Electric Policies

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Change of Billing/Payment Responsibility
Collection Procedures for Closed Accounts
Existing Residential, General Service, and General Service Remote Accounts
Meter Reading, Billing and Adjustments
New Residential, General Service, and General Service Remote Accounts
Owner/Renter Agreement
Payment of Bills
Power Theft
Refunding Security Deposits
Security Deposit
Security Lights
Change of Billing/Payment Responsibility

The information provided in this section of our website defines your rights and responsibilities as a PUD customer. The information is an abbreviated version of our District Electric Policies, which are available on request.

It is important for you to know that as a Mason County PUD No 1 customer, you are also one of the owners. Please always feel free to stop in or call us if you have any questions about your account or any PUD - related business.

Change of Billing/Payment Responsibility

• When a change of occupancy or legal responsibility takes place, the customer may terminate service by notification in person, or by telephone, within a reasonable time prior to the change.
  
• Certain provisions of special contracts or agreements may require specific forms of notification.
  
• The outgoing customer may be held responsible for all service supplied to the date the District is notified.
  
• The District reserves the right to read the meter(s) for a final bill within a one-week period from the date of notification. Such readings may be adjusted for energy used by subsequent customers. The final reading may be estimated by mutual consent of the customer and the District.

Collection Procedures for Closed Accounts

• Fifteen (15) days following the final billing date, the customer will be sent a notice to pay their account in full or make payment arrangements.
• Thirty (30) days following the final billing date, another letter will be sent notifying the customer to pay the account in full or the account will go to collection.
• Sixty (60) days following the final billing date, the account will be sent to collection.

Existing Residential, General Service, & General Service Remote Accounts

• Residential customers, either owners or renters, are required to sign the District's application form or a special contract for electric service. Customers are also required to pay a Service Charge to set up or modify an account as listed in the Rate Schedule under Customer Charges. In addition, customers are required to pay a Deposit as noted in the Rate Schedule or submit an acceptable letter of credit from a previous utility covering a 12-month period.
• Acceptance of service with or without a signed application or contract will be subject to compliance with the terms of the application rate schedule or schedules and these Electric Service Policies.
• A customer may not change from one rate schedule to another more frequently than once in any 12-month period.
• The District requires proof of residential ownership or may require a copy of landlord/tenant agreement.

Meter Reading, Billing and Adjustments

• Meters will be read or estimated and billed monthly.
• Meter readings will be made on the same cycle date, as nearly as possible, during each billing interval. A 5-day variation in reading periods caused by holidays, weekends, and differences in the length of calendar months will not be construed as a change from a normal monthly billing.
• The District may estimate meter readings for billing purposes when its meter reader is unable to gain access to the premises on regularly scheduled meter reading trips, or when circumstances beyond the control of the District meter reading impractical or impossible.
• Opening or closing bills, which may be for greater or lesser periods than the normal metering interval, will be prorated. If the closing charge is less than $15.00 or the balance owing on any closed account is less than $15.00, the District may elect to cancel the charge on the amount owed. The District may also elect not to refund credit balances of less than $15.00 on closed accounts. Bills will be mailed to the billing address furnished by the customer. Failure to receive a bill does not release the customer from the obligation to pay when payment is due.
• Services that have been billed inaccurately due to improper metering (including but not limited to a faulty installation or administration of a metering system) will be billed for an estimated amount of usage based upon a maximum of thirty-six (36) months.
• Retroactive billing adjustments arising out of incorrect application of rates, faulty meters, or clerical errors will be made for the previous 36 billings, for monthly billed accounts.
• Should one customer be billed for service actually furnished to another because of misidentification of the meter, the current customer's account will be credited. Crediting will be for all service so billed, up to a period of three years immediately preceding the discovery of the circumstances. The customer will then be billed for all service actually furnished.
• Adjustments for non-operating area lights will be made if the time-to-repair takes more than five working days from the date customer notifies the District Office. Note: In the event that a bulb change-out or other repair work did not correct the problem, it is the customer's responsibility to again notify the District so the crew can recheck the unit.
• The District may alter or reschedule its meter reading and billing cycle dates when it is in the best interest of the District to do so.

New Residential, General Service, and General Service Remote Accounts

Service will be energized for new construction when the following conditions have been met:

• The customer has completed the District's service application and paid for the new installation.
• The customer has provided a valid service address for the location where electric service is to be installed and correct mailing address for billing.
• The customer has obtained a State of Washington electrical inspection approval and has met all District requirements and standards.
• If none exists, the customer must submit a recorded electric utility easement acceptable to the District allowing for access and future extensions to potential customers.

Security Deposits

Terms & Application of Deposit. All security deposits are due upon request. A security deposit shall not be considered as pre-paid revenue. The District at its discretion may apply the security deposit towards the customer's past due account.

