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Public Utilities
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Public Utilities FAQ 1
Have the rules pertaining to the privacy of municipal utility customer information (“Customer Information”) changed?
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Public Utilities FAQ 2
What does the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law prohibit?
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Public Utilities FAQ 3
Are there any exceptions to the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 4
How is a municipal utility defined in the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 5
How is Customer Information defined in the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 6
Under the definition, all of the following information would be considered Customer Information: name, address, phone number, social security number, payment history, individual consumption or usage data, and billing information (including past due amounts associated with the account).
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Public Utilities FAQ 7
Can a municipal electric utility release usage or billing information to a prospective residential customer without violating the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 8
Can a municipal utility allow customers to view their accounts and pay bills online without violating the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 9
How should a municipal utility respond to a phone call from a customer with questions about the customer’s account?
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Public Utilities FAQ 10
Can a municipal utility disclose Customer Information, without the customer’s consent, to a title company, bank or real estate broker when the customer premises is being sold or transferred?
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Public Utilities FAQ 11
Does the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law prohibit the use of postcard billing?
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Public Utilities FAQ 12
What, if any, penalties can be imposed on a municipal utility that violates the new customer privacy law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 13
Are there any implications on a municipal utility’s ability to use the tax roll for collections of delinquent utility bills?
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Public Utilities FAQ 14
Do property managers get the same treatment as landlords?
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Public Utilities FAQ 15
Do we need customer consent to disclose customer information for Energy Assistance?
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Public Utilities FAQ 16
Can customer information be discussed during an open session meeting of the utility commission or municipal governing body?
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Public Utilities FAQ 17
We receive requests for new customer information from churches and other community organizations. Are we still able to provide this information or do we need customer consent?
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Public Utilities FAQ 18
What are the best practices for identifying a customer over the phone?
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Public Utilities FAQ 19
Can we provide our municipality with customer information (e.g., name, mailing address and email) so that they can send the customer helpful information (e.g., refuse and recycling program info)?
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Public Utilities FAQ 20
Should we shred or recycle documents containing customer information?
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Public Utilities FAQ 21
What, if any, penalties can be imposed on a municipal utility that violates the Municipal Utility Customer Privacy Law?
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Public Utilities FAQ 22
May a municipality include a tax equivalency charge (aka, payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT)) in its charges for sewer system services?