A. Security Deposits And Guarantees:
1. a. Every individual who applies for a new or a transfer of residential utility services for a nonowner occupied dwelling from the city shall be required to pay a security deposit equal to an average ninety (90) day billing period at his/her service locations, if available, or fifty dollars ($50.00), whichever is greater. This average will be calculated based on the most recent fifteen (15) month history of consumption.
b. Every individual who applies for a new or a transfer of residential utility service for a nonowner occupied dwelling unit with the city between November 15 and the following March 15, whose household is eligible for HEAT assistance, shall be allowed to defer payment of the deposit during said period. However, the deposit shall be due and payable on March 20 following application for services. When the actual consumption history is available, the security deposit shall be equal to an average ninety (90) day billing period or fifty dollars ($50.00), whichever is greater.
c. When the residential utility service includes water and/or sewer and electric service a security deposit equal to an average ninety (90) day period or one hundred dollars ($100.00), whichever is greater shall be required. This average will be calculated based on the most recent fifteen (15) month history of consumption. Every person who applies for utility service, with or without water and sewer, for a motor home, travel trailer or other unit which is not a mobile home, shall pay as a security deposit the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00).
2. The amount of this security deposit shall be reviewed on an annual basis and may be increased or decreased as is deemed appropriate by the director of the department of finance and administration or his/her designee.
3. Applicants may be exempted from the security deposit requirements of this section provided they meet one of the following conditions:
a. With the consent of the applicant, the city customer service office shall obtain, within fifteen (15) days of application for service, current written documentation from other utilities, if available, regarding applicant's payment history for the most recent months and if the history is satisfactory, or
b. The applicant currently has a utility account with the city and that account shows a payment history for a minimum of fifteen (15) months with not more than two (2) months of "delinquent" status within that period, or
c. The applicant's utility payment history, even if not with one utility, is satisfactory for the past fifteen (15) months when all utility accounts are combined.
4. If a security deposit is required, and if the applicant's payment history is satisfactory for twenty four (24) months, it shall be refunded at the end of that time period.
5. For each security, half of the amount is due and payable at the time of service sign up or the time of application. The second half of the security deposit amount is due and payable with the first utility bill.
6. No security deposit shall be used in lieu of a monthly payment to discharge a delinquency on the account unless service has been discontinued.
7. Any account holder who has his/her utility service disconnected or executes a deferred payment agreement may be required to pay a security deposit under the terms of this section.
8. Any refusal of service pursuant to any portion of this chapter is subject to the informal review provisions of section 13.04.070 of this chapter.
9. Any residential customer filing bankruptcy shall be required to comply with the terms and conditions as set forth in section 366 of the United States bankruptcy code.
B. Eligibility For Service:
1. Residential utility service is to be conditioned upon payment of security deposits, proof of ownership or right to use, and of all outstanding debts for past utility service which are owed by the applicant to the city, subject to subsection B2 of this section and subsection 13.04.060B2 of this chapter; provided, however, that such service may be denied where unsafe conditions exist or when the applicant has furnished false information for the purpose of obtaining utility service or where the customer has tampered with utility meters, lines, etc. An applicant is ineligible for service if at the time of application, the applicant is cohabiting with a delinquent account holder, previously terminated for nonpayment, and the applicant and delinquent account holder also cohabited during the time the delinquent account holder received the utility's service, whether such service was received at the applicant's present address or another address.
2. Where an applicant is unable to pay an outstanding debt in full, residential utility service shall be provided upon execution of a written, deferred payment agreement as set forth in section 13.04.050 of this chapter. (Ord. 11-13)