Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 165 - Corporation Commission › Chapter 45 - Gas Service Utilities › Subchapter 5 - Meters and Regulators › Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 165:45-5-2 - Adjustment of bills for meter error

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Fast meters.
Whenever any
				  meter tested by PUD or the utility is found to have an average error of more
				  than two percent (2%) fast (or in favor of the utility), the utility shall
				  refund to the consumer the overcharge based upon the corrected meter reading
				  for a period equal to one-half (½) of the time elapsed since the last
				  test, but not to exceed six (6) months unless it can be established that the
				  error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed with reasonable
				  certainty, or the error was due to meter tampering or theft, in which case the
				  charge shall be computed from that date.
(b)
Slow meters.
Whenever any
				  meter tested by PUD or the utility is found to have an average error of more
				  than two percent (2%) slow (or in favor of the consumer), the utility may
				  charge for the gas consumed, but not included in bills previously rendered
				  based upon the corrected meter reading for a period equal to one-half
				  (½) the time elapsed since the last previous test, but not to exceed six
				  (6) months unless it can be established that the error was due to meter
				  tampering or theft.The utility shall allow the consumer to pay the corrected
				  amount, in installment payments, over the same period of time in which the
				  incorrect billing took place, unless otherwise agreed to by the utility and
				  consumer.
(c)
Nonregistering
				  meters.
If a meter is found not to register or to register
				  intermittently for any period, the utility may charge for an estimated amount
				  of gas used which shall be calculated by averaging the amounts registered over
				  corresponding periods in previous years or, in the absence of such information,
				  over similar periods preceding or subsequent thereto. The estimated billing
				  shall not exceed six (6) months, unless it can be established that the error
				  was due to meter tampering or theft. The utility shall allow the consumer to
				  pay the estimated billing amount, in installment payments, over six (6) months,
				  unless otherwise agreed to by the utility and consumer.
(d)
Incorrect register, regulator, or
				  multiplier on meter.
If a meter is found to have an incorrect register,
				  regulator, or multiplier, the error shall be corrected. Where the error is
				  adverse to the consumer, the utility shall refund the excess charged for the
				  amount of gas incorrectly metered over the period of time the meter was used in
				  billing the consumer. Where the error is adverse to the company, the utility
				  may charge the consumer the undercharge for the amount of gas incorrectly
				  metered for the period of time, not to exceed six (6) months, the meter was
				  used in billing the consumer, unless it can be established that the error was
				  due to meter tampering or theft. The utility shall allow the consumer to pay
				  any unbilled amount over the same period of time in which the under-billing
				  took place, but not to exceed six (6) months, unless otherwise agreed to by the
				  utility and consumer.
(e)
				  Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in (a)-(d) above, any corrections for
				  billing as set forth in said subsections shall not exceed a period of three (3)
				  years from the date of discovery.
(f)
Scope.
This Section shall
				  not apply to routine testing and replacement of meters pursuant to OAC
				  165:45-5-13.
Amended at 13 Ok Reg
					 3259, eff 7-25-96