06-27-18 CenterPoint - Updated Schedule of Rates

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CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. D/B/A CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO NATURAL GAS SERVICE IN TEXAS FOR JURISDICTIONS FOR WHICH TARIFF IS APPROVED ON OR AFTER MAY 23,2017 customer with a postcard and request that the customer read the meter and return the card to the utility if the meter is of a type that can be read by the customer without significant inconvenience or special tools or equipment. If such a postcard is not received by the Company in time for billing,the Company may estimate the meter reading and render the bill accordingly. (d) Disputed bills. (1) In the event of a dispute between the customer and the Company regarding the bill,the Company shall forthwith make such investigation as is required by the particular case and report the results thereof to the customer. If the customer wishes to obtain the benefit of subsection(2)hereunder,notification of the dispute must be given to the Company prior to the date the bill becomes delinquent. In the event the dispute is not resolved, the Company shall inform the customer of the complaint procedures of the appropriate regulatory authority. (2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these rules and regulations,the customer shall not be required to pay the disputed portion of the bill which exceeds the amount of that customer's average usage for the billing period at current rates until the earlier of the following: (1)resolution of the dispute;or(2)the expiration of the sixty(60)day period beginning on the day the disputed bill is issued. For purposes of this section only,the customer's average usage for the billing period shall be the average of the customer's usage for the same billing period during the preceding two(2)years. Where no previous usage history exists,the average usage shall be estimated on the basis of usage levels of similar customers and under similar conditions. 21. NEW CONSTRUCTION (a) Standards of construction. The Company shall construct, install, operate, and maintain its plant, structures,equipment,and lines in accordance with the provisions of such codes and standards as are generally accepted by the industry, as modified by rule or regulation of the regulatory authority,or otherwise by law,and in such manner to best accommodate the public and to prevent interference with service furnished by other public utilities insofar as practical. • (b) Response to request for residential and commercial service. The Company shall serve each qualified residential and commercial applicant for service within its service area as rapidly as practical. As a general policy,those applications not involving line extensions or new facilities should be filled within seven working days. Those applications for individual residential service requiring line extensions should be filled within ninety days unless unavailability of materials or other causes beyond the control of the Company result in unavoidable delays. In the event that residential service is delayed in excess of ninety days after an applicant has met credit requirements and made satisfactory arrangements for payment of any required construction charges, a report must be made to the regulatory authority listing the name of the applicant, location,and cause for delay. Unless such delays are due to causes which are reasonably beyond the control of the Company,a delay in excess of ninety days may be found to constitute a refusal to serve.