Every person, company or corporation now engaged or hereafter engaging in the business of furnishing electricity or natural or artificial gas for heating, illuminating or other purposes, to be used and paid for by patrons by meter measure, shall furnish to each and every patron a meter properly tested and in good order and shall arrange such meters so that the patron can, at any time, see the meter dial and ascertain how much electricity or gas he is consuming and how much he is liable to pay for.
Ala. Code § 37-8-6 (1975)