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Utility deposits and refunds as unclaimed property

A deposit or refund that a utility cannot return to you becomes unclaimed property, and in most of the states covered here that happens after one year. In Florida, for example, a deposit is presumed abandoned one year after the service it secured ends.2 The utility then turns it over to the state, where searching and claiming through the official program are free.34

Updated · Facts checked against official sources November 3, 2026

On this page
  1. What counts as unclaimed utility property
  2. Dormancy periods for utility deposits by state
  3. Cooperatives, capital credits and city utilities
  4. Which state holds it
  5. How to claim
  6. Questions people ask
  7. Sources
  • One year in most of the states covered here; three in California, Maryland and Pennsylvania81925 and five in Delaware and Missouri.122122
  • Some laws start the clock when service ends, as in Florida and Virginia;23 others when the deposit or refund becomes payable, as in Alabama and Utah.528
  • Some cooperative and public utilities fall outside the state program, as in Oklahoma, Wyoming and Kansas.43115
  • The money goes to the state of your last known address in the utility's records.32
  • Searching and claiming are free through the official program of the state holding the property.34

What counts as unclaimed utility property

State laws cover more than the security deposit you paid when you opened service. Florida, Virginia and Oklahoma, for example, include any deposit made to secure payment and “any sum paid in advance for utility services to be furnished”, less lawful charges or deductions.234 Alabama and Utah cover a “deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility”.528 Connecticut adds any “other sum owed to a customer or subscriber by a utility”.11 California lists utility account deposits among the common types of unclaimed property.9

Refunds a utility was ordered to pay are covered too. Pennsylvania presumes them abandoned two years after they became payable under the final order.25

Dormancy periods for utility deposits by state

A dormancy period is the time property can sit with no activity or contact before it must be turned over to the state.1 For utility deposits most of these states use one year, but the period and the event that starts it differ.

When a utility deposit or refund is presumed abandoned, by state
State Period
Alabama 1 year after it becomes payable5
Alaska 1 year after service ends6
Arkansas 1 year after it becomes payable7
California 3 years (period for other property)8
Connecticut 1 year after it becomes due, payable or distributable11
Delaware 5 years after it becomes payable12
Florida 1 year after service ends2
Iowa 1 year after service ends13
Kansas 1 year after it becomes payable14
Louisiana 1 year after it becomes payable16
Maine 1 year after it becomes payable17
Maryland 3 years after service ends19
Minnesota 1 year after service ends20
Missouri 5 years after service ends2122
New Mexico 1 year after it becomes payable23
North Dakota 1 year after it becomes payable24
Oklahoma 1 year after service ends4
Pennsylvania 3 years after it becomes due or demandable25
South Dakota 1 year after service ends26
U.S. Virgin Islands 1 year after it becomes payable27
Utah 1 year after it becomes payable28
Virginia 1 year after service ends3
West Virginia 1 year after it becomes payable29
Wyoming 1 year after service ends31

California’s dormancy table lists no separate period for utility deposits; other property not listed there has a three-year period.8 Missouri’s statute still reads “seven years or five years as provided in section 447.536”;21 that section changed the seven-year periods to five years from January 1, 2000.22 The dormancy comparison shows these periods next to other property types.

Cooperatives, capital credits and city utilities

Not every utility reports to the state program:

  • Oklahoma: the unclaimed property act does not apply to capital credits, customer deposits and similar payments of Oklahoma-based electric and telephone cooperatives, rural water, sewer, gas and solid waste districts, and agricultural cooperatives.4
  • Wyoming: the act does not apply to deposits or advance payments made to a cooperative utility under the Wyoming Cooperative Utilities Act.31
  • Kansas: public utilities that follow the procedures in Kansas law may keep unclaimed deposits, and dividends of cooperatives and public utilities, city water departments included, can be kept by the entity that issued them.15
  • California: property in the official custody of a municipal utility district is outside the state’s unclaimed property law.10

Where capital credits and membership fees are reportable, their periods can differ from deposits. Maine uses one year for deposits and for refunds or rebates, but three years for membership fees and capital credit distributions,18 and its statute keeps abandoned capital credits out of the one-year deposit rule.17 West Virginia lists capital credit distributions at three years and deposits at one.30

Which state holds it

Under the rules set by the U.S. Supreme Court, the property goes to the state of the customer’s last known address in the utility’s records.32 If the address is unknown, or that state has no law letting it take the property, it goes to the state where the utility is incorporated.32 The which-state tool walks through this, and the multi-state checklist helps if you have moved between states.

