Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) Meter requirements.
(1) Use of meter. All charges for water
service shall be based on meter measurements, except where otherwise authorized
in the utility's approved tariff.
(2) Installation by utility. Unless otherwise
authorized by the commission, each utility shall provide, install, own and
maintain all meters necessary for the measurement of water provided to its
customers.
(3) Standard type. No
utility shall furnish, set up, or put in use any meter which is not reliable
and of a standard type which meets industry standards; provided, however,
special meters not necessarily conforming to such standard types may be used
for investigation or experimental purposes.
(4) One meter is required for each
residential, commercial, or industrial service connection. An apartment
building, condominium, manufactured housing community, or mobile home park may
be considered by the utility to be a single commercial facility for the purpose
of these sections. The commission may grant an exception to the individual
meter requirement if the plumbing of an existing multiple use or multiple
occupant building would prohibit the installation of individual meters at a
reasonable cost or would result in unreasonable disruption of the customary use
of the property.
(b)
Meter readings.
(1) Meter unit indication. In
general, each meter shall indicate clearly the gallons of water or other units
of service for which charge is made to the customer.
(2) Reading of meters.
(A) Service meters shall be read at monthly
intervals, and as nearly as possible on the corresponding day of each month,
but may be read at other than monthly intervals if authorized in the utility's
approved tariff.
(B) The utility
shall charge for volume usage at the lowest block charge on its approved tariff
when the meter reading date varies by more than two days from the normal meter
reading date.
(c) Access to meters and utility cutoff
valves.
(1) At the customer's request, utility
employees must present information identifying themselves as employees of the
utility in order to establish the right of access.
(2) Utility employees shall be allowed access
for the purpose of reading, testing, installing, maintaining and removing
meters and using utility cutoff valves. Conditions that may hinder access
include, but are not limited to, fences with locked gates, vehicles or objects
placed on top of meters or meter boxes, and unrestrained animals.
(3) When access is hindered on an ongoing
basis, utilities may, but are not required to, make alternative arrangements
for obtaining meter readings as described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this
subsection. Alternative arrangements for obtaining meter readings shall be made
in writing with a copy provided to the customer and a copy filed in the
utility's records on that customer.
(4) If access to a meter is hindered and the
customer agrees to read his own meter and provide readings to the utility, the
utility may bill according to the customer's readings; provided the meter is
read by the utility at regular intervals (not exceeding six months) and billing
adjustments are made for any overcharges or undercharges.
(5) If access to a meter is hindered and the
customer does not agree to read their own meter, the utility may bill according
to estimated consumption; provided the meter is read by the utility at regular
intervals (not exceeding three months) and billing adjustments are made for any
overcharges or undercharges.
(6) If
access to a meter is hindered and the customer will not arrange for access at
regular intervals, the utility may relocate the meter to a more accessible
location and may charge the customer for the actual cost of relocating the
meter. Before relocating the meter, the utility shall provide the customer with
written notice of its intent to do so. The notice required under this
subparagraph shall include information on the estimated cost of relocating the
meter, an explanation of the condition hindering access and what the customer
can do to correct that condition, and information on how to contact the
utility. The notice shall give the customer a reasonable length of time to
arrange for utility access so the customer may avoid incurring the relocation
cost. A copy of the notice given to the customer shall be filed with the
utility's records on the customer's account.
(7) If access to a meter, cutoff valve or
sewer connection is hindered by the customer and the customer's service is
subject to disconnection under §
24.167 of this title (relating to
Discontinuance of Service), the utility may disconnect service at the main and
may charge the customer for the actual cost of disconnection and any subsequent
reconnection. The utility shall document the condition preventing access by
providing photographic evidence or a sworn affidavit. Before disconnecting
service at the main, the utility shall provide the customer with written notice
of its intent to do so. The notice required under this subparagraph shall
include information on the estimated cost of disconnecting service at the main
and reconnecting service and shall give the customer at least 72 hours to
correct the condition preventing access and to pay any delinquent charges due
the utility before disconnection at the main. The customer may also be required
to pay the tariffed reconnect fee for nonpayment in addition to delinquent
charges even if service is not physically disconnected. A copy of the notice
given to the customer shall be filed with the utility's records on the
customer's account.
(d)
Meter tests on request of customer.
