Alabama Administrative Code › Title 770 - ALABAMA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Chapter 770-X-1 - GENERAL RULES › Section 770-X-1-.10 - Meter Reading And Bill Forms - Electric, Gas, Steam, And Water Utilities

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) For
					billing of telephone service, see 770-X-5-.05, Telephone Rules of the Alabama
					Public Service Commission.
(a) Each utility
					supplying metered service shall adopt some means of informing its customers as
					to the method of reading meters, either by printing on its bill a description
					of the method of reading meters, or by explaining the method to the customer
					upon request.
(b) Each meter shall
					indicate clearly the cubic feet, kilowatt hours, gallons or other units of
					service for which a charge is made to the customer. In cases where the dial
					reading of a meter must be multiplied by a constant to obtain the units
					consumed, the proper constant to be applied shall be clearly marked on the face
					of dial of the meter. (If for justifiable reasons, a utility renders customers'
					bills in units other than those recorded by the customers' meters, the
					conversion formula shall be shown on the customers' bills, e.g., one cubic foot
					= 1000 BTU; 100 cubic feet=one therm; etc.).
(c) Upon termination of service, the Utility
					shall, at the customer's request, record the actual meter reading as of the
					date of termination. An actual meter reading shall also be recorded as of the
					date of the initiation of service upon the customer's request.
(d) From time to time, it will be necessary
					to estimate meter readings to avoid a long billing period. As nearly as
					practicable, utilities shall avoid rendering a customer two consecutive
					estimated bills. In cases where more than two successive estimated bills have
					been rendered, utilities shall notify the customers, stating the number of
					billing periods in which as an estimated bill was rendered and the reasons for
					the estimations. Bills rendered on the basis of estimated meter readings may be
					for reasons such as inclement weather, vicious animals, impassable roads,
					locked premises, or other causes beyond the reasonable control of the Utility.
					When a bill is estimated, this fact will be so indicated by a code or other
					designation on such bill.
(e) All
					bills rendered periodically to customers, other than for service furnished
					under flat rate schedules, shall show the meter readings and dates at the
					beginning and end of the period for which bill is rendered, the quantity
					consumed, the amount of the bill and date of delinquency, together with all
					other essential facts upon which the bill is based, including designation of
					the rate schedule or notice of availability of rate schedule upon request.
					Meter readings on customer bills where usage data is provided by electronic
					meters that record usage during specified time intervals shall not be required,
					however.
(f) A Disconnect Notice
					shall take priority over all other messages required under this rule and such
					other messages are not required for bills which contain a Disconnect
					Notice.