(a) No district furnishing light, heat, water, or power may terminate residential service on account of nonpayment of a delinquent account unless the district first gives notice of the delinquency and impending termination, at least 10 days prior to the proposed termination, by means of a notice mailed, postage prepaid, to the customer to whom the service is billed not earlier than 19 days from the date of mailing the district’s bill for services, and the 10-day period shall not commence until five days after the mailing of the notice.
(b) Every district shall make a reasonable, good faith effort to contact an adult person residing at the premises of the customer by telephone or in person at least 48 hours prior to any termination of service except that whenever telephone or personal contact cannot be accomplished, the district shall give, by mail or by posting in a conspicuous location at the premises, a notice of termination of service, at least 48 hours prior to termination.
(c) Every notice of termination of service pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include all of the following information:
(1) The name and address of the customer whose account is delinquent.
(2) The amount of the delinquency.
(3) The date by which payment or arrangements for payment is required in order to avoid termination.
(4) The procedure by which the customer may initiate a complaint or request an investigation concerning service or charges, except that if the bill for service contains a description of that procedure, the notice pursuant to subdivision (a) is not required to contain that information.
(5) The procedure by which the customer may request amortization of the unpaid charges.
(6) The procedure for the customer to obtain information on the availability of financial assistance, including private, local, state, or federal sources, if applicable.
(7) The telephone number of a representative of the district who can provide additional information or institute arrangements for payment.
Every notice of termination of service pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include the items of information in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7).
All written notices shall be in a clear and legible format.
(d) If a residential customer fails to comply with an amortization agreement, the district shall not terminate service without giving notice to the customer at least 48 hours prior to termination of the conditions the customer is required to meet to avoid termination, but the notice does not entitle the customer to further investigation by the district.
(e) No termination of service may be effected without compliance with this section, and any service wrongfully terminated shall be restored without charge for the restoration of service.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 529, Sec. 10. Effective October 4, 1995.)