Customer Rights. A customer who disputes the security deposit or is unable to pay it, will have the right to an informal conference with designated employees of the District. The designated District employees will have the power to make arrangements with the customer for a deferred payment schedule of the security deposit.

Owner/Renter Agreement

The Owner/Renter Agreement is available to any owner of property that is let to tenants on a rental basis.

• In the interest of rendering uninterrupted electric service to an unoccupied premise, the District will leave electric service available with the understanding that the owner of the premise will be responsible for any charges for electric energy used during the period of time such service is in the owner's name.
• When the premise is reoccupied by either a renter or new owner, it will be the owner's responsibility to inform the District that the service is no longer to remain in his/her name. If the owner adds or deletes properties to this agreement, written notice must be sent to the District, giving the date, address and unit numbers.
• Individual bills will be rendered to the owner on regular billing dates for those premises that are unoccupied. A closing bill will be sent to the owner when the new party signs for service.
• The District reserves the right to discontinue electric service in cases where no one has assumed responsibility for such service, resulting in nonpayment of bills rendered.
• If an owner has an outstanding bill for a rental residence, the District reserves the right to deny service to the renter.
• Click here for the Owner/Renter Agreement form.

New Customers

The minimum security deposit is $100.00, or the maximum 2-month billing within any 12-month period-whichever is greater.

The District may require an existing owner pay a security deposit for an accumulation of offenses cited below.

• Bankruptcy. If the owner's previous District bill has been discharged in bankruptcy (subject to the 14-year limit of 605(a)(1) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act).
• Assignment for Collection. If the owner has not paid a previous bill and the District has assigned to a collection agency (subject to the 7-year limit of 605(a)(4) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act).
• Previous Unpaid Balance. If the owner has an unpaid bill at another location and refuses to make payment or to make satisfactory arrangements, in writing, within a reasonable period of time.
• Previous Payment Record. If the owner's previous payment record has not been satisfactory.
• Misrepresentation of Identity. If the District learns that the owner has misrepresented his/her identity to avoid payment of an outstanding bill.
• Disconnection of Service for Non-Pay.
• Lack of Adequate Credit History.

Refunding Security Deposits

• All security deposits from new and existing residential customers may be refunded, if they have maintained a good credit history over a 12-month period and the account is up-to-date. General Service customer deposits will be held for 24 months.
• If the customer relocates within the District area during this 12-month period, the deposit will be transferred to the new account. If the customer moves out of the District area, the deposit will be credited to the final bill and a credit or balance due will be issued to the customer.

Power Theft

• Meter Tampering constitutes a $75.00 minimum penalty, power theft or power diversion constitutes a $1,250.00 minimum penalty, plus the District reserves the right to recover all damages allowed by law.
• On April 11, 1989 a new chapter was adopted in the Washington Criminal Code (Title 9A) relating to defrauding a public utility which allows the District to prosecute for this felony.

Security Lights

The District leases, installs and maintains security lights on a monthly basis in accordance with the District rate schedule.

• The District will provide all equipment including mast arms, brackets, control equipment, wiring and supports and shall be owned, operated and maintained by the District. For installation of three or more street lights, the customer shall pay in advance 100% of installation costs and the current monthly fee for each unit at one service location.
• Normal maintenance will be provided by the District; however, repair and replacement of vandalized equipment shall be at the customer's expense.
• It is the responsibility of the customer to supply the ditch for an underground security light service.
• It is the responsibility of the customer to inform the District of malfunctioning security lights. The District will not credit an account for lapsed time prior to notification of an inoperative security light. Repairs will not be made on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays or outside of normal working hours except at the expense of the customer.
• The District reserves the right to remove an unclaimed security light service.

Payment of Bills

• Past Due Reminder. No sooner than 15 calendar days after the billing, the District will send the customer a reminder notice stating "If you do not make satisfactory payment arrangements or do not pay your bill within 10 calendar days from the above date, you will receive a notice of disconnection".
• Disconnection Notice. In the event the customer has not paid their bill or made satisfactory arrangements for payment within the 10 days of the "Past Due Reminder", the District will send a disconnection notice to the customer by first-class mail requesting payment in full or to make satisfactory arrangements before the disconnect date shown on the notice.
• Disconnection and Restoration. If the full amount due is not paid by the date requested on the disconnection notice, unless satisfactory payment arrangements have been made, the customer will be disconnected. Service will be restored upon payment in full PLUS reconnection charges as listed in the Rate Schedule. If disconnected, a minimum charge of $100.00 will be assessed for a Residential Service customer, and $200.00 for a General Service customer or, at the discretion of the District, the customer shall pay a deposit based on the 2 highest months of service in the past 12-month period. Any field collection call will result in a fee listed in the Rate Schedule.

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