintc Ihr vuxlnwrr fill, living too poor to
ho said' par, 'I'llrrcforv, sinrr it Ivonld nnl vi,mill in pnymmnl of
Ihr hilt whirl is mvrrl, Ihr di 1'nllllrr'}loll would be
nrhilrnry n11d [Inri-mumnbte nit Ail)' lid to nlty valid
ulilily fllmohoo.
+DI .r "pi\ Ill l4. 111nt Iu_L!I_,elz w I I r4. III(, rutilnmrr rln 1 m9
ill II to lolp i, ulek hill lit hill, -fii(' r•l&;1-w-Iifilily
I ~';:'I " V +~VC~+yIyU?llYLI11NJ 111114f +n1111phr In sr, 1, r„blur if Ihr ruslnutI, r' (1) onyx n
f IlnemmlIll, hnrlimi pf Ihp uIllslrind ing hill; ngrers
lu link Ali fflinu bilk [IN Ihry h,rnntr 11111; nur) (3)
Consumer Relations--Utility 11' ay Not Wl ms li[ pn.vit IrrI.wl11lblr pnrtiollnf, Ilho barb bill ill
;
Disconnect; Where Customer Claims Inability il"I,Ilillnl ltl. nil L it i !11111--illnt741t7VfI. IKIlI, IYlll,vli~
I to Pa 11111'4 11 "1'rll~nrllll lil'_f~'l1't lnll~~. (ld felt!1'11111 Pa4p if7 PI14e,
Y il`olva4. 6iiT( I,nvc Ilint lip hr, twoolhilyd to-Im-rn 11ty
Vermont--Publlc Servict: Board pfu•lirs. Itoarver. Ihr lwrlirs must tnliv Into 11+'4-0111111
Facts: II4.voriy Lpi1r'nn rerPi vrrl uliliIy No vvfre front hot-h hlctnrs 119 nhiiity In pnr, Ihr xizr of Il,(I nI'rpro-mp,
(I rerII Aluluttuin Power Gillian} ("I'uwrr Cont. Ihr ellsfolnrr'.c pll}Illf'tlt fiklory, mid 111e alnn11111 of E
pnily"). As of Novr'n,ber f4. 1072, Lritenu owed Ihr. till[(, hurl rrnsous shy Ihr d4.6f tins 114.4.11 autstnndiug.
flower Cl 02,M) for vrrvierv rrndrrrd; $18.70 lAll'sN v, Rrr,n ll,nnrlnin Valerr (!nrpavoliort, 100 E
was 11114. Jill it bark bnlallrr alul X12.91 tiros 111111 nn I'Ifl(:111:1,17 (lturch 2, 107:1),
(h'inbor services, (ht NoveutLl,r :1, 1973, I,rHrnu was
tlAtiflyd that servit,p wntlld hr dimmmi-vtod. Nhc pnllrrl Envirollmetlt ---P oposed Sulphur Dioxide
the pour(, eolaplnly to neltotiul4. 11 pllylllrIlf sr11t,d• Standards Rammided for Recoitsideritiotl
Ill(, 13111 ship, vol nn Answer. Oil \ovmAlwo, f+, 10721, lot,. Whore It Appeal's Greater EmisMons Are
Ilvnit'N srl•rlrl' li 01111 off. sh,' itnnlydinlely 4.11114.,1 Bound to 00cur I)In'ing Plant Startups
tbp Power Crnupnuy In orraugr :1 10armr,10 srnrdltll', and Sllut(]05V115
hill till, emnPlulr 1rfu44.d to rr1,1111rurl 11n1i1 )ill, 1111• i
Imid hallmo-e burl brerl paid ill full. Leltrmt rnltrll United Stntos-{court of Appeals (Dlr,trict of Colum•
flip I'Ilblie Nervier Ifoor-d to register n romphlint. flu bin)
life warlio AlIerlinnll, I[ pllt'a1r111 s4.herhdr 11-114 nrrnngrrl Facts: Appnllirhhrr I'oa•4.1. Clittlluruy npprnlrrl fl-ntn
by i,I'llpau•4 111forlivy and vouusrl for tit(' I'nhHr Ihr nrllem r,f Ihr Arluliuislralcr 4.f Ihr f':ncirnunn'nlnl
Scrvive Nonrrl wilh the 1'11114.4. f'ontpmly. Lt,ltenll 1h'alrr'Ii,n1 Atrru„~ ill sr'Ning slmuLuds of prrfnrmmn'p
agrerd lo the Imylurul selwdulr, uud srrvlrp 1vn.t re fu' 4
1 111 Ih[u• s4.rrlbhrrs in ronl•firrrl rtrrfrir 4.11114.11 in
r
t R
rnunrefr'd !11111 slung r'vrui11l.,. imNrnu illrrrnflrr paid ;111111!4.
this rurrruf hilt, hilt ref11srd, '4.u ntivfsr of votJnkrl, in 'I'hr llnarr rnlnlluuy Iuisrrl ob,irrlinllN rr-unit"Illlg the
illy III(, baek bnlnner err nbidp by the llnymenf sr11rd• 1,1'r1'.N fnilurr In provilh' 11111f 14.441 r xlalldnrtl4, or no
1110 rill fill, gin Oli !hilt Ibr. ngrerluput waR 11egoli- stnudllrtls Ill nll~ shnnld Apply 1Cbryl l1w Onlimary
rated Iwder dnres.v. sotrr,v' (if .e111I1111I[ din.r,rl„ Ind ofhrr pnllulllrll.4 is es•
Wv"': '1) Wall the poymmif anhoi,dr 11rgolIn Iml 111'rirnciug Uf11'Ir,p, s1111fdflwu, n4. Inrrhauirnl nullflutr.
t Ildt'r (for r:•ss1 Ifn11s Illrongh Ill hl.dt of Ihr lllnlilt fnetllrpr. Ill Aligu4t
May llrp 1'nwrr Compnn} Irrmiunlr srrcire ill
of 1!17'2, Ihr nr'tfng AllIllillig1.11tell- of Ihr I'A Ad•
oses wllrre. the cualomer elaiuls nil innhilify to pays miflcd 111111 "lit 1110 [11111, of pr'o11t11lulltinn, it was ttnowu
NACCA r APPA
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RE~~TINA AVICfE
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