Operative Text
R746-200-3. Deposits, Eligibility for Service, and Shared Meter or Appliance.
A. Deposits and Guarantees --
1. Each utility shall submit security deposit policies and procedures to the Commission for its approval before the
implementation and use of those policies and procedures. Each utility shall submit third-party guarantor policies and procedures
to the Commission.
2. Each utility collecting security deposits shall pay interest thereon at a rate as established by the Commission. For
electric cooperatives and electric service districts, interest rates shall be determined by the governing board of directors of the
cooperative or district and filed with the Commission and shall be deemed approved by the Commission unless ten percent or
more of the customers file a request for agency action requesting an investigation and hearing. The deposit paid, plus accrued
interest, is eligible for return to the customer after the customer has paid the bill on time for 12 consecutive months.
3. A residential customer shall have the right to pay a security deposit in at least three equal monthly installments if
the first installment is paid when the deposit is required.
B. Eligibility for Service --
1. Residential utility service is to be conditioned upon payment of deposits, where required, and of any outstanding
debts for past utility service which are owed by the applicant to that public utility, subject to Subsections R746-200-3(B)(2), and
R746-200-7(C)(2), Reasons for Termination. Service may be denied when unsafe conditions exist, when the applicant has
furnished false information to get utility service, or when the customer has tampered with utility-owned equipment, such as
meters and lines. An applicant is ineligible for service if at the time of application, the applicant is cohabiting with a delinquent
account holder, whose utility service was previously disconnected for non-payment, and the applicant and delinquent account
holder also cohabited while the delinquent account holder received the utility's service, whether the service was received at the
applicants present address or another address.
2. When an applicant cannot pay an outstanding debt in full, residential utility service shall be provided upon
execution of a written, deferred payment agreement as set forth in Section R746-200-5.
C. Shared Meter or Appliance - In rental property where one meter provides service to more than one unit or where
appliances provide service to more than one unit or to other occupants at the premises, and this situation is known to the utility,
the utility will recommend that service be in the property owner's name and the property owner be responsible for the service.
However, a qualifying applicant will be allowed to put service in their own name provided the applicant acknowledges that the
request for services is entered into willingly and he has knowledge of the account responsibility.Utah Admin. Code R746-200-3 governs how utilities handle security deposits, eligibility for residential service, and shared-meter situations in rental properties. Utilities must have Commission-approved deposit policies, pay interest on deposits, and return deposits with interest after a customer pays on time for 12 consecutive months. Service may be denied for reasons such as unpaid past debts, unsafe conditions, false information, or meter tampering, but a deferred payment plan must be offered when a customer cannot pay an outstanding debt in full.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under R746-200-3, property owners should be aware that when a single meter serves multiple rental units, the utility will recommend that service be placed in the property owner's name, making the owner responsible for that account. Compliant operators typically communicate clearly with tenants about shared-meter arrangements and understand that a qualifying tenant may still elect to place service in their own name by acknowledging the account responsibility. Landlords managing properties with shared appliances or meters benefit from understanding how this provision interacts with their obligations to provide habitable, utility-accessible units.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
R746-200-3 gives residential customers the right to pay any required security deposit in at least three equal monthly installments, and entitles them to have that deposit—plus accrued interest—returned after 12 consecutive months of on-time payments. If you have an outstanding debt to a utility that you cannot pay all at once, the utility is required to offer a written deferred payment agreement rather than simply denying service. Tenants who believe a utility has not followed these deposit or eligibility rules may file a complaint with the Utah Public Service Commission or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 19, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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