ORD 2289 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ordinance No.2289 California Health and Safety Code Section 116900 et seq. (the Water Shutoff Protection Act). The provisions of such administrative policy shall supersede any conflicting provisions of this chapter. (Prior code § 2-16.13; Ord. 2019 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2093 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2192 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2216 § 2, 2021) § 14.04.140. Meter tests and adjustment of bills. A. Tests On Consumer's Request. 1. A consumer may, on not less than one week's notice, request that the city test the meter serving consumer's premises. Where the accuracy of the record of the water meter is questioned by the consumer, such meter may be removed by the city at the consumer's request and shall be tested using a third-party meter testing agency selected by the city. Testing shall be in accordance with then current American Water Works Association M6 Water Meters standard practice. 2. Before testing any meter, the consumer requesting the test shall make a deposit with the city in the amount of the estimated cost for the city to remove, replace and have tested the meter in question. 3. A report showing the results of the meter test will be furnished to the consumer within 15 days after completion of the test. If consumer disagrees with the report's findings, consumer may pay for a second test and report using a different third-party meter testing agency selected by the city. B. Adjustment of Bills for Meter Error or Leaks. 1. Fast Meters. If the test discloses an error against the consumer of more than two percent of the meter's registry, the excess consumption on the three previous readings shall be credited to the consumer's meter account. The city shall bear the entire expense of the test, and the deposit required by this chapter shall be returned to consumer. 2. Slow Meters. When, upon test,a meter is found to be registering more than three percent slow, the city may bill the consumer for the amount of the undercharged water based upon corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in service but not exceeding the previous three readings. The consumer who has requested the test shall pay for the meter test and labor to remove the old meter and reinstall an accurate meter. The city shall provide a cost estimate to the consumer prior to any work being done. 3. Nonregistering Meters. A nonregistering meter is a meter which has lost the ability to measure water flowing through it. The main indicator of this condition is the flow registering device fails to increment was water passes through the meter. The city may bill the consumer for water consumed while the meter was nonregistering but for a period not exceeding six months at the minimum monthly meter rate, or upon an estimate of the consumption based upon the consumer's prior use during the same season of the year if conditions were unchanged, or upon an estimate based upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other consumers during the same period, receiving the same class of service under similar circumstances and conditions. 4. Leaks. The city manager may adopt an administrative policy, "Credit to Utility Bill After Repair of Certain Water Leaks Policy," for utility bill adjustments after a consumer repairs a water leak which was not readily discernable and is beyond the