Section 15-319-35 - Meters(a) All water supplied by the corporation will be measured by means of suitable meters registering in gallons. The corporation will, in its sole judgment, determine the type and location of all meters and service connections on its system. The corporation may waive the meter requirement where the corporation determines, in its sole discretion, that it is impractical to meter the service.
(b) The location and size of all meters and service connections to the corporation's water system will be based upon the plans presented to the corporation by the consumer. The corporation also reserves the right to limit the number of houses or buildings and the area of land to be supplied by any given service connection.(c) When it is determined by the corporation that additional water usage within the premises has increased the flow of water through the meter above the safe rated capacity of the meter thereby causing undue wear and tear of the meter, the corporation shall require the consumer to increase the size of the meter or to install an additional meter or meters at the expense of the consumer.(d) Meters will be read and bills rendered monthly or bimonthly at the option of the corporation. Special readings will be made when necessary for closing of accounts or for other reasons.(e) For the purpose of computing charges, all meters serving the consumer's premises shall be considered separately, and the readings thereof shall not be combined except in cases where the corporation, because of operating necessity, installs two or more meters in parallel to serve the consumer's supply pipe.(f) Any consumer who, for any reason, doubts the accuracy of the meter serving the consumer's premises may request a test of the meter. Consumers who so request will be notified as to the time of the test and may witness the test. No charge will be made for meter tests if the meter is inaccurate by more than five per cent. The consumer will be charged the actual costs connected with such a test if the meter is accurate within a range of plus or minus five per cent.(g) If, as a result of a meter test, the meter is found to register more than five per cent fast under conditions of normal operation, the corporation will refund the consumer the overcharge based on past consumption, for a period not exceeding six months unless it can be proved that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be definitely established, in which event the overcharge shall be computed back to, but not beyond, such date. If, as a result of a meter test, the meter is found to register more than five per cent slow under conditions of normal operation, the corporation will bill the consumer the undercharge based on past consumption, for a period not exceeding six months, unless it can be proved that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be established, in which event the additional charge shall be computed back to, but not beyond, such date.(h) If a meter fails to register due to any cause except the nonuse of water, an average bill may be rendered. Such average bill will be subject to equitable adjustment taking into account all factors before, during, and after the period of said bill.[Eff 10/23/2022] (Auth: HRS § 201H-4) (Imp: HRS § 201H-9)