(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a public record, as defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1, does not include personally identifiable information obtained by the Public Staff of the Utilities Commission from customers requesting assistance from the Public Staff regarding rate or service disputes with a public utility, as defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 62-3(23).

(b) The Public Staff may disclose personally identifiable information of a customer to the public utility involved in the matter for the purpose of investigating such disputes.

(c) Such personally identifiable information is a public record to the extent disclosed by the customer in a complaint filed with the Commission pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 62-73

(d) For purposes of this section, “personally identifiable information” means the customer’s name, physical address, e-mail address, telephone number, and public utility account number. (2017-10, s. 2.1(c).)