(A) During any period that an incorrect meter reading is established, the meter reading and bills based thereon shall be adjusted by the Utility on the basis of all available information concerning the use of service by the customer.
(B) Whenever the Utility has overcharged any customer as the result of a meter or metering inaccuracy or other continuing problem under its control, the Utility will only credit the customer for the overcompensated amount of electricity rendered in the 365 days immediately prior to the date the Utility remedies the meter inaccuracy. The reimbursement of overcharges shall take the form of a credit to the customer's account or by direct payment to the customer, at the customer's direction.
(C) Except as provided below, any underpayment as a result of a meter or metering inaccuracy, or other continuing problem, will be billed to the customer. The Utility will, at the customer's request, attempt to arrange a reasonable payment schedule in the event of underpayment. Should the amount of the adjustment be under bona fide dispute, the Utility shall continue to supply service and the customer shall continue to pay all amounts billed until a final determination is made.
(D) Whenever the Utility has undercharged any customer as the result of a meter or metering inaccuracy or other continuing problem under its control, the Utility may only bill the customer for the amount of the unmetered electricity rendered in the 365 days immediately prior to the date the Utility remedies the meter inaccuracy. The Utility, in the first bill to collect the amount for unmetered electric service, shall state the entire amount that it seeks to collect. The maximum portion of the undercharge for unmetered electricity rendered that may be recovered from the customer in any billing month shall be determined by dividing the amount of the undercharge by 12 (or the corresponding number of adjustable months) and the quotient is the maximum portion of the undercharge that the company may recover from the customer in any billing month, in addition to either regular monthly charges of any type or regular level payment amounts billed in accordance with an agreement between the customer and the Utility. The time period over which the undercharge may be billed shall be 12 (or the corresponding number of adjustable months) consecutive months.
(E) The Utility shall not recover any interest charge, service charge, or fee, whether or not a percentage is utilized for its computation, for the portion of billings due to incorrect meter readings as provided for under this section.
(F) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the customer from paying an undercharge or any portion thereof in a time shorter than that stated in this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Utility from collecting an undercharge or any portion thereof in a time longer than that stated in this section.
(G) This section does not apply to any act that is a theft offense, as defined in this chapter, that involves tampering with utility equipment or theft of utility service, or where a physical act of a customer or its agent causes inaccurate or no recording of the meter reading, or inaccurate or no measurement of the gas or electricity rendered.
(Ord. 2002-12-43, passed 1-28-03)