Most often, utility bonds are required for businesses that run up high bills because of the volume of their utility usage, such as retail stores, restaurants, manufacturing facilities, laundromats, car washes, hotels and motels, etc.
New business customers will be informed when they set up a utility account whether they will need to provide a bond before services are turned on. Residential customers whose utilities have been turned off for nonpayment may be required to provide a bond in lieu of a cash deposit before service will be restored.
In a utility bond arrangement, the utility company is the obligee that requires and is protected by the bond. The utility customer is the principal guaranteeing prompt payment of utility bills, and the company issuing the bond is the surety.
As the obligee, the utility company can file a claim against the principal’s bond for failure to pay utility bills on time. The surety will verify and pay the claim, then recover that amount from the principal.
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