Section 393.160

Title XXV INCORPORATION AND REGULATION OF CERTAIN UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Chapter 393

Effective - 28 Aug 1984   

  393.160.  Inspection of gas, water and electric meters. — 1.  The commission may appoint inspectors of gas and water meters, whose duty it shall be, when required by the commission upon the commission's own initiative or upon request of a corporation or person furnishing, setting, or putting in use any gas or water meter, to inspect, examine, prove and ascertain the accuracy of any gas and water meters used or intended to be used for measuring or ascertaining the quantity of gas for light, heat or power, or the quantity of water, furnished by any person or corporation to or for the use of any person or persons.

  2.  No corporation or person shall furnish, set or put in use any gas or water meter which shall not have been inspected in accordance with rules promulgated by the commission.

  3.  The commission may appoint inspectors of electric meters, whose duty it shall be, when required by the commission upon the commission's own initiative or upon request of a corporation or person furnishing, setting, or putting in use any electric meter, to inspect, examine and ascertain the accuracy of any and all electric meters used or intended to be used for measuring and ascertaining the quantity of electric current used for light, heat or power by any person or corporation to or for the use of any person or corporation, and to inspect, examine and ascertain the accuracy of all apparatus for testing and proving the accuracy of electric meters.  No corporation or person shall furnish, set or put in use any electric meter the type of which shall not have been approved by the commission.

  4.  Every gas corporation, electrical corporation or water corporation shall provide, repair and maintain such suitable premises and apparatus and facilities as may be required and approved by the commission for testing and proving the accuracy of gas, water and electric meters furnished for use by it, and by which apparatus every meter may be tested.

  5.  If any consumer to whom a meter has been furnished shall request the commission in writing to inspect such meter, the commission shall have the same inspected and tested; if the same upon being so tested shall be found to be more than four percent if an electric meter, more than two percent if a gas meter, or more than five percent if a water meter, defective or incorrect to the prejudice of the consumer, the expense of such inspection and test shall be borne by the corporation; if the same on being so tested shall be found to be correct within the limits of error prescribed by the provisions of this subsection, the expense of such inspection and test shall be borne by the consumer.

  6.  The commission may prescribe such rules and regulations to carry into effect the provisions of this section as it may deem necessary, and shall fix uniform reasonable charges for the inspection and testing of meters upon complaint.

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(RSMo 1939 § 5648, A.L. 1949 H.B. 2165, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1477)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 5192; 1919 § 10480