All electric and water meters and all materials and equipment installed by the Public Utilities Department shall remain at all times the property of the City; and where replacements, repairs, relocations or adjustments of any meter or equipment are rendered necessary by the act, negligence or carelessness of the consumer, any expense incurred by the City thereby shall be charged against and collected from the consumer. If the consumer fails to pay such charges upon demand, the electricity or water may be shut off until the charges are paid as provided in the Rates, Rules and Regulations of the Public Utilities Department. Meters shall not be installed in series. (Ord. 4017 § 1 (part); June 5, 1979.)