§ 23-4-202 - Water, gas, or electricity bills rendered in accordance with rate schedules -- Rate schedule furnished on request.
23-4-202. Water, gas, or electricity bills rendered in accordance with rate schedules -- Rate schedule furnished on request.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any public utility furnishing water, gas, or electricity to the general public in the State of Arkansas to bill or render statements to its customers, patrons, or consumers except in accordance with rate schedules duly filed with the Arkansas Public Service Commission in the manner provided by law.
(b) On request by any customer, patron, or consumer, a public utility engaged in the business of the sale or distribution of water, gas, or electricity to the general public shall furnish a copy of the rate schedule under which the customer, patron, or consumer making the request is billed for the service.
(c) (1) Upon a finding by the commission that any jurisdictional water, gas, telephone, or electric public utility has knowingly, willfully, and purposefully violated any of the provisions of this section, by agent or otherwise, the commission shall assess a civil sanction of one thousand dollars ($1,000) on the utility.
(2) Each instance of violation shall constitute a separate violation. However, in case of a continued violation, each day's continuance thereof shall not be deemed to be a separate and distinct violation.
(3) The power and authority of the commission to impose civil sanctions are not to be affected by any other proceeding, civil or criminal, concerning the same violation, nor shall the imposition of the sanction preclude the commission from imposing other sanctions as are provided for by law.
(4) The proceeds from the civil sanctions imposed under this section shall be deposited into the State Treasury as special revenues and credited to the Public Service Commission Fund.
(5) The imposition of a civil sanction under this section is subject to review by the commission and by the Arkansas Court of Appeals in the manner provided by 23-2-422 - 23-2-424.