CHAPTER 1
WATER

ARTICLE 8. METER TESTS AND ADJUSTMENT OF BILLS FOR METER ERROR

SECTION:

§3580    Meter Test At Request Of Customer; Charges

§3581    Right Of Customer To Be Present During Test

§3582    Test Required Before Installation Of Meter

§3583    Adjustment Of Bill For Period Up To Six Months Where Meter Tests Over Two Percent Fast

§3584    Additional Bill To Domestic Customer Where Meter Registers Less Than Seventy Five Percent Of Actual Consumption

§3585    Additional Billing For Other Services Where Meter Tests More Than Five Percent Slow

§3580 METER TEST AT REQUEST OF CUSTOMER; CHARGES

Any customer may, upon not less than five (5) days’ notice, require the City to test his water meter. No payment or deposit will be required from the customer for such test except, when a customer requests a meter test within six (6) months after date of installation of the meter or more often than once in a year thereafter, a deposit to cover the reasonable cost of the test will be required of the customer in accordance with the following:

A.    For meters one inch or smaller five dollars ($5.00) per meter.

B.    For meters larger than one inch seven dollars fifty cents ($7.50) per meter.

Fees for tests of meters under extraordinary conditions will be set by the City Manager of the City upon request. The amount so deposited will be returned to the customer if the meter is found, upon test, to register more than two percent (2%) fast under conditions of normal operations. (Ord. 478, §VIIIA, adopted 1954)

§3581 RIGHT OF CUSTOMER TO BE PRESENT DURING TEST

A customer shall have the right to request the City to conduct the tests in his presence, or if he so desires, in the presence of an expert or other representative appointed by him, but the test shall be conducted in the City meter testing location. A report giving the result of the test will be supplied to the customer within a reasonable time after completion of the test. (Ord. 478, §VIIIA, adopted 1954)

§3582 TEST REQUIRED BEFORE INSTALLATION OF METER

All meters will be tested at or prior to the time of their installation, and no meter will be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which has an error in registration in excess of two percent (2%) under condition of normal operation. (Ord. 478, §VIIIA, adopted 1954)

§3583 ADJUSTMENT OF BILL FOR PERIOD UP TO SIX MONTHS WHERE METER TESTS OVER TWO PERCENT FAST

When, as the result of any test, a meter is found to be more than two percent (2%) fast, the City shall refund to the customer the overcharge, based on the corrected meter readings for the period in which the meter was in use, not exceeding six (6) months, unless it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed. In this case, the overcharge shall be computed back to, but not beyond such time. (Ord. 478, §VIIIB-1, adopted 1954)

§3584 ADDITIONAL BILL TO DOMESTIC CUSTOMER WHERE METER REGISTERS LESS THAN SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OF ACTUAL CONSUMPTION

If, in the case of domestic or residential service, the meter upon test as herein provided is found not to register, or to register less than seventy five percent (75%) of the actual consumption, an average bill, or a bill for the water consumed but not covered by the bills previously rendered for a period not to exceed three (3) months, shall be rendered to the customer by the City, subject to review by the City Council of the City, provided that if the actual period of error exceeds three (3) months and the period can be definitely determined, the correction to be made may cover such actual period, subject to review by the City Council of the City. (Ord. 478, §VIIIB-2, adopted 1954)

§3585 ADDITIONAL BILLING FOR OTHER SERVICES WHERE METER TESTS MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT SLOW

If the meter for service other than domestic service, and where the average monthly water bill is in excess of ten dollars ($10.00) is found, upon test as herein provided, to register more than five percent (5%) slow, the City may render a bill for water consumed but not covered by bills previously rendered, for a period not to exceed three (3) months, subject to review by the City Council of the City, provided that if the actual period of error exceeds three (3) months and same can be definitely determined, the correction to be made, as herein provided, may cover such actual period, subject to review by the City Council of the City. (Ord. 478, §VIIIB-3, adopted 1954)