City of Riverside
Public Utilities Department
6-1
Meter Investigations and Adjustments of Bills
Adopted by Board of Public Utilities: Approved by
City Council:
Effective Date:
Board Resolution No. Council
Resolution No.
ELECTRIC RULE 6
METER INVESTIGATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF BILLS
A. GENERAL
1. Whenever the correctness of any bill for electric service is questioned, the Utility shall investigate it. The Customer has ten calendar days after receiving the bill to question its correctness as described in Rule No. 21. After that period the bill is considered payable as rendered.
2. In cases where there are inaccuracies of recording of kilowatt hours, or bills reflecting clerical or meter errors, or in disputed cases where electric consumption, dates, or other provisions are subject to exact determination, proper adjustments in the billing shall be authorized by the Director or his/her authorized agent.
3. In cases where electric consumption, dates, or other factors required for application of rate schedules or other provisions are not subject to exact determination or are in question, or in disputed cases relative to service or rate application, the Utility shall establish such factors by tests, analysis, and investigations to determine the proper basis for making an adjustment, if any. The Customer may appeal all adjustments as described in Rule No. 21.
4. In all cases above, the following limitations shall apply:
a. Overcharges shall not be recomputed and credited to any account for a period in excess of twelve monthly billing periods prior to the discovery of an error, or the date the bill was questioned, whichever occurs earlier.
b. Undercharges shall not be recomputed and billed to residential accounts for a length of time exceeding four monthly billing periods prior to the discovery of an error.
c. Undercharges shall not be recomputed and billed to non - residential accounts for a period in excess of six monthly billing periods prior to the discovery of an error.
d. Any change in rate schedules pursuant to Section E shall be made prospectively in accordance with Section E.2.
City of Riverside
Public Utilities Department
6-2
Meter Investigations and Adjustments of Bills
Adopted by Board of Public Utilities: Approved by
City Council:
Effective Date:
Board Resolution No. Council
Resolution No.
B. METER INVESTIGATIONS
1. Meter Verification Read
Whenever the accuracy of an electric meter reading is questioned, the Customer may request that the meter be re- read. Upon such request, the Utility shall re -read the meter. The Customer may witness the read, or have a representative present. No charge will be made for this reading except under the following conditions: If a Customer requests an additional special read within 1 year of receiving a free meter re-read, a service charge may be assessed.
If the original meter reading is found to be in error, the service charge will be removed.
If the re-read is the result of an access problem, refer to Rule No. 13, UTILITY’S RIGHT OF ACCESS.
2. Meter Test
Whenever the accuracy of an electric meter is questioned, the Customer may request that the meter be examined and tested by the Utility. Upon such request, the Utility shall examine and test the meter. The Customer may witness the tests, or have a representative present. No charge will be made for this test except under the following conditions: If a Customer requests an additional test (or tests) within 1 year of receiving a free meter test, a deposit will be required prior to receiving a test.
If the meter is found to register over 2% more than actually passes through it under conditions of normal operation, another meter shall be substituted and the deposit refunded to the Customer. If no error factor is found, or if an error factor is found, but is less than 2% the deposit shall be retained.
3. Misdirected Service or Wiring Alterations
If the Utility finds the electrical wiring has been altered by the Owner/Customer, Owner’s agent, or tenant at the Premises to re- direct electricity service which causes electrical consumption to be registered on meters(s) other than the meter provided by the Utility for the Premises, the Utility is not responsible for correction of electrical wiring or adjustment to metered consumption.
City of Riverside
Public Utilities Department
6-3
Meter Investigations and Adjustments of Bills
Adopted by Board of Public Utilities: Approved by
City Council:
Effective Date:
Board Resolution No. Council
Resolution No.
C. ADJUSTMENT OF BILLS FOR METER ERROR
1. Mis-read or Estimated Read
When an electric meter is found to have been mis-read or estimated incorrectly, the Utility shall correct the reading and adjust the Customer’s account. A corrected bill for the last billing period involved in the correction may be sent.
2. Fast Meters:
When an electric meter is found to be more than 2% fast, the Utility shall credit to the Customer the overcharge based on the corrected meter readings for the period in which the meter was in use, in accordance with section A-4.
3. Slow Meters:
When a meter is found to register more than 2% slow, the Utility may render a bill in accordance with section A-4 for electricity consumed but not charged for in bills previously rendered.
4. Non-Registering Meters:
If a previously properly registering meter fails to register during any period, the Customer shall be charged with an average consumption as shown by the meter when in use and registering correctly during a corresponding season. If no corresponding seasonal history is available, the Utility shall estimate consumption based on actual usage after the meter has been replaced, using seasonal variations.
Additional adjustment may be made after Customer provides acceptable verbal or written proof to the satisfaction of the Utility.
Undercharges shall be computed in accordance with section A-4.
5. Mismarked Meters:
If the Utility finds within 12 months from new meter installation date, the new installation of the electric meter canister was mismarked by the Owner or owner’s contractor, and the consumption on the bill is incorrect due to the wrong meter being billed to the occupant, the Utility may adjust the bill based on actual consumption as registered on the correct meter as prescribed in section A -4. Any excess that cannot be billed to the occupant shall be billed to the Owner.
City of Riverside
Public Utilities Department
6-4
Meter Investigations and Adjustments of Bills
Adopted by Board of Public Utilities: Approved by
City Council:
Effective Date:
Board Resolution No. Council
Resolution No.
D. DIVERSION
The collection limitation provisions of this Rule shall not apply to situations where it is determined that Diversion is involved.
E. APPLICABLE RATE SCHEDULE
1. Applicable Rate Schedule
For Customers applying for service at an existing service address, the Utility will assign the electric rate schedule based on the characteristics of the service address. The Utility will presume that any electric rate previously assigned to that service address is the appropriate schedule, unless Customer requests a review for another applicable rate schedule, rate, or optional provision. In certain situations when a Customer does not qualify for an electric rate previously assigned to that service address, the Utility will assign the applicable rate to the Customer. The Utility assumes no responsibility for advising the Customer of lower optional rates under existing schedules available as a result of the Customer’s changes to the characteristics of the service address.
2. Change of Rate Schedule
A change to the applicable rate schedule may be made if the Utility determines that the Customer no longer qualifies for the assigned rate schedule. Subject to meter availability, the change will become effective for service rendered after the next regular meter reading following verification and approval by the Utility of such eligibility.