PSC 134.061(7)(a)(a) The maximum deposit for a new residential account shall not exceed the highest estimated gross bills for any 2 consecutive billing periods selected by the utility.

PSC 134.061(7)(b)(b) Except as provided in par. (c), the maximum deposit for an existing residential account shall not exceed the highest actual gross bills for any 2 consecutive months within the preceding 12 month review period, as determined by the utility.

PSC 134.061(7)(c)(c) If, during the cold weather disconnection rules period, a customer had an arrears amount incurred during this period that was 80 days or more past due and had the ability to pay for utility service, the deposit may not exceed the highest actual gross bills for any 4 consecutive months within the preceding 12 month review period, as determined by the utility.

PSC 134.061(8)(8) Refusal or disconnection of service. Residential service may be refused or disconnected for failure to pay a deposit request subject to the rules pertaining to disconnection and refusal of service, as provided in s. PSC 134.062.

PSC 134.061(9)(9) Interest.

PSC 134.061(9)(a)(a) Deposits for residential accounts shall bear interest payable from the date a deposit is made to the date it is applied to an account balance or is refunded.

PSC 134.061(9)(b)(b) The interest rate to be paid shall be subject to change annually on a calendar year basis. The commission shall determine the rate of interest to be paid on deposits held during the following calendar year and notify utilities of that rate by December 15 of each year. The rate shall be equal to the weekly average yield of one-year United States treasury securities adjusted for constant maturity for the week ending on or after December 1 made available by the federal reserve board, rounded to the nearest tenth of one per cent.

PSC 134.061(9)(c)(c) The rate of interest set by the commission shall be payable on all deposits. Utilities shall calculate the interest earned on each deposit at the time of refund and at the end of each calendar year. The interest rate in a calendar year shall apply to the amount of the deposit and to all interest accrued during the previous year(s), for the fraction of the calendar year that the deposit was held by the utility.

PSC 134.061(10)(10) Refund. The utility shall refund the deposit of a residential customer after 12 consecutive months of prompt payment.

PSC 134.061(11)(11) Review. The utility shall not continue to require a cash deposit for a residential account unless a deposit is permitted under the provisions of sub. (4) or (10).

PSC 134.061(12)(12) Method of refund. Any deposit or portion thereof refunded to a residential customer shall be refunded by check unless both the customer and the utility agree to a credit on the regular billing, or unless sub. (14) applies.

PSC 134.061(13)(13) Refund at termination of service. On termination of residential service, the utility shall credit the deposit, with accrued interest, to the customer’s final bill and return the balance within 30 days of issuing the final bill.

PSC 134.061(14)(14) Arrearages. An arrearage owed by a [residential] customer may be deducted from the customer’s deposit under the following conditions:

PSC 134.061(14)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (c), a deposit may be used by the utility only to satisfy an arrearage occurring after the deposit was made.

PSC 134.061(14)(b)(b) If the utility deducts an arrearage from a customer deposit, it may require the customer to bring the deposit up to its original amount. Failure of the customer to do so within 20 days of mailing a written request for payment is ground for disconnection.

PSC 134.061(14)(c)(c) When a deposit is refunded to the customer, the utility may first deduct any arrearage owed by the customer, whether the arrearage arose prior to or after the date of the deposit.

PSC 134.061(15)(15) Applicability. The provisions in subs. (2) and (3) are not applicable to deposits or guarantees made in connection with the financing of extensions or other equipment.

PSC 134.061 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, January, 1975, No. 229, eff. 2-1-75; am. Register, November, 1980, No. 299, eff. 12-1-80; renum. (7) to (14) to be (8) to (15), cr. (7), Register, April, 1985, No. 352, eff. 5-1-85; emerg. cr. (2) (c), am. (4) (a) and (5), eff. 10-25-88; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89.

PSC 134.0615(1)(1) Deposit request. If the credit of an applicant for commercial or farm service has not been established satisfactorily to the utility, the utility may require the applicant to post a deposit. The utility shall notify the applicant within 30 days of the request for service as to whether a deposit will be required. The 30-day period shall begin from the date the applicant provides all requested relevant information to the utility. If no request for a deposit is made within this period, no deposit shall be required, except under the provisions of sub. (5). If a request for a deposit is made, the applicant must be given at least 30 days to provide payment, or guarantee, or to establish an installment payment agreement.

PSC 134.0615(2)(2) Considerations for deposit. In determining whether an applicant for commercial or farm service has satisfactorily established its credit, the utility shall inform the customer that it will consider any or all of the following factors, if provided by the customer, before requiring a security deposit:

PSC 134.0615(2)(c)(c) Applicant’s business characteristics, such as type of business, length of time the applicant has operated, the applicant’s business experience and knowledge, and estimated size of the applicant’s bills.