The 12-City average of these initial deposit amounts is $93.33. To reduce the fund's exposure to write-offs, staff recommends that the initial deposit be set at $100. Our current ordinance does automatically refund initial deposits after the customer documents a two-year on time payment history.
Additional Disconnection Deposits. Our current Ordinance provides for an additional refundable deposit per disconnection made for nonpayment. The proposed rate resolution keeps this additional deposit at $50 per disconnection. Our current ordinance does automatically refund initial and additional deposits for disconnects after the customer documents a two-year on time payment history.
Disconnect Fee. The current fee the City charges for disconnection of an account is $20 for an on-duty disconnection and $40 for an after duty hours disconnection. The Table below shows our disconnection fees compared to that of other local cities.
|
Duty Hours
|
After Duty Hours
|
Allen
|
$20
|
$40
|
Mesquite
|
$25
|
$25
|
Farmersville
|
$30
|
$40
|
Garland
|
$30
|
$60
|
Royse City
|
$35
|
$50
|
McKinney
|
$40
|
$60
|
Plano
|
$40
|
$70
|
Princeton
|
$40
|
$80
|
Forney
|
$50
|
$50
|
Richardson
|
$50
|
$60
|
Wylie
|
$50
|
$65
|
Frisco
|
$50
|
$75
|
Average
|
$38.33
|
$56.25
|
The current average disconnect fee on-duty is $38.33 and after duty hours $56.25. These fees actually reflect two (2) trips to the home, one (1) to turn the meter off and another to turn the meter back on. Staff recommend that Allen implement one (1) fee regardless of the time of service termination or reestablishment of $40.
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