The City of Rock Falls may provide any or all of the following services at your location: Electric, Water, Sewer and Garbage If you are a new resident of Rock Falls or relocating within Rock Falls you will need to complete a Rock Falls Utilities Application for Service.

• Application must be completed at the Customer Service Office in person. Applications will only be processed during normal hours of operations.
• Service requests dates cannot fall on weekends or observed holidays
• Applications will not be processed if you or someone living at the service location has a PAST DUE
• A copy of your Illinois Driver’s License or Identification Card will be required at time of application.
• Rental customers must bring copy of lease agreement.

Residential Deposit

The City of Rock Falls utilities deposit policy is designed to assess the credit risk associated with all application for new or continued service, while protecting the assets of our utilities. Our deposit policy is based upon the use of the ONLINE Utility Exchange to assess credit risk at the point of application and charge deposits based on the credit risk posed. The ONLINE Utility Exchange is designed to screen applicants to determine their credit risk based upon three criteria:

1. Social Security Number verification;
2. Deposit decision based upon credit risk;
3. Payment experience with other utility providers.

The amount of deposit is determined based upon the credit score from Experian’s national credit repository.

No Credit Risk                        $00.00 deposit

Low Credit Risk                      $100.00 deposit

Medium Credit Risk                $200.00 deposit

High Credit Risk                      $300.00 deposit

An Application for Commercial Service must be completed.  All information must be completed including property owner information for rented commercial property.  If applicable, the Illinois State Sales Tax Number for the business should be submitted with the application.  A copy of the current Illinois Identification Card or Driver’s License will be required at the time of application.

• Upon completion, the application must be submitted to our Customer Service Office in person.  Applications will only be processed during normal hours of operations.
• Service requests dates cannot fall on weekends or observed holidays
• Applications will not be processed if the applicant has a PAST DUE account.

Commercial Deposit

Office and Small Retail Business A $200.00 deposit will be required all commercial offices or retail businesses regardless of utility services provided. Large Retail

• An amount equal to one (1) month’s average utility bill will be required of all retail businesses regardless of utility services provided.
• Established Utility History:  When the utility history is available on a service location where a similar large retailer has previously been located and the new owner intends to carry on business substantially as in the past, a twelve (12) month average of the bills for the previous retailer shall be used to calculate the amount of the deposit.
• No Established Utility History:  When no utility history is available on a service location, a similar large retailer’s twelve (12) month average of the bills shall be used to calculate the amount of the deposit.

Restaurants

• An amount equal to one (1) month’s average utility bill will be required of all restaurants regardless of utility services provided.
• Established Utility History:  When the utility history is available on a service location where a restaurant has previous been connected to the RFU, a twelve (12) month average of the previous restaurant shall be used to calculate the amount of the deposit.
• No Established Utility History:  When no utility history is available on a service location, a twelve (12) month average for a similar restaurant shall be used to calculate the amount of the deposit.

Industrial

• Established Utility History:  When the utility history is available on a service location and the new owner intends to carry on business substantially as in the past, a twelve (12) month average of the bills for the previous owner shall be used to calculate the amount of the deposit.
• No Established Utility History:  When no utility history is available on a new industrial service location, the Department Superintendents from the Electric, Wastewater and Water Departments shall evaluate the manufacturing process of the industry and determine the required deposit and amount to be credited to each utility service.

• Deposits are applied to the customer’s account after 12 months continuous service if there have been no delayed or late payments.
• A customer requesting termination of service shall apply for and request a refund of any excess deposit after the deposit has been applied to any unpaid or current amount due.
• The City of Rock Falls shall have the right to require proof of authority to receive the deposit of any person purporting to act on behalf of the maker of the deposit, as executor, administrator, guardian or under any power of attorney.

• If you are a landlord of a residential, commercial or industrial property and you are 60 days or more delinquent on any of your accounts, new tenants will be denied service until such time that you have paid your balance in full.
• Landlords are required to complete a Blanket Application and Record of Service.
• Please make sure that we have your correct contact information in case of emergency or problems with the utilities at your rental property.
• It is imperative that all tenants apply for service prior to moving into the rental property so that the utilities will be billed to the proper account.
• Communication is the key to a successful partnership with the Rock Falls Utilities.  Please let us know when the status of your rental property changes so that we may keep our records current.

How Your Renters Apply for Utility Service with Rock Falls

All tenants of any residential, commercial or industrial property shall complete and sign the Rock Falls Utilities Application for Service.  This Authorization allows the City to send the Landlord a duplicate Notice of Disconnection and to also give you information regarding the utilities at your rental property. If a tenant owes utility charges from a previous location in Rock Falls the tenant will not be allowed utility services at a new location until all delinquent charges are paid in full. A copy of a current Illinois Identification Card or Driver’s License must be presented along with Social Security numbers which must be obtain from each applicant for utility service.

Landlord and Delinquent Tenant Accounts

Upon disconnection of the utility services on your rental property, when the water and sewer service of a property is still connected to the supply system, the capital improvement and debt charges will continue to be incurred monthly.  A bill shall be generated each month showing the additional monthly capital and debt charges and be sent to the customer with a duplicate bill sent to the Landlord or Property Manager of the rental property. When the account is 60 days delinquent from the last billing date and no attempt of payment has been made by the last known tenant, the tenant’s account shall be sent to the State of Illinois Comptroller’s Local Debt Recovery system for collection through the State of Illinois or any third party collection agency that the City chooses to employ. Also, when the account is 40 days delinquent, the capital improvement and debt charges will no longer be charged to the tenant’s account, all future capital improvement and debt charges will be billed to the landlord of the rental property, regardless of the status of the rental property until such time that a new tenant has applied for utility service at that rental property. The City of Rock Falls will not hold the landlord responsible for the tenant’s past due bill, however, it is imperative that you contact the Rock Falls Utility Office and let us know the status of your rental property and when tenants have moved into or out of the property. Your cooperation is imperative in assisting us in keeping our accounts receivable losses to a minimum.

Blanket Application and Record of Service

The City of Rock Falls offers a program for landlords which allows the utilities to be turned on in the landlord’s name after a tenant leaves without the landlord having to contact the City each time. Landlords are required to complete a Blanket Application and Record of Service.

All tenants of any residential, commercial or industrial property shall complete and sign an Authorization to Release Information form at the time of application for service. This Authorization allows the City to send the Landlord a duplicate Notice of Disconnection and to also give you information regarding the utilities at your rental property. If a tenant owes utility charges from a previous location in Rock Falls the tenant will not be allowed utility services at a new location until all delinquent charges are paid in full. A Rock Falls Utilities Rock Falls Utilities Application for Service. must be completed for the rental property.  All information must be completed including owner information for the rental property. A copy of a current Illinois Identification Card or Driver’s License must be presented along with Social Security numbers which must be obtain from each applicant for utility service.