Appendix 15-B.  

An applicant for gas service shall be asked the following six questions:

(1) Employer's name, address and telephone number and applicant's position.

(2) Applicant's length of time with present employer. If applicant has less than two years with present employer, previous employment should be obtained or reason(s) for not being previously employed.

(3) Whether the applicant owns or rents his place of residence. If renting, the length of occupancy of the premises should be determined.

(4) Bank account(s)-types and where located.

(5) Whether the applicant has credit cards, charge accounts, loans or other credit references.

(6) Whether the applicant has sources of income other than from employment.

The following guidelines for determining what are positive and negative answers should be used:

(1) If the applicant is employed, that is considered a positive answer. The applicant's position is of importance only to the extent that it helps identify the applicant during a credit check with the employer. Position should not be given any weight since it could result in discriminatory treatment of certain individuals who are forced to take low paying positions. Employment of a spouse, with whom the applicant is residing, would be considered equivalent to employment of the applicant.

(2a) If the applicant has been employed by the present employer for two years, that is considered a positive answer.

(2b) If the applicant has been employed by the present employer for less than two years, but has been employed by only one other employer during the past two years, that is considered a positive answer.

(2c) If the applicant has been employed by the present employer for less than two years and has no previous employment having recently graduated from high school or college or having recently been discharged from military duty, or having been recently widowed, separated or divorced, the response should be considered positive.

(3) If the applicant owns his or her home, or has occupied the premises for two or more years, or has occupied the premises and the preceding residence for two or more years, that should be considered a positive answer. [A utility may choose not to require a deposit of homeowners for that reason alone provided it applies that standard uniformly.]

(4) If the applicant has had a bank account for more than one year, which is substantiated by the bank to be in good standing, that should be considered a positive answer.

(5) If the applicant has credit cards, charge accounts, or has been extended credit by a bank, commercial concern or individual, it would be considered a positive response unless subsequent investigation proved the applicant unworthy of credit.

(6) If the applicant indicates other sources of income such as stocks, real estate, welfare, pension, alimony, etc., this would be considered a positive answer.