The National Irrigation Commission (NIC) Agreement for the Sale of Non Potable Water makes provision for the payment of a Security Deposit and Connection Fee by our customers.
However, in view of the policy of leniency adopted by the Commission, the imposition of these charges were not previously implemented.
Regrettably, it has now become necessary for the imposition of these charges for new and delinquent customers effective 1st July 2002 as follows:-
Security Deposit
(a) New applications for irrigation service:-
- deposit to be equal to the monthly service charge which is based on the acreage and the monthly contracted volume or demand charge;
- a former customer whose original contract was terminated will be treated as a new applicant
(b) Existing customers who have been disconnected for having defaulted on payments due to the NIC:-
- a deposit will be required for restoration of service to be based on the average of three (3) months’ billing (demand and service charges);
-if a deposit exists and the customer is then disconnected, this deposit may be increased in keeping with increases in the customers average three (3) months’ billing (demand and service charges); however, if full settlement is made within ten (10) days or if the three months average remains the same or is less, the security deposit will remain the same.
(c ) Agricultural Users will be required to pay up to a maximum of $20,000 for security deposit.
(d) Industrial users will be required to pay up to a maximum of $100,000 with the balance being covered by a Banker’s guarantee.
Refund of Deposit
Upon termination of irrigation service, the deposit will be applied firstly to any arrears on the customer’s account, and the balance, if any, refunded to the customer.
Effect of Deposit on Bill Payment
The payment of a deposit shall in no way relieve the customers of the responsibility to pay irrigation bills promptly or prevent the NIC from disconnecting the service for any over-due amounts.
Connection Fee
The connection fee will cover the labour/installation cost for all connections, measuring devices and any other materials or equipment required to connect our customers to our infrastructure.
IMPOSITION OF SECURITY DEPOSIT AND CONNECTION FEE