CASH DEPOSITS
§ 56.51. Amount of cash deposit.
(a) Applicants. A public utility may require a cash deposit equal to 1/6 of the applicant’s estimated annual bill calculated on the basis of the annual bill to the dwelling at which service is being requested for the prior 12 months or, if unavailable, a similar dwelling in close proximity.
(b) City natural gas operation. A city natural gas distribution operation may require a cash deposit from an applicant with a household income no greater than 300% of the Federal poverty level in an amount not in excess of 1/12 of the applicant’s estimated annual bill. A city natural gas operation may require a cash deposit from an applicant with a household income level above 300% of the Federal poverty level in the amount of 1/6 of the applicant’s estimated annual bill. An estimated annual bill shall be calculated on the basis of the annual bill to the dwelling at which service is being requested for the prior 12 months or, if unavailable, a similar dwelling in close proximity.
(c) Existing customers. For an existing customer, the cash deposit may not exceed the estimated charges for service based on the prior consumption of that customer for the class of service involved for a period equal to one average billing period plus 1 average month, not to exceed 4 months in the case of water utilities and 2 months in the case of gas and electric utilities.
(d) Adjustment of deposits. The amount of a cash deposit may be adjusted at the request of the customer or the public utility whenever the character or degree of the usage of the customer has materially changed or when it is clearly established that the character or degree of service will materially change in the immediate future.
Authority The provisions of this § 56.51 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 1401—1419.
Source The provisions of this § 56.51 adopted June 16, 1978, effective June 17, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1655; amended October 7, 2011, effective October 8, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 5473. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (246330).
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