Section 4 - Credit

4-A PAYMENT OBLIGATION - GENERAL. The supply of service for any purpose at any location, is contingent upon payment of all charges provided for in this Rate Schedule as applicable to the Location and the character of service. Other terms including deposit requirements, late payment charges, and disconnection of service for non-payment are governed by several Maine Public Utilities Commission Rules and Regulations, namely:

Chapter 81 - Residential Utility Service Standards for Credit and Collection Programs
Chapter 86 - Disconnection and Deposit Regulations for Nonresidential Utility Service
Chapter 870 - Late Payment Charges, Interest Rates to be Paid on Customer Deposits, and Charges for Returned Checks

Copies of these Rules and Regulations hereinafter referred to as Chapters 81, 86 and 870 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations are available for inspection at any Company business office. Bills for residential utility service shall be due twenty-five (25) days after the postmarked date of the bill in accordance with Section 2(J) - Chapter 81 of the Commission's Rule and Regulations. Bills for non-residential utility service shall be payable upon receipt in accordance with Section 2(A)(1) - Chapter 86 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations. No bill shall be subject to discount.

4-B GUARANTEE OF PAYMENTS:

Residential Accounts:
The Company may require a deposit as security for the payment of bills and compliance with the Terms and Conditions as a prerequisite to the rendering or continuing of residential utility service by the Company in accordance with Section 5 - Chapter 81 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

Non-Residential Accounts:
The Company may require a deposit as security for the payment of bills and compliance with the Terms and Conditions as a prerequisite to the rendering or continuing of non-residential utility service by the Company in accordance with Section 10 - Chapter 86 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or amended from time to time hereafter.

4-C AMOUNT OF DEPOSIT.

Residential Accounts:
The amount of the deposit for residential utility service shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(B)-Chapter 81 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

Non-Residential Accounts:
The amount of the deposit for non-residential utility service shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 10(A)-Chapter 86 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

4-D REFUND OF DEPOSIT.

Residential Accounts:
Refund of deposits for residential utility service shall be determined in accordance with Section 5(C) - Chapter 81 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof and amended from time to time hereafter.

Non-Residential Accounts:
Refund of deposits for non-residential utility service shall be determined in accordance with Section 10(D) - Chapter 86 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof and amended from time to time thereafter

4-E INTEREST ON DEPOSITS. The Company will pay interest on all customer deposits in accordance with Section 2-Chapter 870 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

4-F LATE PAYMENT CHARGE. All customers having bills not paid within twenty-five (25) days from the postmark date of the bill shall be subject to a late payment charge. The late payment charge shall be the maximum rate allowed under Chapter 870 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

4-G DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE FOR CAUSE.

Residential Accounts:
The disconnect of residential customers for cause shall be governed by Chapter 81 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

Non-Residential Accounts:
The disconnect of non-residential customers for cause shall be governed by Chapter 86 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations as in effect on the effective date hereof or as amended from time to time hereafter.

4-H COLLECTION CHARGE. When an employee is sent to the Customer's premises for the purpose of disconnecting service and the Customer tenders payment in full of the bill to prevent disconnection, the employee shall either accept payment, give a receipt and leave the service intact, or else, without disconnecting, direct the Customer to go to the utility's nearest office within a reasonable time and tender payment there. The employee must know the full amount to be paid but shall not be required to make change or negotiate payment arrangements. When payment is made under these circumstances, the Company will charge the Customer an amount not to exceed $10.00. I

4-I CHARGE FOR RETURNED CHECKS. Customers whose checks have been returned to the Company by financial institutions for non-payment shall be subject to a charge of $5.00 per check.

4-J SINGLE-METER, MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS. In cases of disconnection of single-meter, multi-unit dwellings in which the Customer is the landlord, in addition to any other applicable fees, the landlord shall be required to pay a collection fee of $50.00. In addition, the Company may require each dwelling unit to be individually metered at the landlord's expense before service will be restored.

4-K ELECTRONIC BILL PAYMENT. The Company may institute a program whereby customers may pay any amounts owed the Company for service by using a credit card, debit card, ACH (automated clearinghouse) or pre-authorized draft (collectively, electronic bill payment). The Company or any vendor retained by the Company to process any payments by electronic bill payment may charge customers a fee for processing payments, so long as the customer is informed of the specific amount of the fee prior to making the payment.

4-L PAYMENT OPTIONS. The Company may institute a payment option whereby customers can pay amounts owed the Company at payment agencies. The Company or any vendor retained by the Company may charge a fee of $1.00, effective May 1, 2004, to process any payments made at a payment agency. The customer must be informed of the specific amount of the fee prior to making the payment.

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