GUIDELINES
Effective December 1, 2008
OBJECTIVE: Assure payment of present and future bills based on consumers' creditworthiness
DEFINITIONS:
1. Late payment - Payment made on the 18th day or later after the billing date.
2. Infraction
a. A late payment
b. Check returned for non-sufficient funds.
SCOPE: This procedure applies to all residential customers on rate schedule RF.
PROCEDURE:
A. Deposits - The following guidelines will be used to determine if a deposit is required.
1. Existing Member:
a. A deposit is required if the member is disconnected for non-payment and has at least one other infraction (i.e. late payment, NSF check) within the past 12 months.
b. A deposit is required if the member has ever been involved with meter tampering or theft of electricity
2. New/Returning Member - KREMC shall determine the creditworthiness of each new applicant and determine the deposit requirement based on the following criteria:
a. Verification of credit rating using Online Utility Exchange. Member will submit a social security number for credit check
b. Member will present government issued photo identification in person at KREMC office to verify identity.
3. Deposit Computation for Existing Member:
a. A deposit of two times the average monthly bill for the most recent calendar year will be assigned to a member disconnected for non- payment and has at least one other infraction.
4. Deposit Computation for New/Returning Member:
a. A deposit will be assigned based on credit score obtained from Online Utility Exchange.
• No Risk → No Deposit
• Moderate Risk → One time average bill at service location
• High Risk → Two times average bill at service location
B. Deposit use - A customer's deposits shall be applied to his/her unpaid balance following disconnection.
C. Deposit retention - Deposits shall be retained by KREMC for 12 months. At the end of the 12-month period, the deposit shall be credited to the customer's account provided there were no more than two infractions during the period. If more than two infractions, the deposit will be held until a 12-month period elapses with no more than two infractions. Any excess deposit amounts shall be refunded to the customer after final bill. Interest shall not be accrued on any deposit.
D. Recordkeeping - KREMC shall maintain a record of each deposit to include the following:
1. Customer name and address
2. Deposit amount and date
3. A record of each transaction affecting the deposit
4. KREMC does not keep physical copy of member credit report.
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