199—34.4(476) Procedures for utilization of billing and collection system.
	34.4(1) When a person meeting the definition of “engaged primarily in providing the same competitive nonutility services in the area” in rule 199—34.2(476) uses the billing and collection system of a public utility, the public utility shall promptly remit to that person all funds collected by the public utility on behalf of the person.
	34.4(2) Where a customer makes a partial payment and owes both a public utility and a person(s) meeting the definition of “engaged primarily in providing the same competitive nonutility services in the area” in rule 199—34.2(476) for services or goods provided, the payment received is allocated first to the regulated utility bill, plus tax, unless otherwise allocated by the customer. Any balance remaining after payment of the utility bill, plus tax, is allocated between the public utility for any unpaid nonutility services and any other person(s) utilizing the utility’s billing system, according to the ratio of the amount billed by each, unless otherwise allocated by the customer. A public utility shall not disconnect a customer’s utility service for nonpayment of a bill for nonutility services.
A person shall not use a public utility’s billing and collection system to bill and receive payments only from customers who are habitually delinquent or who have failed or refused to make payment to the person.
[ARC 7697C, IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24]