11-20-150 Testing meters at consumer's request.

   It shall be the duty of the inspector of weights and measures to examine and test any gas meter furnished to any consumer of gas by any gas company furnishing gas for heating, power or illuminating purposes in this city whenever requested to do so by such consumer. Said inspection upon the request of a consumer shall be made whenever any consumer of gas furnished by a gas company in the city shall make a request to have any meter so furnished and installed on the premises of such consumer inspected for the purpose of ascertaining whether such meter registers correctly, and shall pay the fee hereinafter fixed.

   Before making any such test the inspector of weights and measures shall give notice to the person making application for such test, and also to the gas company whose meter is about to be tested, of the time and place where he intends to test such meter. Notice to the company shall be given in writing, sent by mail, to such gas company, at its principal office in the city, and notice shall be sent to such applicant in writing, by mail, addressed to the premises described in the application for such test. Such notice shall be mailed at least 24 hours before the time set for the test of such meter.

   The test of such meter shall be made by the inspector of weights and measures, or his duly authorized agent, at such place as he may designate in such notice or notices, and shall be made in such manner as to test thoroughly such meter with a view to ascertaining whether it registers accurately.

(Prior code § 187-15)

11-20-160 Fees.

   Any person desiring the inspection of any gas meter within the city, as provided in Section 11-20-150, shall accompany the application for such inspection with a fee of one dollar which shall be paid to the city collector and for which such applicant shall obtain a receipt from the city collector showing such payment, which receipt shall describe the location of the gas meter to be inspected and shall contain the name of the person for whose benefit said gas meter was installed. Said receipt when presented to the inspector of weights and measures shall be his authority for making the inspection.

   If the result of any such inspection shall show any meter so inspected to be inaccurate, and to have registered in such a manner as to show a greater consumption of gas than was actually consumed or than actually flowed through such meter, the fee advanced by the person desiring such test shall be forthwith returned to such person, and such inspection shall be made without any cost or expense of any kind to him. The cost of making such inspection of any meter so found to be inaccurate shall be paid by the company furnishing gas through the same, and by whom or for whose benefit such meter was installed, and the amount of the fees as herein fixed for such inspection shall be paid by such company upon a bill being presented to it by the inspector of weights and measures with his certificate showing that such meter was found by him to be inaccurate. If the result of any inspection of any meter shall show such meter to be registering accurately as herein defined or to have registered a smaller amount of gas than actually flowed through such meter, in such case the expense of such inspection shall be paid for out of the fee required to be advanced by the person making application for such inspection, and no part of such fee shall in any case be returned to such applicant.

(Prior code § 187-16)

11-20-170 Inspection conclusive.

   The inspection and test herein provided for, to be made by the inspector of weights and measures, shall be conclusive, both upon the gas company owning such meter and the consumer in or upon whose premises such meter was installed, and the amount of gas flowing through such meter for a period of six months before the close of the month in which such meter shall be inspected shall be adjusted to be as if such meter had been during such six months in the same condition it was in at the time such inspection was made.

(Prior code § 187-17)

11-20-180 Tampering with meters or certificates.

   No person shall alter or change any gas meter or register thereof with the intent to defraud any person, or shall tamper with or change any certificate issued by the inspector of weights and measures relating to the inspection of any gas meter for the purpose of defrauding any person.

(Prior code § 187-18)

ARTICLE III. VIOLATION – PENALTY (11-20-190 et seq.)

11-20-190 Violation – Penalty.

   Any person violating, or resisting or opposing the enforcement of, any of the provisions of that part of this chapter dealing with gas service, for which no other penalty is specifically provided, shall be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense. Each and every day on which any person engaged in the business of supplying gas for heating, power, or illuminating purposes in the city, shall violate such provisions shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

   Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of that part of this chapter dealing with inspection of meters, for which no other penalty is provided, shall be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 for each offense.

(Prior code § 187-19)