Before it is required to turn the money over to the state, a utility may hire a third-party finder to locate the customer.33 Once the money reaches the state, searching for and claiming it through the official program is free.34

How to claim

Claims are filed with the official program of the state holding the property.34 West Virginia, for example, accepts a copy of an old utility bill as proof of a previous address.35 The claim documents tool lists what each state asks for, each state page links its official program, and the claim guide walks through the filing.

Questions people ask

What happens to a utility deposit refund I never received?

Once the dormancy period passes, the utility must turn it over to the state,1 generally the state of your last known address in the utility's records.32

How long does a utility have before sending my deposit to the state?

It depends on the state: one year in Florida2 and Virginia,3 three in Maryland,19 five in Delaware.12 The table on this page gives the period for each state.

Are electric co-op capital credits unclaimed property?

It depends on the state. Oklahoma's law does not apply to capital credits or customer deposits of its electric and telephone cooperatives,4 and Kansas lets cooperatives keep such dividends.15 Where they are reportable, the period can differ from deposits: three years in Maine and West Virginia.1830

Can a refund ordered by regulators become unclaimed property?

Yes. Pennsylvania presumes a utility refund ordered by a final order abandoned after two years.25

Is it free to claim a utility deposit from the state?

Yes. Searching for and claiming unclaimed property are free through the official government program of the state holding it.34

Sources

Footnote numbers point here. Open "Quoted text" for the exact words relied on ("[…]" marks words left out).

