(A) The company may require, with each service application from any customer or any prospective customer, a cash deposit to guarantee payment of bill. This required deposit shall not exceed an amount equivalent to two estimated average bills when payment is due after the service is rendered. The company shall pay interest on the deposit at the rate prescribed by law or order of the Commission. When service is discontinued by the company for any reason other than for repairs, the company may apply such deposit to the payment of all charges authorized under these Rules and Regulations. Interest will not accrue on deposits when they become inactive. The company shall pay interest on deposits annually in January of each year and upon return of the deposit to the customer.
(B) Interest shall not accrue on any cash deposit after the date the company has made a bona fide effort to return the deposit to the depositor. The company shall keep in its records evidence of its efforts to return the deposit.
(C) A new or additional deposit may be required upon reasonable written notice of the need of such a requirement in any case where a deposit has been refunded or is found to be inadequate as above provided for, or as provided by the applicable provisions of the Commission’s General Service Rules, as they may be in effect from time to time. The service of any customer who fails to comply with these requirements may be disconnected upon five-days’ written notice.
(D) All charges authorized under these Rules and Regulations shall be due and payable on the same terms and conditions as charges made for gas service and the same procedure for discontinuance of service for such charges may be applied against refunds, if any, due on the customer’s deposits.
(E) Upon the filing of a petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code, the customer will be required to provide a cash deposit in an amount not to exceed two times the maximum estimated bill for the service location.
(Ord. 2-95, passed 5-8-1995)