Ord 2014-039/Electric Utility Line Extension

Home Browse Search

CITY OF SAN MARCOS ELECTRIC RULES AND REGULATIONS BILLING ADJUSTMENTS (A) Subject to Subsection (B) the City shall adjust a customer's account and issue a corrected bill if it determines that it has overbilled or underbilled the customer for utility service because of: (1) a meter's failure to meet the accuracy standards of the American National Standards Institute or the American Water Works Association, as applicable; (2) the application of an incorrect rate to the customer's account; (3) an erroneous meter reading or the reading of a meter other than that through which the customer actually received service; or (4) the failure of the City to include the utility service in the customer's account. (B) No billing adjustment shall be made, and no backbill or refund shall be issued, with respect to utility service provided: (1) more than four years before the date the error or inaccuracy is discovered if the error or inaccuracy caused the customer to be overbilled or underbilled; (2) to any customer other the customer currently receiving service at the service address to which the adjustment pertains; or (3) under an account that has become an inactive account and for which a final bill was issued more than 90 days before the error or inaccuracy was discovered. (C) The time limitations in subsection (B) shall not apply if the City determines that it has failed to accurately meter or otherwise properly bill for utility service because of utility service diversion. The customer shall be liable for all diverted utility service regardless of when the diversion occurred and regardless of whether the customer is shown to have committed, aided, allowed, or been aware of the diversion. The City is not required to extend any deferred payment arrangements in cases of utility service diversion. (D) For an adjustment due to an inaccurate meter, the City may estimate the customer's utility consumption using prior consumption history, comparisons to similarly situated customers under similar weather conditions, readings from a replacement meter, or such other methods and information that it reasonably deems appropriate. In the case of the application of an incorrect rate, the City shall base the adjustment on the correct rate. (E) If a customer is liable for a balance under an inactive account, the City may transfer that balance to any of the customer's active accounts. The time limitations in subsection (B) shall not apply to a transfer made under this subsection. 10