Section 61.21. Adjustment of bills for meter error

(a) Fast meters. If, upon test of a meter, the meter is found to have an error of more than 4% fast, the public utility shall refund to the customer the overcharge, based upon the corrected meter reading for a period equal to 1/2 the time elapsed since the last previous test, but not to exceed 3 months. If the period of registration error can be definitely fixed, the overcharge shall be computed for the period. If the meter has not been tested in accordance with § 61.20 (relating to meter tests), the period for which it has been in service beyond the regular test period shall be added to the 3 months in computing the refund.

(b) Slow meters. If, upon test of a meter, the meter is found to have an error of more than 4% slow, the public utility may render a bill for the steam consumed, but not covered by bills previously rendered, for a period equal to 1/2 of the time elapsed since the last previous test, but not to exceed 3 months. If the period of registration error can be definitely fixed, the charge may be computed for the period.

(c) Nonregistering meters. If a meter is found not to have registered for a period, the public utility shall compute the steam used by taking the average of the steam used for the nearest meter-reading period immediately preceding and the meter-reading period immediately following the date when the meter was found to be not registering, the computation to be based upon the degree days in the different months of use, which amount shall be assumed to be the amount of steam used by the customer during the billing period in which the meter was found not to have registered. Exceptions shall be made to this rule only where the facts clearly show that the stated method does not give the correct consumption for the period.