 |
Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017) |
 |
Title 20. Public Utilities and Telecommunications |
|
Agency 5. State Corporation Commission |
|
Chapter 312. Rules Governing Retail Access to Competitive Energy Services |
Section 110. Dispute resolution
-
A. A competitive service provider shall establish an explicit dispute resolution procedure that clearly identifies the process that shall be followed when resolving customer disputes. A copy of such dispute resolution procedure shall be provided to a customer or the State Corporation Commission upon request.
B. A competitive service provider shall furnish to customers an address and 24-hour toll-free telephone number for customer inquiries and complaints regarding services provided by the competitive service provider. The 24-hour toll-free telephone number shall be stated on all customer-billing statements and shall provide customers the opportunity to speak to a customer representative during normal business hours. Outside of normal business hours, a recorded message shall direct customers how to obtain customer assistance.
C. A competitive service provider shall immediately direct a customer to contact the appropriate local distribution company if the customer has a service emergency. Such direction may be given either by a customer service representative or by a recorded message on its 24-hour toll-free telephone number.
D. A competitive service provider shall retain customer billing and account records and complaint records for at least three years, and provide copies of such records to a customer or the State Corporation Commission upon request.
E. In the event that a customer has been referred to the local distribution company by a competitive service provider, or to a competitive service provider by the local distribution company, for response to an inquiry or a complaint, the party that is contacted second shall: (i) resolve the inquiry or complaint in a timely fashion or (ii) contact the other party to determine responsibility for resolving the inquiry or complaint.
F. In the event a competitive service provider and customer cannot resolve a dispute, the competitive service provider shall provide the customer with the toll-free telephone number and address of the State Corporation Commission.
G. The local distribution company shall establish and file with the State Corporation Commission prior to implementation of full or phased-in retail access an explicit dispute resolution procedure to address complaints, disputes, or alleged violations of the provisions of this chapter that may arise between the local distribution company and a competitive service provider.
Historical Notes
Derived from Volume 17, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2001.