H-1753              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1102

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Long, D. Nelson, Sutherland and Miller

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

AN ACT Relating to charges for utility services; adding a new section to chapter 35.92 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 54.16 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 80.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 35.92 RCW to read as follows:

          A municipal utility may require, as a condition of providing service, either a deposit of up to two hundred dollars or proof of a good payment record for prior similar utility services.  The most recent part of the good payment record shall be no older than six months.

          Utilities requiring deposits shall, for those customers providing deposits, after six months of a good payment record, offer the customer the choice of a deposit refund or having the deposit credited toward future billings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 54.16 RCW to read as follows:

          A district may require, as a condition of providing service, either a deposit of up to two hundred dollars or proof of a good payment record for prior similar utility services.  The most recent part of the good payment record shall be no older than six months.

          Districts requiring deposits shall, for those customers providing deposits, after six months of a good payment record, offer the customer the choice of a deposit refund or having the deposit credited toward future billings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 80.04 RCW to read as follows:

          The commission may authorize public service companies to require, as a condition of providing service, either a deposit of up to two hundred dollars or proof of a good payment record for prior similar utility services.  The most recent part of the good payment record shall be no older than six months.

          Public service companies requiring deposits shall, for those customers providing deposits, after six months of a good payment record, offer the customer the choice of a deposit refund or having the deposit credited toward future billings.