Fort Pierce Utilities Authority adopts five-day window for new customers’ security deposits

The Fort Pierce Utilities Authority voted April 7 to adopt Resolution UA2026-01, consolidating separate commercial and residential security-deposit rules into a single policy that gives new customers five days after service activation to pay required deposits.

The change, presented by Ashley Levine, customer service manager, replaces two earlier resolutions and, Levine said, “modernizes and improves the security deposit policies in ways that directly support our customers and strengthen our operations.” She told the board the minimum deposit amounts will not increase and will continue to be determined by either twice the customer’s average monthly bill or the established minimum, whichever is greater.

Board members engaged the presenter on how the new five-day window would work in practice. One member asked whether staff had considered prorating deposits over several months; Levine and other staff warned that a recurring monthly installment could add to customer bills during high-usage periods and risk nonpayment. Levine said the authority’s operations schedule a disconnect five days after activation as part of routine service orders and that, in practice, assistance agencies commonly provide a commitment within 24–48 hours and checks within 7–14 days.

Levine listed preapproved assistance partners the authority works with to verify and secure payments, including ALPI, Mustard Seed, the Salvation Army, Treasure Coast Homelessness Society and Hibiscus Children’s Center, and noted FPUA’s Project Care program that routes funds through a partner agency. She said these relationships reduce the chance that FPUA will be left holding unpaid IOUs.

After discussion, the clerk read Resolution UA2026-01, described as “adopting the schedule of commercial and residential security deposits for utility services furnished by Fort Pierce Utilities Authority” and repealing UA2010-08 and UA2006-17. A motion to approve was moved and seconded and the board approved the resolution by roll call vote.

The resolution takes effect as provided in the document; staff and board members said they expect minimal operational disruption and that the change is intended to reduce barriers to new service activation while maintaining consumption-based deposit calculations.