What are the legal obligations of a public utility in regards to billing?

In Washington, public utilities have a number of legal obligations in regards to billing. These obligations can be found in the state’s Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. The first obligation is that the utility must provide customers with accurate, timely bills. This means that the bills must accurately reflect the amount of energy or services used, as well as any applicable fees or taxes. Additionally, customers should receive their bills in a timely manner, typically once a month. The second obligation is that the utility must provide customers with multiple payment options. This ensures that customers can choose the payment method that works best for them. The utility must also make clear to customers what payment methods are accepted, when payments are due, and the consequences of not paying on time. Public utilities in Washington also have an obligation to provide customers with timely and accurate information about their bills. This could include information about energy conservation, payment options, billing records, and more. The utility must also provide customer service and contact information to address billing issues. Finally, public utilities must ensure that billing information is kept confidential and secure. This means that customer data should be kept private and protected against any unauthorized access. Additionally, the utility must have measures in place to prevent data breaches, such as encryption and firewalls.

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What are the legal obligations of a public utility in regards to billing?

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