(A) When meters are installed by the town to measure the electricity used by its customers, all charges for electricity used, except certain minimum charges, shall be calculated from the readings of such meters. All meters shall be read monthly.
(B) Electricity will be furnished through one delivery point and one set of metering apparatus, and will be billed separately on the applicable rate schedule approved by the town. However, the town reserves the right, where it desires for its own purposes because of the amount, or characteristics, of electricity required, to install two, or more, sets of metering apparatus, to combine the readings of meters so installed for billing purposes, and to bill these combined readings on the applicable schedule approved by the town. Irrespective of how the town meters electricity, the same rates and fees shall apply to each customer within a specified class of service.
(C) When one, or more, transformers are installed at one delivery point by the town for the town’s convenience to supply electricity to a single customer at one nominal voltage, the town reserves the right, where it desires for its own purposes because of the amount of characteristics of electricity required, to meter the electricity on the town’s side of the transformer, or transformers, and adjust for losses. Irrespective of how the town meters electricity, the same rates and fees shall apply to each customer within a specified class of service.
(D) The use of master meters for electricity in multiple dwelling units is prohibited except that if dwelling units are centrally cooled, or heated, with a central unit that has solar-assisted, or other energy saving design, the owner seeking to use a master meter may apply to the State Utilities Commission for approval. This does not apply to hotels, motels, dormitories, rooming houses, hospitals, nursing homes, or homes for the aged, in which cases master meters may be used without prior special approval.
(E) Meters in service may be tested by the town, or any other lawfully constituted authority having jurisdiction. When, as the results of such a test, a meter is found to be less than 2% fast or slow, no adjustment will be made in the customer’s bills. If the meter is found to be more than 2% fast or slow because of incorrect calibration, the town will re-bill the customer for the correct amount as calculated for a period of not more than 60 days.
(F) Whenever it is found that for any reason other than incorrect calibration the metering apparatus has not registered the true amount of electricity which has been used by the customer, billing adjustments will be made in accordance with State Utilities Commission Rule R8-44, a copy of which is included in Appendix H to this code.
(G) If, during the term of agreement for furnishing electricity to a customer, the customer is unable to operate his or her facilities, in whole or in part, because of an accident, act of God, or fire occurring at the location where electricity is supplied, the charge for electricity used during the period reasonably necessary to correct any such conditions may, in the discretion of the Town Council, be reasonably adjusted in accordance with all pertinent facts and conditions.
(Code 1976, § 6-2A.42) (Ord. 6-83, passed 9-19-1983)
Statutory reference:
Master meters prohibited, G.S. § 143-151.42.