(A) (1) A meter deposit shall be required and collected from all new customers to insure the payment of water and sewer charges to the City of Mt. Vernon, which deposit shall be held in escrow for the purposes of paying any utility charges of that customer.
(2) The terms NEW CUSTOMER shall include all persons hereafter connecting to the water or sewer system and also shall include persons who shall have had their services disconnected or terminated for any reason, including lack of payment and who shall thereafter reconnect.
(B) The required deposits shall be in the following amount:
Meter size | Deposit Required |
Meter size | Deposit Required |
Residential | |
3/4” meter | $100.00 |
Commercial | |
3/4” meter | $200.00 |
1” meter | $250.00 |
1-1/4” meter | $350.00 |
1-1/2” meter | $400.00 |
2” meter | $450.00 |
3” meter or larger | Deposit based upon 2-1/2 times the cost of one month’s estimated consumption of water |
(C) Interest shall be paid on deposit accounts commencing on the date of such deposit at the rate of 1% per annum from date of deposit, which interest shall be payable only upon termination of water and sewer service to such depositor on the balance of the deposit remaining after payment of all amounts due the City: said interest shall be computed as of the last day of the month if paid on said date or the last day of the full month preceding payment if paid otherwise. The meter deposit shall be returned to any customer who discontinues service as above set forth and who has paid all water and sewer charges and delinquent charges due and garbage collection charges as provided within § 32.002 of the Revised Code of Ordinances. The terms of the within subsection for meter deposit shall be applied to any customer whether such customer shall be an owner or renter of the premises served. The foregoing customer shall be an owner or renter of the premises served. The foregoing provisions for meter deposits shall be subject, however, to the following exceptions:
(1) Whenever a customer shall be the owner of the property served, shall present evidence of having paid all water and sewer charges for services to the premises without being in arrears for the prior 12-month period, such customer shall be entitled to a refund of the customer deposit with accrued interest. Such refunds shall be made semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year thereafter.
(2) Whenever such customer shall have established credit in the manner above described and shall request service to a new or additional location and shall present evidence of ownership of such location and of his continued payment of all water and sewer charges without arrears, no meter deposit shall be required for such new service.
(D) In addition to a meter deposit, all customers shall pay a hook-up fee of $25.00 per hook-up prior to any water service being provided to said customer; provided, however, that said hook-up fee shall not be required to be paid under the following circumstances: (a) annual re-connection of service for a summer or other seasonal home; (b) a change only in the name of the applicant for a water service account; and (c) a temporary service not to exceed 5 calendar days, provided a disconnect request is executed at the time of re-connection.
(Prior Code, Art. 16, § 16.3(m))