NAC704.339. Billing and payment for service.

     1. A utility shall deliver a bill to a customer:

     (a) By depositing the bill with the United States Postal Service, properly addressed and postage prepaid, for delivery by first-class mail to the billing address of the customer;

     (b) By another means of delivery of the bill to the billing address of the customer; or

     (c) If requested by the customer and within the capability of the utility, by sending an electronic bill via the Internet to the electronic address of the customer. The electronic bill must contain the same content and be presented in the same or a similar format as a bill delivered to the customer pursuant to paragraph (a).

     2. A bill for service issued by a utility is due:

     (a) Upon deposit of the bill with the United States Postal Service, properly addressed and postage prepaid, for delivery by first-class mail to the billing address of the customer;

     (b) In the case of delivery by another means, upon delivery of the bill to the billing address of the customer; or

     (c) In the case of delivery via the Internet, upon sending the electronic bill via the Internet to the electronic address of the customer.

     3. A customer may pay the bill:

     (a) By depositing payment in the form of a check or money order with the United States Postal Service, properly addressed and postage prepaid, for delivery by first-class mail to the appropriate address of the utility;

     (b) By making payment at the business office of the utility using cash, a check, a money order, a credit card, a debit card, an electronic check or, if authorized by the utility, some other form of electronic fund transfer;

     (c) By making payment to any person authorized by the utility to accept payment using cash, a check, a money order, a credit card, a debit card, an electronic check or, if authorized by the utility, some other form of electronic fund transfer; or

     (d) By making payment through a bank-by-phone system or, if authorized by the utility, by making payment through a payment terminal, an automatic withdrawal system or another system that allows for electronic fund transfers.

     4. A utility shall authorize at least one system of payment that allows customers to make payments to the utility via the Internet.

     5. The past due date for a bill may not be earlier than 15 days after the date that the bill is due pursuant to subsection 2.

     6. If a utility has the capability to allow a customer to choose the past due date for each billing cycle, the utility shall:

     (a) On an annual basis, notify customers that they have such a choice; and

     (b) Upon the request of a customer, allow the customer to make such a choice.

     7. If a utility does not have the capability described in subsection 6, the utility shall, upon the request of a customer and to the extent practicable, work with the customer to establish by mutual agreement the past due date for each billing cycle.

     8. If the last day for payment before the past due date falls on a Sunday, legal holiday or any other day on which the office of a utility used for the payment of bills is closed, the last day for payment is the next business day. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 9, payment of a bill by first-class mail is timely if the payment is received not more than 4 days after the past due date.

     9. Any arrearage contained in a bill for service is past due and should be paid at the business office of the utility.

     10. A utility may charge a customer a fee, as set forth in its tariff, for:

     (a) The return of an unpaid check.

     (b) The late payment of a bill.

     (c) The use of a credit card to make a payment to the utility. The utility shall not charge the customer a fee for the use of a credit card to make a payment to the utility or enter into an agreement with a third-party credit card service which charges the customer such a fee, unless the fee has been reviewed and approved by the Commission.

     (Added to NAC by Pub. Service Comm’n, eff. 1-5-89; A by Pub. Utilities Comm’n by R198-01, 2-17-2005)