Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a Intent: This Section
describes the utility's responsibilities to obtain actual readings of the customer's
meter and the process by which a utility may issue an estimated bill to a customer
when the utility is unable to obtain an actual reading or a customer
reading.
b Utility Meter Reading:
1 A utility shall perform an actual reading of a
customer's meter at least every second billing period unless the utility's attempt
to do so is prevented.
2 A utility shall
perform an actual reading of a customer's meter every billing period if that meter
is equipped with a remote reading device, unless the utility effort to do so is
prevented.
3 When the utility's attempt
to read the meter fails, it shall record the date, time of day, utility personnel
involved, and reason for the failure. The record shall be retained for a period of
two years. In addition, its field representative making the visit to read the meter
shall leave a door tag at the premises. The door tag shall indicate when the utility
representative was there and provide the utility's contact information for the
customer to set up an appointment with the utility to gain access to the meter. If
the customer's meter is equipped with a remote reading device to obtain a reading
without the presence of field personnel on the customer's property, then the utility
may mail or use other means to deliver written notification (may include electronic
written notification to customers who have elected electronic billing methods) of
the failed reading to the customer in lieu of leaving a door hanger. The utility may
contact a customer by telephone to provide notice of a failed reading, provided that
written notification must be sent if the utility fails to reach the customer
directly or successfully leave a voice message.
4 A reading provided by a remote reading system or
device shall be considered an actual reading.
5 A reading provided by a Commission certified
meter service provider in compliance with the utility's tariff shall be considered
an actual reading.
6 If a utility issues
two consecutive estimated bills to a customer, the utility shall contact the
customer to resolve the reason for the consecutive estimated bills, so that the
utility may obtain an actual reading of the meter or a customer reading. If the
utility is unable to contact the customer, it shall send a letter advising the
customer of the utility's need for contact on the matter. The utility shall make a
record of each effort to contact the customer.
c Customer Meter Reading:
1 A customer reading of the meter provided to the
utility shall satisfy the actual reading requirement in subsection (b)(1). However,
a utility shall not require a customer to provide customer readings when the
customer can provide access to the meter for utility personnel.
2 After six consecutive months of customer
provided readings, a utility shall take an actual reading of the meter in accordance
with subsections (b)(1) and (2).
d Meter Readings for Beginning and Ending Service:
Unless a utility has taken an actual reading of the meter within the past 60 days,
it shall take an actual reading of the meter as prescribed in this subsection (d).
The utility may satisfy the requirements of this subsection (d) on the day before or
the day after the beginning or ending date if that date falls upon a non-business
day of the utility.
1 On the beginning date of
service for a new customer, so long as the new customer has provided the utility
with at least five days advance notice of the start date, and so long as the
customer provides the utility with access to the meter;
2 On the ending date of service for a customer who
is stopping service, so long as the customer has provided the utility with at least
five days advance notice of the end date, and so long as the customer provides the
utility with access to the meter.
e Estimated Bill Formula: A utility's formula for
estimating customer meter readings shall be filed in the utility's tariff.
f Bill Labeling:
1 A bill based upon an estimated reading shall
indicate that it is an estimated bill and that the meter reading figure is an
estimated reading.
2 A bill based upon
an actual reading shall indicate that the meter reading figure is an actual
reading.
3 A bill based upon a customer
reading shall indicate that the meter reading figure is a customer
reading.
g Unless the
utility's attempt to access the meter has been prevented, as described in subsection
(b)(3), the utility shall not disconnect a customer for non-payment of two or more
consecutively estimated bills until the utility takes an actual reading of the meter
to verify the accuracy of the billing.
