The Jefferson County PUD’s Board of Commissioners has approved providing a one-time refund of all PUD residential customers’ deposits.

According to PUD General Manager Kevin Streett, the PUD collects deposits from new electric customers who have medium-to-poor credit or no credit, or who do not want a credit check performed.

Depending on the customer’s credit score, a deposit of $100 to $200 is collected at the time the account is created.

Deposits are generally refunded a year later, if the customer shows prompt payment of all bills during that period.

“Technically it’s the customer’s money,” Streett said. “The PUD is just holding it. Crediting the deposits during these hard times helps those who are behind get caught up, and allows customers who’ve kept up with their bills to put their money toward other needs.”

“It’s an innovative option to give some customers their money back when they could really use it,” District 3 Commissioner Dan Toepper said.

Deposit credits will appear on customer bills in June, according to Streett.

The commissioners are also discussing suspending the collection of new deposits for a two-month period.

In March, the PUD declared an emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the commissioners suspended late fees and halted all service disconnects due to non-payment.

Customer Service Manager Jean Hall said her team has been working with customers to establish payment plans for those who are not able to pay their bills in full.

Hall reported that participation in the PUD’s low-income program is at an all-time high, with 719 qualifying customers currently receiving a monthly low-income credit of $39.50 toward their electric bill, and $10 toward water or wastewater.

Hall also said that customer support of the PUD’s Rainy Day fund had increased by more than 250% in April.

Customers support the Rainy Day fund through donations included with their bills, and the money is then distributed to OlyCAP and St. Vincent DePaul to help some of Jefferson County’s most at-risk citizens maintain essential utility services.

Rainy Day donations to date total more than $17,000, according to Hall.

In 2020, the PUD had budgeted $450,000 to assist low-income customers, but due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, Hall expects the program will exceed its budget, and may need to be amended by the commission in the fall.