(A) The Public Utilities Department reserves the right to routinely test or replace existing meters at any time for any reason.
(B) Meters under three inches in size. Should the owner, at any time, question the accuracy of the meter on his or her service, the Department shall, upon his or her written request, remove the meter and test it. If it is determined that the meter is accurate within specifications (98.5% to 101.5% of the actual flow), the city will charge the customer a service fee to be established by resolution of the City Commission based on meter size.
As a result of the test, if it is determined that the meter is over-registering (>101.5% of the actual flow) or under- registering (<98.5% of the actual flow), the customer will not be charged the service fee to test the meter.
In addition, if it is determined that the meter is registering above 101.5% of the actual flow (over- registering), the customer will receive a credit for the overbilling that is above the 101.5%. If it is determined that the meter is registering below 98.5% of the actual flow (under-registering), the customer will be billed for the additional consumption that is under 98.5%. The city will calculate the credit or charge by determining the adjusted average monthly consumption, then determining the difference between tested consumption and average monthly consumption, then multiplying this difference by the appropriate consumption rate. The city can bill for past unbilled usage or credit for past overcharges for a period of up to 12 months.
(C) Meters that are three inches or more in size. The Department shall test all meters of three inches or more in size once each year and the customer shall incur the cost of said test. The Department will notify the customer at least five working days in advance of its intent to test a meter. The Department will test the meter in the field on location. The cost of said test will be established by resolution of the City Commission, and an additional charge per month, to be established by resolution of the City Commission, will appear on the customer's bill to pay the cost of the test. If it is determined that the meter is not functioning within acceptable parameters of accuracy, the city will repair or replace the meter. Additional tests within the same annual period shall be performed upon the written request of the customer at a cost per test to be established by resolution of the City Commission.
(D) The Department reserves the right to remove and test any meter at any time, and if such meter is found to be inaccurate, to substitute another meter of the same size in its place, either permanently or temporarily. In the event of such test as last mentioned, the Department further reserves the right to make any correction in the bill rendered based on the last reading of such meter, in accordance with the result of such test.
(‘72 Code, § 36-33) (Ord. 205, passed - - ; Am. Ord. O-68-12, passed - - ; Am. Ord. O-69-143, passed - - ; Am. Ord. O-94-44, passed 9-21-94; Am. Ord. O-2005-04, passed 5-4-05; Am. Ord. O-2014-15, passed 7-16-14)