170 IAC 4-5-13 Adjustment of bills

Sec. 13. Adjustment of Bills. (a) Adjustment due to meter errors. If any service meter, after being tested, as provided for in these rules [170 IAC 4-5], is found to exceed the accuracy standards as established by ANSI C12.1-1982, the bills for service shall be adjusted as follows: (1) Fast meters–When a meter is found to have a positive average error, the owner shall refund or credit the tenant's account with the amount of any charges in excess of either (i) an average bill for the kilowatthours or (ii) separate bills individually adjusted for the percent of error for the period the meter was fast, if such period can be determined, or one year, whichever period is shorter. An average bill shall be calculated on the basis of kilowatthours registered on the meter over corresponding periods either prior or subsequent to the period for which the meter is determined to be fast. (2) Stopped or slow meters–When a meter is stopped or has a negative average error, the owner may charge the customer for the kilowatthours incorrectly registered for one-half of the period since the previous test or one year, whichever is shorter. The amount of the charge to the customer shall be estimated on the basis of either (i) an average bill as herein below described or (ii) separate bills individually adjusted for the percent of error. An average bill shall be calculated on the basis of kilowatt-hours registered on the meter of corresponding periods either prior or subsequent to the period for which the meter is determined to be slow or stopped. The owner may charge the tenant for such amounts except where the owner negligently allows the stopped or slow meter to remain in service. (3) Other billing adjustments. All other billing errors may be adjusted to the known date of error or for a period of one year, whichever period is shorter. (b) Cash refunds by utility company. Any cash refunds received by the owner from the utility company for excess KWH billing shall be credited to the accounts of the current tenants. However, if the cash refund amounts to more than five dollars per tenant it shall be refunded directly to the tenants or former tenants which occupied the dwelling units during the period of time that the refund is provided for. Former tenants which cannot be located shall have their refunds credited to the accounts of the current tenants.