§ 36-53. Deposits.

(a)

Base deposit amounts. Applications for utility service shall be accompanied by a cash deposit for utility services in a base amount established from time to time by city council resolution, unless the applicant has a credit score of 500 or greater.

(b)

Subsequent additional deposits. The city may require from time to time, in its sole discretion, an additional utility deposit from any customer based on the customer's usage or utility charge payment history.

(c)

Disposition of deposit. The utility deposit required in subsection (a) of this section shall be retained by the city, without interest, for so long as service is provided by the city to the customer. The deposit may be applied by the city to payment of the customer's past due bill and upon termination of service for any reason, the balance of the deposit, if any, after deducting unpaid bills, shall be refunded to the customer. Any customer in making a subsequent application for service may be required to make another deposit as required hereby.

(d)

Unclaimed deposits. Any utility deposit required to be made in accordance with the terms of this section, which is unclaimed for a period of five years after service is discontinued, shall become a part of the utility fund and applied to unpaid and uncollectible bills of the utility system.

(e)

When no new or additional deposit is required. An existing business or commercial establishment shall not be required to make a new or an additional utility deposit by virtue of moving the same business to a different location in the city, rebuilding at the same location or adding one or more additional locations within the city.

(Ord. No. 98-001, §§ 19, 20, 4-6-1998)