(1) Upon
the request of a customer, each utility shall make, without charge a test of
the accuracy of the customer's meter. If the customer asks to observe the test,
the test shall be conducted in the customer's presence or in the presence of
the customer's authorized representative. The test shall be made during the
utility's normal working hours at a time convenient to the customer. Whenever
possible, the test shall be made on the customer's premises, but may, at the
utility's discretion, be made at the utility's testing facility.
(2) Following the completion of any requested
test, the utility shall promptly advise the customer of the date of the test,
the result of the test, who made the test and the date the meter was removed if
applicable.
(3) If the meter has
been tested by the utility or a testing facility at the customer's request, and
within a period of two years the customer requests a new test, the utility
shall make the test, but if the meter is found to be within the accuracy
standards established by the American Water Works Association, the utility may
charge the customer a fee which reflects the cost to test the meter, but this
charge shall in no event be more than $25 for a residential customer.
(e) Meter testing.
(1) The accuracy of a water meter shall be
tested by comparing the actual amount of water passing through it with the
amount indicated on the dial. The test shall be conducted in accordance with
the standards for testing cold water meters as prescribed by the American Water
Works Association or other procedures approved by the commission.
(2) The utility shall provide the necessary
standard facilities, instruments, and other equipment for testing its meters in
compliance with these sections. Any utility may be exempted from this
requirement by the commission provided that satisfactory arrangements are made
for testing its meters by another utility or testing facility equipped to test
meters in compliance with these sections.
(3) Measuring devices for testing meters may
consist of a calibrated tank or container for volumetric measurement or a tank
mounted upon scales for weight measurement. If a volumetric standard is used,
it shall be accompanied by a certificate of accuracy from any standard
laboratory as may be approved by the commission. The commission can also
authorize the use of a volumetric container for testing meters without a
laboratory certification when it is in the best interest of the customer and
utility to reduce the cost of testing. If a weight standard is used, the scales
shall be tested and calibrated periodically by an approved laboratory and a
record maintained of the results of the test.
(4) Standards used for meter testing shall be
of a capacity sufficient to insure accurate determination of meter accuracy and
shall be subject to the approval of the commission.
(5) A standard meter may be provided and used
by a utility for the purpose of testing meters in place. This standard meter
shall be tested and calibrated at least once per year unless a longer period is
approved by the commission to insure its accuracy within the limits required by
these sections. A record of such tests shall be kept by the utility for at
least three years following the tests.
(f) Meter test prior to installation. No
meter shall be placed in service unless its accuracy has been established. If
any meter shall have been removed from service, it must be properly tested and
adjusted before being placed in service again. No meter shall be placed in
service if its accuracy falls outside the limits as specified by the American
Water Works Association.
(g) Bill
adjustment due to meter error. If any meter is found to be outside of the
accuracy standards established by the American Water Works Association, proper
correction shall be made of previous readings for the period of six months
immediately preceding the removal of such meter from service for the test, or
from the time the meter was in service since last tested, but not exceeding six
months, as the meter shall have been shown to be in error by such test, and
adjusted bills shall be rendered. No refund is required from the utility except
to the customer last served by the meter prior to the testing. If a meter is
found not to register for any period, unless bypassed or tampered with, the
utility shall make a charge for units used, but not metered, for a period not
to exceed three months, based on amounts used under similar conditions during
the period preceding or subsequent thereto, or during corresponding periods in
previous years.
(h) Meter
tampering. For purposes of these sections, meter tampering, bypass, or
diversion shall be defined as tampering with a water or sewer utility company's
meter or equipment causing damage or unnecessary expense to the utility,
bypassing the same, or other instances of diversion, such as physically
disorienting the meter, objects attached to the meter to divert service or to
bypass, insertion of objects into the meter, other electrical and mechanical
means of tampering with, bypassing, or diverting utility service, removal or
alteration of utility-owned equipment or locks, connection or reconnection of
service without utility authorization, or connection into the service line of
adjacent customers or of the utility. The burden of proof of meter tampering,
bypass, or diversion is on the utility. Photographic evidence must be
accompanied by a sworn affidavit by the utility when any action regarding meter
tampering as provided for in these sections is initiated. A court finding of
meter tampering may be used instead of photographic or other evidence, if
applicable.