  1. What is unclaimed property? National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    After a designated period of time (called the dormancy period) with no activity or contact, the property becomes “unclaimed” and—by law—must be turned over to the state.
  2. Chapter 717, Florida Statutes (2026), Florida Disposition of Abandoned Personal Property Act The Florida Legislature · leg.state.fl.us · 2026 Florida Statutes · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    717.108 Deposits held by utilities.—Any deposit, including any interest thereon, made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment or any sum paid in advance for utility services to be furnished, less any lawful charges, that remains unclaimed by the apparent owner for more than 1 year after termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is presumed abandoned.
  3. Code of Virginia Title 55.1 Chapter 25, Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (full chapter) Commonwealth of Virginia, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia) · law.lis.virginia.gov · Code as published Nov. 3, 2026; includes 2026 c. 669 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Any deposit, including any interest thereon, made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment or any sum paid in advance for utility services to be furnished, less any lawful deductions, that remains unclaimed by the owner for more than one year after termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is presumed abandoned.
  4. Oklahoma Statutes Title 60 (Property), Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, 60 O.S. §§651-688 (PDF) Oklahoma Legislative Service Bureau · oklegislature.gov · compiled title; latest amendments shown Laws 2025, c. 421 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)
    A deposit, including any interest thereon, made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment or any sum paid in advance for utility services to be furnished, less any lawful deductions, that remains unclaimed by the owner for more than one (1) year after termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is presumed abandoned.
    D. The Uniform Unclaimed Property Act shall not apply to patronage dividends, capital credits, customer deposits or non- negotiated payment checks held or owing by cooperative electric power or telephone associations organized under the Rural Electric Cooperative Act and the Telephone Cooperative Corporations Act, rural water, sewer, gas and solid waste management districts organized under the Rural Water, Sewer, Gas and Solid Waste Management Districts Act, or agricultural cooperative marketing or supply associations organized under the Cooperative Marketing Association Act; when such associations are domiciled in Oklahoma.
  5. Code of Alabama § 35-12-72 Alabama Legislature (ALISON) · alison.legislature.state.al.us · current code as displayed Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (15) Deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable.
  6. Alaska Statutes AS 34.45, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Alaska State Legislature (akleg.gov) · akleg.gov · 2025 statutes as served Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    A deposit, including interest on the deposit, made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment, or money paid in advance for utility services to be furnished, less lawful deductions, that remains unclaimed by the owner for more than one year after the termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is presumed abandoned.
  7. Holder Seminar Sept. 2025 Session 1, Review of Arkansas statute regarding presumptions of abandonment (PDF) Arkansas Auditor of State · auditor.ar.gov · September 2025 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (12) Deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one (1) year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  8. Dormancy Periods for Most Frequently Reported Unclaimed Property Type (PDF) California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · Rev. 07/2023 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Other Tangible and Intangible Property 3 CCP 1520
  9. About Unclaimed Property California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Utility account deposits
  10. Unclaimed Property Law and Regulations (PDF) California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · February 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (a) This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) Any property in the official custody of a municipal utility district.
  11. Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 32 (Treasurer), Part III Escheats, secs. 3-56a to 3-76 Connecticut General Assembly · cga.ct.gov · General Statutes revised to January 1, 2026 · archived copy, captured Sept. 9, 2026 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Any deposit, refund or other sum owed to a customer or subscriber by a utility that has remained unclaimed by the customer or subscriber for more than one year after it becomes due, payable or distributable is presumed abandoned.
  12. Delaware Code Title 12, Chapter 11, Subchapter II. Unclaimed Property (§§ 1130-1191) Delaware General Assembly / Delaware Code Online · delcode.delaware.gov · current Delaware Code Online text (latest session law cited: 84 Del. Laws c. 368, 2024) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (12) A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, 5 years after the deposit or refund becomes payable.
  13. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 556, Disposition of Unclaimed Property (PDF) Iowa Legislature · legis.iowa.gov · Iowa Code 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Any deposit made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment for, or any sum paid in advance for, utility services to be furnished in this state, less any lawful deductions, that has remained unclaimed by the person appearing on the records of the utility entitled to the deposit for more than one year after the termination of the services
  14. K.S.A. 58-3935. Property presumed abandoned; when; general rule Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes · ksrevisor.gov · K.S.A. current as published Nov. 3, 2026; last amended L. 2007 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (12) deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  15. Exceptions to the Unclaimed Property Act (PDF) Kansas State Treasurer · missingmoney.ks.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)
    Public Utility Deposits. According to K.S.A. 12-822, unclaimed utility deposits may be retained by the utility company if they follow the statutorily described procedures prior to removing those deposits from their segregated account maintained for that purpose.
    Dividends paid by cooperative corporations or public utilities. According to K.S.A. 17- 1501, 17-1601,17-4601 and 17-6001, this property (including city water departments) can be retained by the issuing corporation/entity.
  16. La. R.S. 9:154 Louisiana State Legislature · legis.la.gov · code text as displayed Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (12) Deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable.
