§ 53.20 REFUNDING OF SERVICE DEPOSITS.

   (A)   Any customer who has paid a service deposit under the stated provisions of §§ 53.03, 53.17, or 53.17-1(B) herein may apply to the city for a refund of such funds as a credit to their utility account, under the following conditions:

      (1)   The customer has not had their utility service terminated for nonpayment of a utility bill in the past 12 months.

      (2)   The customer has not had a returned check/ACH payment in the past 12 months.

      (3)   The customer has not declared bankruptcy against an active city account in the past 12 months.

      (4)   The customer has not in an unauthorized manner diverted utility service or tampered with the city’s facilities.

      (5)   The customer shall complete the necessary refund form and attest their acknowledgment of the provisions of this entire section.

   (B)   Any customer who has paid a service deposit under the stated provisions of § 53.03 shall receive a full refund, payable by check to the account holder(s) on record.

   (C)   Any customer who has paid a service deposit under the stated provisions of §§ 53.17 or 53.17-1 shall receive a partial refund, payable by check to the account holder(s) on record on the following schedule:

      (1)   The customer shall receive a refund of any deposit previously paid over the amount of $150 at the time of the request (thus reducing the deposit on file to $150).

      (2)   The customer shall receive an additional refund of $75 6 months from the original request date, assuming the conditions of § 53.20(A) are still met (thus reducing the deposit on file to $75).

      (3)   The customer shall receive a final refund of $75 12 months from the original request date, assuming the conditions of § 53.20(A) are still met (thus reducing the deposit on file to $0.)

   (D)   If at any time following a full or partial refund of the service deposit the conditions of § 53.20(A) are no longer met, the city shall require a new/higher service deposit to be paid immediately in the form of cash or money order. Failure to pay such deposit shall constitute grounds for termination of the utility service. Such deposit will remain on file for a minimum of 24 months before the refund request can be submitted again.

(Ord. 2016-MC07, passed 7-25-2016)