Sec. 2.1. (a) As used in this section, "commission" refers to the Indiana utility regulatory commission created by IC 8-1-1-2.

(b) This section applies to an owner or operator of a campground described in section 2(b) or 2(c) of this chapter who disputes:

(1) that the campground is being billed at rates charged to residential customers for equivalent usage as required by section 2(b)(1) of this chapter;

(2) the number of resident equivalent units determined for the campground under section 2(c) of this chapter; or

(3) that any additional charges imposed on the campground under section 2(d) of this chapter are reasonable or nondiscriminatory.

(c) If an owner or operator:

(1) makes a good faith attempt to resolve a disputed matter described in subsection (b)(1) through (b)(3) through:

(A) any grievance or complaint procedure prescribed by the board; or

(B) other negotiations with the board; and

(2) is dissatisfied with the board's proposed disposition of the matter;

the owner or operator may file with the commission a written request for review of the disputed matter and the board's proposed disposition of the matter to be conducted by the commission's appeals division established under IC 8-1-2-34.5(b). The owner or operator must file a request under this section with the commission and the board not later than seven (7) days after receiving notice of the board's proposed disposition of the matter.

(d) The commission's appeals division shall provide an informal review of the disputed matter. The review must include a prompt and thorough investigation of the dispute. Upon request by either party, or on the division's own motion, the division shall require the parties to attend a conference on the matter at a date, time, and place determined by the division.

(e) In any case in which the basic monthly charge for a campground's sewage service is in dispute, the owner or operator shall pay, on any disputed bill issued while a review under this section is pending, the basic monthly charge billed during the year immediately preceding the year in which the first disputed bill is issued. If the basic monthly charge paid while the review is pending exceeds any monthly charge determined by the commission in a decision issued under subsection (f), the board shall refund or credit the excess amount paid to the owner or operator. If the basic monthly charge paid while the review is pending is less than any monthly charge determined by the appeals division or commission in a decision issued under subsection (f), the owner or operator shall pay the board the difference owed.

(f) After conducting the review required under subsection (d), the appeals division shall issue a written decision resolving the disputed matter. The division shall send a copy of the decision to:

(1) the owner or operator of the campground; and

(2) the board;

by United States mail. Not later than seven (7) days after receiving the written decision of the appeals division, either party may make a written request for the dispute to be formally docketed as a proceeding before the commission. Subject to the right of either party to an appeal under IC 8-1-3, the decision of the commission is final.

(g) The commission shall maintain a record of all requests for a review made under this section. The record must include:

(1) a copy of the appeals division's and commission's decision under subsection (f) for each dispute filed; and

(2) any other documents filed with the appeals division or commission under this section.

The record must be made available for public inspection and copying in the office of the commission during regular business hours under IC 5-14-3.

(h) The right of a campground owner or operator to request a review under this section is in addition to the right of the campground owner or operator to file a petition under section 15 of this chapter as a freeholder of the district.

(i) The commission may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this section.

As added by P.L.189-2005, SEC.6.