(A) Meter testing shall be done at the customer's request, and in accordance with the following guidelines and schedules:
(1) Meter Test Request. If any customer requests a test of the meter, the City will require a meter test or bench test fee which fee shall be set as follows:
FY 24-25
| |
Meter Test | $82.90 |
Bench Test - Less than 1.5" Meter | $235.45 |
Bench Test - 2" Meter | $277.46 |
Bench Test - Greater than 2" Meters | Actual Cost |
(2) The fee is retained by the City only if the test shows that the meter is registering within the acceptable accuracy limits as established by the City. If the meter is determined by the City to be registering outside of the acceptable accuracy limits, the fee will be credited to the customer's account.
(3) For tests of meters equal to or greater than 1 ½-inch (1 ½”), the test will be based on actual costs incurred as determined by the City.
(B) Adjustment of Bills for Meter Error. In meter tests made by the City, the accuracy of registration of the meter and its performance in service shall be judged by its average error. The average error shall be considered to be the average of the errors at the test rate flows:
(1) Fast meters. Whenever a meter tested is found to register fast, in excess of the tolerance provided within the accuracy limits by the City standards, the City shall refund to the customer the amount billed in error for the period not to exceed six months except that if it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed, the overcharge shall be computed back to but not beyond such date. The refund shall be based upon consumption charges only and for the percentage over registering.
(2) Slow meters. Whenever a meter tested is found to register slow, in excess of the tolerance provided within the accuracy limits by the City, the City may bill the customer an amount equal to the unbilled error for the period not to exceed six months, except that if it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed, the charge may be computed back to but not beyond such date and provided further that if the utility has required a deposit, the customer may be billed only for their portion of the unbilled error which is in excess of the deposit retained by the City. In the event of a non-registering meter, the customer may be billed on an estimate based on previous bills for similar usages, such estimate to apply only to the current billing. In the event of unauthorized use, the customer may be billed on a reasonable estimate, in the sole discretion of the City, of the service taken.
(3) Meter accuracy requirements. All meters used for measuring quantity of water delivered to a customer shall be in good mechanical condition and shall be adequate in size and design for the type of service which they measure. Before being installed for the use of any customer, every meter shall register within the accuracy limits of the City standards.
(Ord. 2008-31, passed 5-1-08; Am. Ord. 2009-40, passed 10-1-09; Am. Ord. 2011-22, passed 3-17-11; Am. Ord. 2011-49, passed 9-22-11; Am. Ord. 2012-25, passed 9-18-12; Am. Ord. 2013-47, passed 9-25-13; Am. Ord. 2014-42, passed 9-25-14; Am. Ord. 2015-47, passed 9-24-15; Am. Ord. 2016-63, passed 9-22-16; Am. Ord. 2017-58, passed 9-19-17; Am. Ord. 2018-37, passed 9-18-18; Am. Ord. 2019-62, passed 11-21-19; Am. Ord. 2020-59, passed 9-23-20; Am. Ord. 2021-61, passed 9-22-21; Am. Ord. 2022-96, passed 9-21-22; Am. Ord. 2023-86, passed 9-20-23; Am. Ord. 2024-49, passed 10-1-24)