The Cooperative may require a Customer, regardless of the type of service applied for, to demonstrate and satisfactorily establish credit in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Cooperative in accordance with Commission Rule 25.24. Consumers are hereby notified they may file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Texas if dissatisfied with a credit decision of the Cooperative. The satisfactory establishment of credit shall not relieve a Customer from complying with tariff provisions for prompt payment of bills.
302.1 Establishment of Credit for Permanent Residential Applicants
An applicant for permanent residential service may satisfactorily establish credit and shall not be required to pay a deposit for the following reasons:
If it is undisputed that applicant has been a customer of a utility providing electric service within the last two years and is not delinquent in the payment of any such utility service account and during the last twelve (12) consecutive months of service did not have more than one occasion in which a bill for such utility service was paid after becoming delinquent and never had service disconnected for nonpayment; or
If the applicant for permanent residential service furnishes in writing a satisfactory guarantee to secure the payment of bills for electric service; or
If the applicant for permanent residential service is sixty-five (65) years of age or older and does not have an outstanding account balance with the Cooperative or another utility providing electric service which accrued within the last two (2) years; or
If the permanent residential applicant demonstrates a satisfactory credit rating by appropriate means, including any of the following:1. A soft credit check conducted by CTEC indicating a non-potential delinquency risk with a grade of 50% or lower.2. Letters of credit reference;
302.2 Amount of Deposit
If the credit of an applicant for any type of service has not been established satisfactorily to the Cooperative and if allowed by applicable Commission rules, the Cooperative may require a deposit. The amount of deposit shall be determined by the Cooperative in accordance with applicable Commission rules (ref. PUC Substantive Rule 25.24.)
302.3 Amount of Deposit for Permanent Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Service
The initial deposit for permanent residential, commercial or industrial service shall not exceed one-sixth (1/6) of estimated annual billings. For new residential, commercial or industrial services, the deposit amount will be based on the size of service installed and be determined by the cooperative.
302.4 Increase in Deposit Within First 12 Months of Service
During the first 12 months of service, if actual usage is three times estimates usage (or three times average usage of the most recent three bills) and current usage exceeds $150 and 150% of the security held, a new deposit requirement may be calculated and an additional deposit may be required to be made within 10 days after issuance of written notice of termination and requested additional deposit, or, in lieu of additional deposit, the member may elect to pay the current usage within 10 days after issuance of written notice of termination and requested additional deposit.
302.5 Increase in Deposit for Residential and Commercial Member
If actual billings of a commercial member are at least twice the amount of the estimated billings, and a suspension notice has been issued on a bill within the previous 12-month period, a new deposit may be required to be made within 15 days after issuance of written notice of termination and requested additional deposit. If actual billings of a residential member are at least twice the amount of the estimated billings after two billing periods, and a suspension notice has been issued on a bill within the previous 12-months period, a new deposit may be required to be made within 15 days after issuance of written notice of termination and requested additional deposit. In lieu of additional deposit, the member may elect to pay the current bill by the due date of the bill, provided the member has not exercised this option in the previous 12 months.
302.6 Reestablishment of Credit
Every applicant who previously has been a Customer of the Cooperative and whose service has been discontinued for nonpayment of bills or meter tampering or bypassing of meter shall be required, before service is rendered, to pay all amounts due the Cooperative or executive a deferred payment agreement, if offered, and reestablish credit.