How does a customer dispute a utility bill?
In South Dakota, customers who wish to dispute a utility bill must follow a specific process. Depending on the type of utility bill in question, the customer may be required to contact either the provider or the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC). If the dispute is related to a telecommunications bill from a company, the customer should contact the provider first. They should explain why they dispute the bill and request a resolution of the issue. The telecommunications company must provide the customer with a response within 10 days of the complaint. If the customer is not satisfied with the response, then they can contact the PUC to file an official complaint. If the dispute is related to an electric, natural gas, or water utility bill, the customer should contact the PUC directly. The PUC will review the dispute and contact the utility company for more information. The PUC will then issue a ruling on the dispute, either in favor of the customer or the utility company. If the PUC’s ruling is not satisfactory to the customer, then they may file an appeal in the court system. In any case, customers should be sure to keep records of all communication they have with the utility provider and/or the PUC. This will help ensure that all issues and rulings related to the dispute are properly documented.
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