25-10.026: Location and Preservation of Records
25-10.111: Customer Billing
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of both rule repeals is to eliminate redundant provisions which are no longer in use. These rules have been superseded by new sections in Chapter 25-30, F.A.C. Docket 100380-WS.
SUMMARY: Rule 25-10.026, F.A.C. requires water and wastewater utilities to maintain records in accordance with the NARUC system of accounts and to maintain those records in an office within the State of Florida. All provisions of this rule have been included within the newer Rule 25-30.115, F.A.C., Uniform System of Accounts for Water and Wastewater Utilities and Rule 25-30.110, F.A.C., Records and Reports; Annual Reports. Rule 25-10.111, F.A.C., requires water and wastewater utilities to bill customers at regular intervals; contains various provisions for pro-rating less than full bill amounts; and requires a minimum of 20 days before a bill is considered delinquent. All of the provisions of this rule have been subsumed by Rule 25-30.335, F.A.C., Customer Billing. Repeal of Rules 25-10.026 and 25-10.111, F.A.C., will prevent confusion or conflict with the more detailed rules in Chapter 25-30, F.A.C., and will eliminate redundant provisions which are no longer in use.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The rule repeals will benefit the Commission and customers by decreasing the number of rules and eliminate any confusion over redundant rules. Small businesses and water and wastewater utilities will benefit by the elimination of confusion over redundant rules and from the reduction of costs due to complying with redundant rules and reviewing obsolete rules.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 367.121 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 367.121(9) FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Office of Commission Clerk, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850, (850)413-6770. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Lorena A. Holley, Office of the General Counsel, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850, (850)413-6197 or lholley@psc.state.fl.us
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
25-10.026 Location and Preservation of Records.
(1) All records that a utility is required to keep, by reason of these or other rules prescribed by the Commission, shall be kept at the office or offices of the utility within this State, unless otherwise authorized by the Commission. Such records shall be open for inspection by authorized representatives of the Commission at any and all reasonable hours.
(2) All records shall be preserved in accordance with the NARUC “Regulations to Govern the Preservation of Records of Electric, Gas and Water Utilities.”
Rulemaking Specific Authority 367.121 FS. Law Implemented 367.121(9) FS. History–Amended 9-12-74, Formerly 25-10.26, Repealed________.
25-10.111 Customer Billing.
(1) Bills shall be rendered at regular intervals and shall show at least the billing period covered; identification of the applicable rate schedule; the amount of the bill and, as applicable, gross and/or net billing, and/or discount or penalty, and final discount or penalty date. When there is good reason for doing so, estimated bills may be submitted. If bill is estimated, it shall be so marked.
(2) Whenever for any reason the period of service for which a bill is rendered is less than fifty percent (50%) of the normal billing period, the charges applicable to such service, including minimum charges, shall be pro-rated in the proportion that the actual number of service days bears to a thirty (30) day month, except that:
(a) Opening bills need not be rendered but may be carried over to and included in the next regular monthly billing.
(b) For service taken under flat rate schedules, fifty percent (50%) of the normal charges may be applied.
(c) The practices employed by the utility in this regard shall have uniform application to all customers.
(3) Bills shall not be considered delinquent prior to the expiration of twenty (20) days from the date of mailing or delivery by the utility.
Rulemaking Specific Authority 367.121(1) FS. Law Implemented 367.111(1), 367.121 FS. History–Amended 9-14-74, 5-21-79, Repealed________.