The Utility may require a cash deposit or other
guarantee as a condition of new residential service if, and only if,
the customer has an outstanding account balance with the Utility which
accrued within the last six years and which, at the time of the request
for new service, remains outstanding and not in dispute.
The Utility may require a cash deposit or other
guarantee as a condition of continued service if, and only if, either
or both of the following circumstances apply:
A.
Service has been shut off or discontinued within the
last 12 months for violation of these rules and regulations or for
nonpayment of a delinquent bill for service which is not in dispute.
B.
Credit information obtained by the Utility subsequent
to the initial application indicates that the initial application
for service was falsified or incomplete to the extent that a deposit
would be required under these rules and regulations.
If the credit for an applicant for commercial
or industrial service has not been established to the satisfaction
of the Utility, he may be required to make a deposit or otherwise
guarantee to the Utility payment of bills for service.
See § PSC 185.36(4), Wis. Adm Code.
The Utility shall review the payment record
of each residential customer with a deposit on file at not less than
twelve-month intervals and shall not require or continue to require
a deposit unless a deposit could be required under the conditions
stated above. In the case of a commercial or industrial customer,
the Utility shall refund the deposit after 24 consecutive months of
prompt payment if the customer's credit standing is satisfactory to
the Utility. Payment shall be considered prompt if it is made prior
to notice of disconnection for nonpayment of a bill not in dispute.
Any deposit or portion thereof refunded to a customer shall be refunded
by check unless both the customer and the Utility agree to credit
the regular bill or unless service is terminated, in which case the
deposit with accrued interest shall be applied to the final bill and
any balance returned to the customer promptly.
A new or additional deposit may be required
upon reasonable written notice of the need therefor if such new or
additional deposit could have been required under the circumstances
when the initial deposit was made. Service may be refused or disconnected
for failure to pay a deposit request as provided in the rules. When
service has been disconnected for failure to make a deposit, or for
failure to pay a delinquent bill, or for failure to comply with the
terms of a deferred payment agreement, and satisfactory arrangements
have been made to have service restored, a reconnection charge as
specified elsewhere in these rules shall be paid by the customer as
a condition to restoration of service.
A.
The Utility may accept, in lieu of a cash deposit,
a contract signed by a guarantor satisfactory to the Utility whereby
payment of a specified sum not exceeding the cash deposit requirement
is guaranteed. The term of a guarantee contract shall be two years
but shall automatically terminate after the customer has closed his
account or at the guarantor's request upon 30 days' written notice
to the Utility.
B.
Upon termination of a guarantee contract or whenever
the Utility deems the same insufficient as to amount or surety, a
cash deposit or a new or additional guarantee may be required upon
reasonable written notice to the customer. Service to any customer
who fails to comply with these requirements may be refused or, upon
eight days' written notice, disconnected.
C.
The Utility shall mail the guarantor copies of all
disconnect notices sent to the customer whose account he has guaranteed
unless the guarantor waives such notice in writing.
D.
In lieu of a cash deposit or guarantee, an applicant
for new service who has an outstanding account accrued within the
last six years with the Utility shall have the right to receive service
from the Utility under a deferred payment agreement as provided in
these rules and regulations for the outstanding account balance.
In case of conflict between the Wisconsin Administrative Code and the provisions of Articles VI and VII of this chapter related to customers' deposits, conditions of deposit, guarantee contracts, deferred payment agreement, and disconnection and refusal of service, the provisions of Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code, shall govern.