  17. 33 M.R.S. §2061 Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · legislature.maine.gov · current text as displayed Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    A deposit or refund, other than an abandoned capital credit as defined in Title 35‑A, section 3503, subsection 2, paragraph A, owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  18. Dormancy table Office of the Maine State Treasurer · maineunclaimedproperty.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    UT01 UTILITY DEPOSITS 1 UT02 MEMBERSHIP FEES 3 UT03 REFUNDS OR REBATES 1 UT04 CAPITAL CREDIT DISTRIBUTIONS 3
  19. Maryland Code, Commercial Law § 17-303 Maryland General Assembly (mgaleg.maryland.gov) · mgaleg.maryland.gov · current text as displayed Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (1) Any deposit made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment for, or any sum paid in advance for, utility services to be furnished in the State, less any lawful deduction, that has remained unclaimed by the person who appears on the records of the utility as entitled to it for more than 3 years after the termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made;
  20. Minnesota Statutes chapter 345, Unclaimed Property (full chapter) Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes · revisor.mn.gov · 2026 Minnesota Statutes · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    that has remained unclaimed by the person appearing on the records of the utility entitled thereto for more than one year after the termination of the services
  21. RSMo § 447.517 Missouri Revisor of Statutes (Joint Committee on Legislative Research) · revisor.mo.gov · Effective 28 Aug 1998 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    that has remained unclaimed by the person appearing on the records of the utility entitled thereto for more than seven years or five years as provided in section 447.536 after the termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made;
  22. RSMo § 447.536 Missouri Revisor of Statutes (Joint Committee on Legislative Research) · revisor.mo.gov · Effective 28 Aug 2014 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    all other abandonment periods referenced in sections 447.505 to 447.595, shall change from seven to five years beginning January 1, 2000,
  23. NMSA 1978 Chapter 7, Article 8A, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) New Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource.com) · nmonesource.com · Current NMSA 1978 as published on NMOneSource, Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (13) deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  24. N.D.C.C. chapter 47-30.2, Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (PDF) North Dakota Legislative Branch · legis.nd.gov · PDF created June 30, 2025 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  25. The Fiscal Code, Act of Apr. 9, 1929, P.L. 343, No. 176, Article XIII.1 (72 P.S. § 1301.1 et seq.) Pennsylvania General Assembly · palegis.us · text displayed Nov. 3, 2026; latest Article XIII.1 amendment shown: July 17, 2024, P.L.910, No.81 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)
    Any customer advance, toll, deposit or collateral security or any other property held by any utility if under the terms of an agreement the advance, toll, deposit, collateral security or other property is due to or demandable by the owner and has remained unclaimed for three (3) years or more from the date when it first became due to or demandable by the owner under the agreement.
    Any sum which a utility has been ordered to refund, less any lawful deductions, and which has remained unclaimed by the person appearing on the records of the utility entitled thereto for two (2) years or more after the date it became payable in accordance with the final order providing for the refund.
  26. SDCL 43-41B-8 South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council) · sdlegislature.gov · current codified text as served Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Any deposit, including any interest thereon, made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment for or any sum paid in advance for utility services to be furnished in this state, less any lawful deductions, is presumed abandoned if it has remained unclaimed by the person appearing on the records of the utility entitled thereto for more than one year after the termination of the services
  27. Act No. 6999: Virgin Islands Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, 28 V.I.C. ch. 29 (PDF) Legislature of the Virgin Islands (published by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor) · ltg.gov.vi · approved April 12, 2008 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (13) deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  28. Utah Code § 67-4a-201, When property presumed abandoned Utah Legislature · le.utah.gov · Effective 5/6/2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (13) a deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  29. W. Va. Code §36-8-2. Presumptions of abandonment West Virginia Legislature · code.wvlegislature.gov · current code as published; read Nov. 3, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    (13) Deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable;
  30. WV Property Type Codes with Dormancy Periods (PDF) West Virginia State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property Division · wvunclaimedproperty.gov · Effective June 10, 2022; March 2024 Update · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    UT01 Utility Deposits 1 UT02 Membership Fees 1 UT03 Refunds or Rebates 1 UT04 Capital Credit Distributions 3
  31. Wyoming Statutes Title 34, Chapter 24, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (PDF) Wyoming Legislature (Legislative Service Office) · wyoleg.gov · PDF compiled May 8, 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)
    remains unclaimed by the owner for more than one (1) year after termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is deemed abandoned.
    (b) The provisions of this act shall not apply to deposits or advance payments made to a cooperative utility subject to the provisions of the Wyoming Cooperative Utilities Act.
  32. Delaware v. Pennsylvania, 598 U.S. 115 (2023), opinion Supreme Court of the United States · supremecourt.gov · Feb. 28, 2023 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)
    To resolve the competing claims, we established that, as the primary (default) rule, the proceeds of abandoned financial products should escheat “to the State of the creditor's last known address as shown by the debtor's books and records.”
    adopted a secondary rule to apply in those circumstances; namely, that the proceeds should escheat to the debtor's State of incorporation.
  33. Is it really free to search? National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Sometimes, the organization holding your unclaimed property (ex., bank, utilities company) will hire a third-party finder to locate you before the organization is required to turn the unclaimed property over to the state.
  34. Claim Your Found Property National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)
    Both searching for and claiming your unclaimed property are free, provided you go through the official government program of the state holding the property.
  35. Claim FAQ West Virginia State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property Division · wvunclaimedproperty.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)
    Some common examples include a copy of an old utility bill, insurance statement, tax return, rental agreement, or tax record.
    Any of these documents can be provided as proof of a previous address.