A. Application For Service: Any person desiring the use of utility services shall make application in writing to the City Clerk, which application shall set out the location of the property, and the purpose for which the utility service is to be used, in the approximate amount to be used per month if ascertainable. Such application must be signed by the consumer or his or her agent and shall be approved by the city clerk. Applicants shall be advised of all required deposits. (2013 Code)
B. Deposit Requirements:
1. Disposition Of Deposit: The city shall retain the deposit until such time as service is terminated and final bill is satisfied. When service is terminated, the customer shall have the option to apply the deposit to the final bill and pay any charges in excess of the deposit or receive the balance of the deposit above that which is owed. The customer may pay the total amount of the final bill and receive a refund of the total deposit or leave the deposit on file for future service connections. In the event the service bill becomes delinquent, the deposit will be applied to the delinquent bill and a new deposit will be required before service will be reinstated.
2. Residential:
a. Residential electric and other utility deposits for satisfactory or unsatisfactory service shall be in such amounts as set by the board of commissioners as provided in the fines and fees schedule in appendix A, division IV of this code. Unsatisfactory credit is deemed to be any previous unpaid balance to the city.
b. Residential customers with satisfactory credit shall not be required to post a deposit for any additional residential services that are connected in excess of one active deposit. If a customer has more than one residential deposit, the larger of the deposits shall be retained and the smaller or additional deposits shall be refunded upon written request of the customer. In the event that any customer's account becomes delinquent, the deposit held in that customer's name will be applied to the delinquent account. At this time, a new deposit will be required to continue receiving utilities and services from the city. Failure to post the required deposit within three (3) business days will result in the termination of service until such time as the required deposit is posted.
3. Commercial:
a. All commercial or nonresidential customers shall be required to post a deposit in such amount as set by the board of commissioners as provided in the fines and fees schedule in appendix A, division IV of this code.
b. A commercial customer with satisfactory credit shall not be required to post a deposit for any additional commercial services that are connected in excess of one active deposit. Provided, however, the deposit required for any commercial service shall be an amount equal to the deposit for the largest commercial account in the customer's name; if a customer has more than one commercial deposit, the larger of the deposits shall be retained and the smaller or additional deposits shall be refunded upon written request of the customer. In the event that any customer's account becomes delinquent, the deposit held in the customer's name will be applied to the delinquent account. At that time, a new deposit will be required to continue receiving utilities and services from the city. Failure to post the required deposit within three (3) business days will result in the termination of service until such time as the required deposit is posted.
c. A commercial customer with unsatisfactory credit shall be required to post a deposit for each commercial account in said customer's control until such time as satisfactory credit is established. Satisfactory credit can be established by paying the customer's bill for a period of twelve (12) months without being late on payment during that period. At such time as satisfactory credit is established, a customer shall be entitled to the provisions of the satisfactory credit policy. (Ord. 831, 8-4-1998; amd. 2013 Code)
C. Additional Requirements:
1. New Customers: A deposit at the current rate charged for new customers will be imposed when the following occurs:
a. The occupancy of a property changes from one person to another, except where the owner of the property is responsible for utility services.
b. When the person accepting responsibility for paying the service is changed.
c. The Kingfisher public works authority, for nonpayment and/or tampering, has disconnected the utility meter.
d. When utility service is discontinued for any reason.
2. Additional Deposit: An additional deposit will be imposed when the Kingfisher public works authority has disconnected the utility service more than once in a twelve (12) month period. The amount of the additional deposit shall be the highest monthly utility service charge within a twelve (12) month period or the current deposit rate, whichever is greater. (Ord. 845, 9-18-2000; amd. Ord. 847, 10-17-2000; 2013 Code)
D. Requirements Related To Distributed Generation And Behind The Meter Energy Production:
1. Prior to any person or entity installing equipment intended for power generation that will be placed behind an electric meter owned by the City of Kingfisher or its authorities, an application must be filed with the City of Kingfisher, or its designee, requesting permission to install such equipment.
2. Prior to receiving a permit for the installation of distributed generation equipment, the customer must agree to allow the City or its agent to inspect the property and connections of all equipment during the installation of said equipment and thereafter while said equipment is connected to a system owned by the City of Kingfisher or one of its authorities. Further, it must be agreed that all installation, construction and interconnections will be in compliance with the International Building Codes and standards most recently adopted by the City of Kingfisher.
3. Any person who does not file an application and receive a permit prior to beginning construction of any distributed generation equipment shall be guilty of an offense and shall be subject to a fine in an amount set by the Board of Commissioners as provided in the fines and fees schedule in appendix A, division III of this Code. Each day of continued violation shall give rise to an additional charge. (Ord. 969, 8-14-2017)