Section 69-09-02-12 - Adjustment of bill for meter errors1. Whenever a watt-hour meter is found upon a test made at the request of the customer to have an average error of more than two percent, or a demand meter is found to have an error of more than the allowable limits specified in these rules, an adjustment of bills for service shall be made. The amount of the adjustment shall be calculated on the basis that the metering equipment should be one hundred percent accurate. The utility shall refund to the customer any excess charges for incorrectly metered electric service for a period equal to one-half the time elapsed since the last previous meter test, but not to exceed six months. The utility may charge the customer for any deficiency in billing for incorrectly metered electric service for a period equal to one-half the time elapsed since the last previous meter test, but not to exceed six months. Adjustments shall be based on actual monthly consumptions. Errors in meter registrations due to "creep" shall be calculated by timing the rate of "creeping" and assuming that the "creeping" affected the meter registration for one-half the time elapsed since the last previous meter test, but not to exceed six months.
2. When the average meter error cannot be determined by test because of failure of part or all of the metering equipment, it shall be permissible to use the registration of check metering installations, if any, or to estimate the quantity of energy used on all available data. The customer shall be advised of the metering equipment failure, and of the basis for the estimated bill. Any adjustment because of failure of metering equipment shall be from the date of the metering equipment failure, if known; or if not known, for a period equal to one-half the time elapsed since the last previous meter test, but not to exceed six months.N.D. Admin Code 69-09-02-12
General Authority:NDCC 49-02-11Law
Implemented:NDCC 49-02-11