1. 1. A public utility regulated under this chapter shall not require a deposit or guarantee as a condition of continued residential service to any existing customer who has been delinquent in paying his or her utility bill at least five times in twelve consecutive months if:

   1. (1) Such customer has consistently made a payment for each month during the twelve consecutive months, provided that each payment is made by the delinquent date; and
   2. (2) Each payment made in subdivision (1) of this subsection is at least seventy-five dollars or twenty-five percent of the total outstanding balance, provided that the total outstanding balance is three hundred dollars or less.
2. 2. This section shall not apply to any customer whose total outstanding balance exceeds three hundred dollars or to any customer making payments under a pay plan previously arranged with the utility.

(L. 2011 S.B. 48)