All meters put in by the authority shall be and remain the property of the authority and are not to be removed unless the use of current on the premises is entirely stopped and the service connection discontinued or abandoned. In all cases where meters are lost, injured or broken by carelessness or negligence on the part of the owners or occupants of the premises, they shall be replaced by the authority and the costs charged against the owners or occupants. In the event of the meter getting out of order or failing to register properly, the consumer shall be charged on an estimate based on average monthly consumption during the last three (3) months the same was in good order or from what may be the most reliable at the command of the authority.