Section 460.702. Definitions.

Rule 2.  As used in these rules:

(a)        "All conditions" means conditions reflected by data derived through the amalgamation   of  data  from  both  normal   conditions    and   catastrophic conditions. "All conditions" does not mean only normal  conditions  or only catastrophic conditions.

(b)     "Answer" means that a utility representative, voice response unit, or automated operator system is ready to render assistance or ready to  accept information necessary to process the call.  An  acknowledgment  that  the customer is waiting on the line does not constitute an answer.

(c)      "Approved by the commission" means that a favorable commission order has been obtained.

(d)        "Call" means a measurable effort by a customer to obtain a telephone connection whether the connection is completed or not.

(e)     "Call blockage factor" means the percentage of calls that do not get answered. The call blockage factor is calculated by multiplying the remainder obtained by subtracting the number of answers from the number of calls, multiplying by 100, and then dividing that value by the  total  number of calls.

(f)    "Catastrophic conditions" means either of the following:

(i)     Severe weather conditions that result in service interruptions for 10% or more of a utility's customers.

(ii)        Events of sufficient magnitude that result in issuance of an official state of emergency declaration by the local, state, or federal government.

(g)     "Commission" means the Michigan public service commission.

(h)        "Complaint response" or "response" means a communication between the utility and the customer that identifies the problem and a solution  to  the complaint.

(i)     "Complaint response factor" means the annual percentage of the complaints forwarded to a utility by the commission that are responded to within the time period prescribed by these rules.

(j)        "Completion date" means the day on which service at a new installation is permanently energized. The provision of construction power does not affect a determination of the completion date.

(k)     "Electric utility" or "utility" means that term as defined in section 2(d) of 1995 PA 30, MCL 460.562(d).

(l)      "Interruption" means the full or partial loss of service to 1 or more customers for longer than 5 minutes.  The duration  of  a  customer's interruption shall be measured from the time that the electric  utility  is notified or otherwise becomes aware of the full or partial loss of service to 1 or more customers for longer than 5 minutes.

(m)         "Meter reading factor" means the percentage of meters read within an approved billing period. An approved billing period is a "billing month" within the meaning of R 460.2102(b) of not less than 26 days, nor more than 35 days, or some other time period approved by the commission.

(n)      "Metropolitan statistical area" means an area within the state of Michigan identified by the federal office of management and budget on June 30, 1999. A map of the metropolitan statistical areas was attached to the July 11, 2001, order in Case No. U-12270 as exhibit C and appears on the website of the United States department of commerce, economics and statistics administration, bureau of the census at http://www.census.gov/geo/www/mapGallery/stma99.pdf.

(o)      "Minimum bill prorated on a daily basis" means the amount that results from dividing the customer's minimum bill amount by the number of days in the billing period and then by multiplying that quotient by the number of days during which the customer remained out of service.

(p)      "MISS DIG activities" means the requirements imposed pursuant to 1974 PA 53, as amended, MCL 460.701 et seq.

(q)     "New service installation factor" means the percent of new service hookups that are completed within the time period prescribed by these rules, from start date to completion date. New service hookups dependent on the construction of a line extension other than the service line shall be excluded from the calculation of this factor.

(r)       "Normal  conditions" means  conditions   other  than   catastrophic conditions.

(s)        "Same-circuit repetitive interruption" means a grouping of more than 10 customers on a circuit who experience multiple interruptions   under  all conditions.  At its option, an electric utility  may  report  on   specific identifiable circuit segments rather than whole circuits as long as the criteria for identification of the specific circuit segments are fully explained in its report. If an electric utility lacks the capability   of independently tracking same-circuit repetitive interruption  data,  then   the

utility may rely solely upon notification provided by its customers to report the data to the commission.

(t)     "Service restoration" means that the interruption condition has been corrected and that the interrupted customer or customers have regained the full use of their electric service.

(u)      "Start date for new installations" means the first business day after all of the following events have occurred:

(i)     All rights of way, easements, licenses,  and  consents  have  been obtained and are and remain physically unencumbered.

(ii)     All permits have been received.

(iii)     All joint use requirements have been met.

(iv)     All required inspections have been completed.

(v)     All commission-approved tariff payments have been received.

(vi)     All MISS DIG activities have been completed.

(v) "Wire-down relief factor" means the annual percentage of the non-utility employee guarded downed wires that are relieved by a utility representative within the time period specified in Rule 23.

History: 2004 AACS.