(A) (1) An applicant shall deposit with the utility a deposit based on the size of the meter as listed, or other factors in the general ordinance reflecting deposits as may be amended. The utility may require an existing customer to make additional cash deposits when the customer’s bill has been delinquent for two months and has been disconnected two times during a six-month period. If the customer’s bill remains unpaid for period of 60 days after the date of the final bill or the date of the discontinuance of service, the amount of such bill (water and wastewater) will be deducted from the deposit.
(2) The balance, if any, will be remitted to the depositor within 60 days or provided for proof of legal survivors, executors, or a court appointed executor or administrator. Deposits may be transferred from one property to another or refunded upon payment of the current final bill at the request of the person whose name appears on the deposit in writing.
(3) Deposits may be transferred from one customer to another at the same address with completion of the approved legal form. Any customer who is requesting transfer may be required to put down a deposit or add to the deposit on hand to the current required deposit, the exception may be that the new customer has been a prior customer in good standing. No deposit of refunds shall be made until the customer is no longer a customer of the utilities.
(B) Bankruptcies.
(1) Any active residential account which files bankruptcy shall have its existing cash deposit applied to any unpaid charges established prior to the bankruptcy filing date, and shall be required to submit an additional cash deposit sufficient in amount so that the total deposit is equal to the regular deposit requirement in order to continue service beyond said bankruptcy filing date.
(2) Any active non-residential account which files bankruptcy shall have it’s cash deposit applied to any unpaid charges established prior to the bankruptcy date, and shall be required to submit an additional cash deposit sufficient in amount so that the total deposit is equal to 15% of the previous 12 months charges, including taxes and penalties, for each service (rounded to the nearest $100), but in no event less than the residential deposit for the applicable service(s), in order to continue service beyond said bankruptcy filing date.
(3) If, after the bankruptcy filing date, an account becomes past due, service may be terminated and the deposit used to pay all existing charges. Upon re-establishing the required deposit balance, the payment of reconnect charges, and the payment of any charges not covered by the cash deposit, services will be restored.
(Ord. 1-2021, passed 6-22-2021)