(1) Every applicant for a supply of electrical current from the
Council shall deposit with the Council such sum as the Council deems
sufficient to cover the estimated cost of two months' supply, provided
that:
(a) the Council may permit an applicant to deposit such sum as it deems
sufficient to cover the estimated cost of one month's supply where the
applicant elects to pay by the direct debit method;
(b) the Council may require an applicant to deposit such sum as it
deems sufficient to cover the estimated cost of three months' supply in
such circumstances as the Council deems appropriate.
(2) Should the amount deposited in terms of sub-section (1)
subsequently prove to be insufficient, the consumer shall, within 7
days of being called upon to do so by the Council, deposit such further
sum as may be necessary to increase the deposit to an amount sufficient
to cover the actual or provisionally assessed cost of two months'
supply or, if the Council deems it appropriate, of three month's
supply. The Council may, if it considers the amount deposited to be
excessive, authorise the refund of a portion thereof.
(3) The Council may accept a written guarantee in lieu of any deposit required in terms of sub-section (1) or (2) hereof.
(4) Where an applicant for the supply of electric current or an
existing consumer of electric current is a corporate person (other than
a public legal body or a public listed company), such applicant or
consumer shall, in addition to any security provided in compliance with
the aforegoing provisions of this section, lodge with the Council when
required by him to do so, a guarantee for an amount specified by and in
terms approved by the Council and given by such natural person or
persons as the Council may approve in their personal capacities;
provided that the Council may at any time require any such consumer to
furnish a further guarantee for such additional amount as the Council
may determine.
(5) Failing compliance with any request for a deposit or increased
deposit or for a guarantee as provided in this section, the supply of
electricity may be withheld until such deposit has been made or the
guarantee furnished or if the supply has already been connected, it may
forthwith be disconnected and thereafter the supply shall not be
reconnected until the deposit has been paid or the guarantee furnished.
(6) The deposit lodged with the Council in terms of this section may be
applied to the payment or part payment of any amount due to the Council
by the consumer either for electricity supplied or for services
rendered in connection with such supply.
(7) On 30 June in each year the Council shall cause the deposit account
of every consumer who made a deposit under this section prior to the 31
December in the year immediately proceeding to be credited with simple
interest at such rate, not exceeding 3% per annum, as the Council may
from time to time determine; provided that no such interest shall be
credited where the deposit has been held by the Council for less than
six months. The interest so credited shall be paid to the consumer at
the time the amount deposited by him in terms of this section is
refunded; provided that the Council may in the case of deposits of R50
and over and where the consumer so requests, credit the interest to the
consumer's account for current consumed or provisionally estimated to
have been consumed.
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