(A) The utility shall require from each applicant for water service a cash deposit equal to the applicant's estimated billing for a period of 60 days, but not less than $40, as a guarantee against the non-payment of bills for service, which deposit shall be paid at the time of application for service.
(B) The utility may require a present customer to make a reasonable cash deposit when the customer has been mailed a disconnect notice for two consecutive months or any three months within the preceding 12-month period, or when the service has been disconnected pursuant to § 52.009. The amount of such deposit will not exceed an amount equal to their estimated billing for a period of 60 days, but not less than $20, as a guarantee against non-payment of future bills for service. In cases where such deposit is required as a result of a disconnection for non-payment, full payment of the deposit will be required prior to restoration of service.
(C) Any deposit will be refunded promptly, along with a statement accounting for each transaction involving the deposit, upon satisfactory payment by the customer for a period of 12 months consecutively. Any customer whose account was delinquent for any two consecutive months during said 12-month period will not qualify for such consideration.
(D) Procedure following a customer request for termination of service:
(1) The utility will require payment of any past due balance currently billed and owing;
(2) The utility will apply the deposit to the final billing;
(3) Any portion of said deposit remaining after such application will be forwarded to the customer.
(E) The utility will maintain a record of each applicant or customer making a deposit which will indicate:
(1) The name of the customer;
(2) The current address of the customer so long as there exists an active account with utility in the same name;
(3) The amount of the deposit;
(4) The date of receipt of deposit; and
(5) A record of each transaction affecting such deposit.
(F) Each customer will be provided a written receipt from the utility at the time the deposit is paid.
(G) Any deposit made by the applicant, customer, or any other person to the utility (less any lawful deductions), or any sum which the utility is ordered to refund for utility service, which has remained unclaimed for seven years after the utility has made diligent efforts to locate the person who made such deposit or the heirs of such persons, will be presumed abandoned and treated in accordance with the laws of this state as "Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act."
(H) A deposit may be used by the utility to apply toward any unpaid balance following disconnection of service; provided, however, that any surplus may be returned to the customer. In instances where the deposit is used to apply to arrearages, the utility may require a new deposit to replace that applied to unpaid balances before service is restored.
(Ord. 19-01, passed 4-9-19)