Sec. 20.30.02.05. Refund of Deposit

A. Discontinuance of Service. Upon discontinuance of service, the utility shall promptly and automatically refund the customer's deposit plus accrued interest, or the balance, if any, in excess of the unpaid bills for service furnished by the utility. A transfer of service from one premises to another within the service area of the utility may not be deemed a discontinuance of service within the meaning of these regulations.

B. Good Payment Record. If the customer has paid bills for service for the first 12 months of service following payment of his deposit without having had service discontinued for non-payment of bill or without having had more than two occasions in which a bill was not paid when it became due, and the customer is not then delinquent in the payment of his bills, the utility shall promptly and automatically refund the deposit plus accrued interest. If the customer has had service terminated for non-payment of his bill or had more than two past due bills for the period, the utility shall thereafter review the account every 12 months and shall promptly and automatically refund the deposit plus accrued interest after the customer has not had service terminated for non-payment of bill or bill or had more than two past due bills during the 12 months before any review and is not then delinquent in the payment of his bills.

C. Establishment of Credit. The utility shall promptly return the deposit plus accrued interest at any time upon request if the customer's credit has been established in accordance with the methods specified in Regulation .02B, provided the customer owes no outstanding bills for the service and during the last 12 consecutive months that service was provided has not had more than two occasions in which a bill was not paid within a reasonable period after it became due or had service terminated for non-payment of the bill.

D. Customers 60 Years Old or Older. A utility shall promptly refund the deposit plus interest of a present customer who is 60 years old or older provided the customer:

(1) Requests refund of the deposit;

(2) Presents satisfactory proof of age; and

(3) Does not have a past due or uncollected bill owing to the utility.

E. Option of Utility. At the option of the utility, a deposit plus accrued interest may be refunded, in whole or in part, at any time earlier than the times prescribed in this regulation.