11-20-060 Removal of meters.

   No person shall remove any meter from the house, store, factory or premises of any consumer of gas in the city, against the will and consent of any such consumer of gas who is willing to pay for gas furnished him by such person, and who tenders the amount due. Provided, however, that any person furnishing gas to consumers in the city shall have the right to remove any meter for the purpose of repairing the same, on condition that a new one is substituted in its place immediately.

   Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $25.00 nor more than $200.00 for each and every offense.

(Prior code § 187-6)

11-20-061 Termination of service – Notice required – Violation – Penalty.

   (a)   For purposes of this section, “residential building” means any structure containing two or more dwelling units.

   (b)   Any public utility engaged in furnishing or supplying gas to a residential building where such gas is used for water heating or space heating must, prior to terminating or cutting off such service or supply for any reason other than customer request, including cutting off gas supplies to illegal gas connections or emergencies, notify the building commissioner of its intention to do so. Such notice shall be delivered to the building commissioner in the manner and in the form prescribed by the commissioner. The notice required by this section shall include, but not be limited to, the street address of the building, the number of units in the building, the date on which service or supply will be terminated or cut off, and the account billing name and address for the building. The notice shall indicate clearly that the building for which the notice is provided is a residential building as defined in sub-section (a) of this section. Such notice shall not be made as part of a list of, or commingled with, addresses of buildings that are not residential buildings as defined in subsection (a) of this section. Where an immediate termination or cutting off of such service or supply is necessary to protect the public safety, the prior notice required by this section, and any penalties for failure to provide the notice required by this section, may be waived by the building commissioner, provided that notice is given as soon as possible and in no case later than eight hours after such action is taken and such notice otherwise complies in full with the requirements of this subsection.

   (c)   Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of $500.00. For each termination, for each building, and for each day that any notice required by this section has not been given, the failure to provide such notice shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

   (d)   In addition to the fines provided in subsection (c) of this section, a public utility that violates this section shall be liable for any and all costs incurred by the City as a result of its violation of this section.

   (e)   Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to preclude or interfere with the implementation by a gas utility company of measures necessary to assure the provision of adequate, efficient, reliable and environmentally safe service, as required by the Illinois Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/1-101, et seq.).

   (f)   The building commissioner shall have the authority to issue rules and regulations necessary or proper to accomplish the purposes of this section. The commissioner shall give public notice of any proposed rule or regulation, prior to its effective date, in one or more newspapers of general circulation, and in no case shall the publication be less than ten days prior to the effective date of the proposed rule or regulation, or an amendment to a rule or regulation. Such public notice shall include information concerning where the rule or regulation can be reviewed and where comments may be directed.

(Added Coun. J. 3-27-02, p. 82127, § 1)

11-20-065 Reserved.

Editor's note – Coun. J. 3-27-02, p. 82127, § 1, repealed § 11-20-065, which pertained to termination of service – notice required – violation – penalty.

ARTICLE II. INSPECTION OF METERS (11-20-070 et seq.)

11-20-070 Inspector's uniform or badge.

   Every person furnishing or selling gas for illuminating or fuel purposes within the city shall supply or furnish to every person employed by such person as inspector of gas meters, or examiner or tester of meters, or meter statement taker, a uniform or badge showing conspicuously the nature of the employment and the name of the person by whom he is employed. Said employer shall register the name of each person so employed with the inspector of weights and measures.

   No person so employed for testing, examining, removing or inspecting said meters shall engage in such employment unless he is wearing a uniform or badge in a conspicuous manner, so that it can be readily perceived. It shall be unlawful for any person not employed in any such capacity to enter or secure entrance into any house, building or store upon the representation that he is thus employed, or to wear any uniform or badge showing or representing any such employment.

(Prior code § 187-7)

11-20-080 Standards.

   There shall be maintained in the office of the inspector of weights and measures at least three standard gas meters which have been tested, sealed and certified by the United States Bureau of Standards. The meters so maintained shall be used as standards for the purpose of checking the working provers which are used by said inspector of weights and measures in checking and testing meters used by consumers of gas.

   The unit of measure to be employed by the inspector of weights and measures in making the test of meters herein provided for shall be the cubic foot containing 62,321 pounds of rain or distilled water at a temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and at a barometric pressure of 30 inches.

(Prior code § 187-8)

11-20-090 Pressure for testing.

   All meters shall be tested at a pressure which will balance a column of water one and five-tenths inches in height. The accuracy of such meter shall be determined by the use of standard meter provers designed and constructed for the purpose.

(Prior code § 187-9)

11-20-100 Disconnecting meters to be inspected.

   Whenever a request shall be made to inspect any meter which is installed in any premises, the inspector of weights and measures shall notify the gas company owning the same to disconnect and detach such meter and convey the same to such place as he may direct for the purpose of making his inspection, and request the said gas company to install another meter in place of the one so removed for inspection and test.

   When a meter is removed for inspection and test thereof, a meter which has been tested and sealed as herein provided shall immediately be installed in place of the removed meter by the person furnishing the gas.

(Prior code § 187-10)

11-20-110 Representative at tests.

   Any person supplying gas to the city or its inhabitants, or any gas consumer, may at his option be represented at any test made of the gas meters supplied or used by the said person.

(Prior code § 187-11)