Chapter 2.14
UTILITY SERVICE DEPOSIT FUND
Sections:
2.14.040 Utility deposit required.
2.14.050 Utility deposit required on reconnection.
2.14.080 Deposits shall bear interest.
2.14.120 Deposits may be refunded.
2.14.160 Deposit receipts.
2.14.200 Deposit waiver.
2.14.240 City may refuse service.
2.14.280 Effective date.
2.14.040 Utility deposit required.
From and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, no service shall be extended to any customer of a utility department of the city except upon written application for such utility service and upon payment in advance to the city finance director/treasurer of a deposit in the amount of $50.00 per utility for residential accounts and $100.00 per utility for commercial accounts. [Ord. 4375, 2003; Ord. 3893 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3570 § 2, 1987; Ord. 3547 § 1, 1986; Ord. 3514 § 1, 1985.]
2.14.050 Utility deposit required on reconnection.
Whenever an order for utility service disconnection due to delinquency or nonpayment of any charges has been delivered to the utility service technician and a deposit is not being held by the city for the service, a deposit will be required for continuation of the particular utility service. [Ord. 3570 § 2, 1987.]
2.14.080 Deposits shall bear interest.
All deposits made hereunder shall be in cash and shall bear interest at a rate no lower than the statement savings rate offered by the bank designated by the city for city banking services. When utility service has been terminated by the customer or by the city for nonpayment and there are unpaid utility accounts owed to the city, the balance of the deposit plus interest will be applied against any unpaid utility account balance on the final bill for terminated service, and any amount of deposit balance remaining will be refunded to the customer or successors or assigns within 30 days of the final bill after payment of all said unpaid utility charges. [Ord. 3893 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3547 § 2, 1986; Ord. 3514 § 1, 1985.]
2.14.120 Deposits may be refunded.
A. Deposits shall be refunded to any customer whose service addresses have received utility service for 12 continuous months or more after making said utility service deposit if said customer has established a record for prompt payment of all bills. Record of prompt payment is hereby established by a point system where the customer must receive no more than one point in a 12-month period. The point system shall be as follows:
1. Returned checks: one point;
2. Tag for notification of pending disconnect: two points;
3. Disconnect for nonpayment: two points;
4. Customer account referred to collection: two points;
5. Account written off as bad debt: two points.
B. Before refunding any deposit, the city finance director/treasurer may require adequate proof of ownership and eligibility for the refund. [Ord. 3893 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3628 § 1, 1988; Ord. 3547 § 3, 1986; Ord. 3514 § 1, 1985.]
2.14.160 Deposit receipts.
The city finance director/treasurer shall provide and issue a receipt for each deposit made by a utility customer hereunder in such form as the city finance director/treasurer shall determine and which receipt shall also provide acknowledgment that the depositor is familiar with the provisions of this chapter and agrees to be bound by the terms hereof. [Ord. 3514 § 1, 1985.]
2.14.200 Deposit waiver.
A. The deposit required for residential service for present or past customers shall be waived for customers with 12 months' service within the two-year period preceding new application for service, with waiver determination made based on the customer's most recent 12-month utility payment history and waiver given when points shall not exceed one.
B. The deposit for a new customer's residential service shall be waived upon verification from the customer's previous electric or gas utility that the customer had utility service for at least 12 months of service within the two-year period preceding application for city utilities and the customer established a good payment history with the utility. The verification must be received within three working days of transfer of service to the customer to satisfy waiver of deposit. Failure of verification within three working days may be cause for immediate disconnection, and utility service will be withheld until a utility deposit is paid or verification is received.
C. The deposit may be waived for commercial utility service if the applicant has established a good payment history for at least 12 months of utility service during the two years preceding application for new service. If another gas or electric utility service provided the service, verification from that company must be received within three working days of transfer of service to customer. Failure to receive verification within three working days may be cause for immediate disconnection, and utility service will be withheld until a utility deposit is paid or verification is received.
D. The deposit may be waived for landlords applying for service between tenants when a signed landlord agreement for utility service is on file in the finance department of the city of Ellensburg and when the landlord is applying for service only during periods when the dwelling is unoccupied. The city reserves the right to cancel the agreement with the landlord for service between tenants and require a deposit if the collection of an account is deemed insecure by reason of delinquencies.
E. The deposit may be waived for contractors during the construction period, and while the new construction is unoccupied. The city reserves the right to request a deposit, if one is deemed necessary. [Ord. 4375, 2003; Ord. 3893 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3570 § 2, 1987; Ord. 3547 § 4, 1986; Ord. 2514 § 1, 1985.]
2.14.240 City may refuse service.
The city shall have the right to refuse to serve gas, electric, water or sewer on any premises and at any time to discontinue service if found necessary to do so in order to protect itself against abuse or fraud. [Ord. 3514 § 1, 1985.]
2.14.280 Effective date.
The regulations for utility deposits provided herein shall become effective January 1, 1994. [Ord. 3893 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3547 § 5, 1986; Ord. 3514 § 3, 1985.]