PSC 113.0402(1)(c)(c) A utility shall inform the customer of his or her right to enter into a deferred payment agreement for payment of the deposit amount and of his or her right to appeal any deposit request or amount required under this section to the public service commission.

PSC 113.0402(2)(2) Deferred payment. The utility shall inform the customer that in lieu of cash deposit or guarantee, an applicant for new residential service who has an outstanding account balance accrued within the last 6 years with the same utility shall have the right to receive service from that utility under a deferred payment agreement, as defined in s. PSC 113.0404, for the outstanding account. A customer who defaults on the deferred payment agreement may be required by the utility to furnish a deposit.

PSC 113.0402(3)(a)(a) A utility may accept, in lieu of a cash deposit for new or existing residential service, a contract signed by a guarantor satisfactory to the utility whereby payment of a specified sum not exceeding the cash deposit requirement is guaranteed, or whereby the guarantor accepts responsibility for payment of all future bills. If the guarantor accepts responsibility for payment of future bills, the utility shall notify the customer in writing of the agreement and of the customer’s right to refuse such an agreement. The term of the contract shall be for no longer than one year, but it shall automatically terminate after the residential customer has closed his or her account with the utility, or on the guarantor’s request upon 30 days’ written notice to the utility.

PSC 113.0402(3)(b)(b) Upon termination of a guarantee contract, or whenever the utility deems the guarantee insufficient as to amount of surety, a cash deposit or a new or additional guarantee may be required upon 20-day written notice to the customer. The service of any customer who fails to comply with these requirements may be disconnected upon 10 days’ written notice.

PSC 113.0402(3)(c)(c) The utility shall mail the guarantor copies of all disconnect notices sent to the customer whose account has been guaranteed, unless the guarantor waives such notice in writing.

PSC 113.0402(4)(a)(a) A utility may require a cash deposit or other guarantee as a condition of residential service if any of the following circumstances apply.

PSC 113.0402(4)(a)1.1. The utility has disconnected the customer’s service within the last 12-month period for violation of the utility’s filed rules or for nonpayment of a delinquent service account not currently in dispute.

PSC 113.0402(4)(a)3.3. The customer has the ability to pay for the utility service but, during the cold weather disconnections rules period, had an arrears amount incurred during that period that was 80 days or more past due. The utility may request a deposit under this section even if the customer’s service has not been disconnected.

PSC 113.0402(4)(a)4.4. A new residential customer accrues charges for electric service that become 60 days or more past due within the first 8 months of service.

PSC 113.0402(4)(b)(b) A deposit under this section shall not be required if the customer provides the utility with information showing that his or her gross quarterly income is at or below 200% of the federal income poverty guidelines.

PSC 113.0402(4)(c)(c) When the utility requests a deposit of an existing residential customer, the customer shall be informed of his or her right to provide the deposit, guarantee, or to establish a deferred payment agreement. The customer shall be given 30 days to provide the deposit, guarantee, or enter into a deferred payment agreement for the deposit amount.

PSC 113.0402(5)(5) Written explanation. A utility shall provide a written explanation of why a deposit or guarantee is being required for a residential account. The explanation shall include notice of the customer’s right to appeal any deposit request or amount required under this section to the public service commission.

PSC 113.0402(6)(6) Reasonableness of deposit. When requesting a deposit from a residential customer, the utility shall consider the customer’s ability to pay in determining the reasonableness of its request, including the following factors:

PSC 113.0402(6)(a)(a) Size of the delinquent account.

PSC 113.0402(6)(b)(b) Customer’s payment history.

PSC 113.0402(6)(c)(c) Time that the debt has been outstanding.

PSC 113.0402(6)(d)(d) Reasons why the debt has been outstanding.

PSC 113.0402(6)(e)(e) Any other relevant factors concerning the circumstances of the customer, as household size, income and expenses.

PSC 113.0402(7)(a)(a) The maximum deposit for a new residential account shall not exceed the highest estimated gross bill for any 2 consecutive billing periods selected by the utility.

PSC 113.0402(7)(b)(b) Except as provided in par. (c), the maximum deposit for an existing residential account shall not exceed the highest actual gross bill for any 2 consecutive months within the preceding 12 month review period, as determined by the utility.

PSC 113.0402(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 months review period, as determined by the utility.

PSC 113.0402(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 113.0301.

PSC 113.0402(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 113.0402(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 percent.