(A) (1) New or moving customers applying for utility service shall do so in person at the Clerk-Treasurer’s office, and shall put down a cash deposit before any utility service will be rendered.
(2) When submitting the application for utility service, the applicant will be asked for proof of identification (valid driver’s license or picture identification). This is necessary to aid in the collection process, if necessary, and to eliminate possible falsification of whom is actually living at the service address. The Clerk-Treasurer will make a copy of the proof document and attach it to the application form.
(3) If the applicant is renting, the property owner shall sign the landlord certification section of the application. The Clerk-Treasurer will sign the application which acknowledges receipt of the completed application and compliance with the policy as stated herein. A copy will then be mailed to the property owner advising him, her, or them that his, her, or their tenant has applied for utility service, and that the property owner shall be liable for any unpaid and delinquent water, sewer, or electric utility service to the property, and that sewer liens may also be levied upon the property.
(4) After reviewing the application for completeness, the Clerk-Treasurer will determine the deposit requirement, and review computer, and/or other records to verify that the applicant has no previous history of being past due and for any previous account balances that may still be due.
(5) Upon payment of any required cash deposit, a receipt will be issued to the applicant.
(B) Utility deposits are hereby established as follows.
Utility | Deposit Amount |
Electric deposit | $100 |
Water and sewer deposit | $150 |
(C) (1) When a previously terminated account (owner-occupied or renter) returns to establish a new account after a period of time has elapsed, any delinquent utility bills owed by said new account applicant, including amounts previously written off as bad debts, must be reimbursed before a new account will be established.
(2) If an active account (owner-occupied or renter) continually becomes or remains past due (determined by multiple application of penalty charges against the account), or service has been disconnected due to nonpayment, a deposit equal to double the schedule established above may be required for continuation or reestablishment of service.
(D) If an account is disconnected because of nonpayment, the deposit may be used to pay all existing charges. Upon re-establishing service, a new deposit is required, the payment of reconnect fees and the payment of any charges not covered by the deposit shall be paid in full before services will be restored.
(E) Non-sufficient funds check return shall be charged $25.
(F) Reconnect fees are in the amount of $50 per utility.
(G) Appropriate adjustments may be made to the owner/occupant for billing errors and/or water leaks. It is the responsibility of the owner/occupant to notify the Clerk-Treasurer’s office of any such errors and/or leaks. A high bill due to a water leak of the owner/occupant will be adjusted one time per calendar year at the request of the owner/occupant.
(H) (1) Cash deposits will be applied to the customer’s final bill after which the balance, if any, will be refunded. Any balance due after application of the deposit shall be due and payable on or before the date specified on the final bill.
(2) If a given utility has a deposit balance remaining after the utility’s charges are satisfied, said balance shall be applied to other utility charges not so satisfied before any amount of the deposit is refunded. Interest will not be paid on any part of the deposit.
(I) This section shall be effective from and after its passage.
(Ord. 13, 2009, passed 9-9-2009)