(A) Meters generally. A customer shall receive water service only when measured through a meter. All water meters furnished by the department shall at all times remain the property of the city. The Director shall determine the size, type, quantity and location of meters and connections to meters to be installed. Each meter shall be electronically read, when reasonably possible, once a month and a water utility bill shall be rendered accordingly. At no time shall more than one building or one duplex unit or one single family residence be placed on any single meter.
(B) Estimated bill circumstances. The quantity of water delivered to a premises may be estimated under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The meter reader is unable to procure a reading of the meter because access to the meter is obstructed or made hazardous by an animal or otherwise; or
(2) The meter does not properly function or the equipment used to read the meter does not properly function; or
(3) Adverse weather, an act of God or other circumstance prevents or inhibits the reading of the meter; or
(4) No meter is in place at the premises; or
(5) For some other reason, a meter reading is not available to the billing section of the department at the time of preparing a water utility bill to the customer.
(C) Basis for estimates. An estimate shall be based on past consumption experience at the premises and adjusted for seasonal variations, or if there is no similar past experience, then upon consumption of the same class of customers under similar conditions. If a customer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Director or the City Manager that an estimated bill is excessive, then the department shall render a water utility bill for water usage based on a revised estimate or on an actual meter reading where reasonably possible.
(D) Meter reading verification. If the customer is of the opinion that there is an error or a discrepancy for water usage on such customer’s water utility bill, the Director will inspect the meter and verify the reading. A verification fee, as provided in the fee schedule will be assessed to and shall be paid by the customer unless the Director verifies that the customer’s bill was grossly in error or that the customer has not requested more than one verification during the previous six month period.
(E) Return of meters. All water meters furnished to customers are the property of the city and shall be returned by the customer immediately upon request of the Director. Failure by a customer to return a meter when requested constitutes grounds for disconnection or refusal of service. Any person, business or entity which has possession, care, custody or control of a meter and which fails to deliver the same to the city after request to do so by the Director, the City Manager or either of their respective designees shall be in violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the penal provisions of this chapter.
(F) Maintenance of meters. The department is responsible for maintenance, inspection and repair of all water meters rendered unserviceable through normal wear and tear. When replacements, repairs or adjustments of any meter, meter box, and service valve are made necessary by any act, omission, negligence or carelessness of a customer, or any other person, business or entity, such customer, person, business or entity shall pay all damages resulting from such act, omission, negligence or carelessness to the department on demand and if the same are not so paid by a customer responsible therefore, service to such customer, owner and/or occupant shall be disconnected.
(G) Testing of meters. When any customer is of the opinion that the meter through which the water is supplied is incorrect for any reason, the customer may request that a meter test of the meter be made. The customer shall pay a fee for the test and the new replacement meter based upon the size of said meter, as provided in the fee schedule. When the Director receives the results of the test and if the meter was found to be over-registering by more than 2%, the testing fee shall be returned along with a refund for up to 12 months or the actual length of time the meter was installed, whichever is shorter. The refund shall be the amount overcharged during the time as determined by recalculation of the past bills for said period.
(Ord. O-16-821, passed 7-28-2016)