As of January 1, 2009, the interest rate that telephone and water companies must pay on the deposits they hold for their customers is 1.08%. Telephone and water company rules use the rate as of November 15 of the previous year. Because November 15, 2008, was Saturday, the rate used is the rate as of the next business day, November 17, 2008.

As of January 1, 2009, the interest rate that gas, electric, and solid waste companies must pay on the deposits they hold for their customers is .42%. Gas, electric, and solid waste company rules use the rate as of January 15, 2009.

UTC rules set the customer deposit interest rate at the level of the 1-year Treasury constant maturity, as calculated by the U.S. Treasury and published in the Federal Reserve's Statistical Release H.15.

For more information, please contact Sharyn Bate (360-664-1295).