Section 1220-04-05-.17 - ADJUSTMENT OF BILLS(1) Bills which are incorrect due to meter or billing errors are to be adjusted as follows: (a) Fast Meter. Whenever a meter in service is tested upon request of customer and found to have over-registered more than two percent (2%), the utility shall recalculate the bills for service, for the period as determined below:1. The bills for service shall be recalculated from the time at which the error first developed or occurred if that time can be definitely determined.2. If the time at which the error first developed or occurred cannot be definitely determined, it shall be assumed that the over-registration existed for a period equal to one-half of the time since the meter was last tested but not to exceed six (6) months and the bills for service shall be recalculated for that period.3. If the recalculated bills indicate that more than one dollar ($l) is due an existing customer or two dollars ($2) is due a person no longer a customer of the utility, the full amount of the calculated difference between the amount paid and the recalculated amount shall be refunded to the customer. The refund to an existing customer may be in cash or as credit on a bill. If a refund is due a person no longer a customer of the utility, a notice shall be mailed to the last known address, and the utility shall upon request made within three (3) months thereafter refund the amount due.(b) Non-registering Meters. Whenever a meter in service is found not to register, the utility may render an estimated bill.(c) Slow Meters. Whenever a meter is found to be more than two percent (2%) slow, the utility may bill the customer for the amount the test indicates he/she has been under-charged for the period of inaccuracy, which period shall not exceed the last six (6) months the meter was in service unless otherwise ordered by the Authority. No back billing will be sanctioned if the customer has called to the company's attention his/her doubts as to the meter's accuracy and the company has failed within a reasonable time to check it.(d) Billing adjustments due to fast or slow meters shall be calculated on the basis that the meter should be one hundred percent (100%) accurate. For the purpose of billing adjustments the meter error shall be one-half of the algebraic sum of the error at full-rated flow plus the error at check flow.(e) When a customer has been overcharged as a result of incorrect reading of the meter, incorrect application of the rate schedule, incorrect connection of the meter, or other similar reasons, the amount of the overcharge shall be adjusted, refunded, or credited to the customer.(f) When a customer has been undercharged as a result of incorrect reading of the meter, incorrect application of the rate schedule, incorrect connection of the meter or other similar reasons, the amount of the undercharge may be billed to the customer.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1220-04-05-.17
Original rule certified May 9, 1974. Editorial changes made by the Secretary of State pursuant to Public Chapter 305 of 1995; "Commission" and references to the "Commission" were changed to "Authority" and references to the "Authority"; effective March 28, 2003.Authority: T.C.A. § 65-2-102.