Caribbean Utilities Company is chasing security deposits from about 200 of its business customers.

The power company, in a statement on Thursday, said it had a longstanding policy requiring commercial customers to pay a deposit that covers 45 days of service.

“A review of our commercial customer accounts that have hit the delinquency list in the recent past found that there were approximately 200 customers who did not have a deposit on file, or whose monthly bills exceeded their deposits,” the statement said.

The company has written to those customers requesting security deposits.

Some customers have complained that they are being asked for an excessive amount and that the deposits are being demanded even though they have not been delinquent in paying their bills.

CUC stated: “In an effort to regularise this situation, the company has written to these customers requesting that they place a security deposit on their account. The deposit will earn interest at the going rate for certificate of deposits at local banks, which will be credited to the account on a monthly basis.”

It added: “It should be noted that unlike other businesses where payment may be demanded before the good or service is provided, the manner in which our service is metered gives the customer up to 45 days of credit from the time that the electricity is used until a bill is received.”