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Town of Salem, NH
Rockingham County
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[Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 1-6-2014 (Ch. 304, Art. VIII, of the 1995 Code)]
A. 
The Town of Salem water system is not under the jurisdiction of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC). Nevertheless, the Town has reviewed NHPUC's meter testing procedures and has elected to implement some of their provisions in this article.
B. 
A customer may request in writing to the Utilities Manager that the Town test a water meter less than four inches. The Town requires a deposit of 100% of the testing fee to be paid by the customer with the request, in accordance with the fee schedule established per § 477-19. Fee schedule is sent by separate e-mail.
C. 
For meters of size one inch and smaller testing will be performed directly by the Town. For meters larger than one inch but smaller than four inches the Town will not perform the testing directly but instead will arrange to have the meters tested by a testing firm. The Town and any such testing firm shall utilize testing facilities, equipment and procedures consistent with those in NHPUC regulation Puc 605.06.
D. 
If desired by the customer, the Town will allow the customer or an agent to be present when the Town conducts the meter test of one-inch and smaller meters.
E. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.03(c), the meter test flows shall be as follows:
Test Flows in Gallons per Minute (gpm)
Meter Size
(inches)
Minimum
Medium
Maximum
5/8
1/4
2
15
3/4
1/2
3
25
1
3/4
4
40
1.5
1.5
8
50
2
2
15
100
3
4
20
150
F. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.03(e), the percent error of registration shall be taken as the algebraic sum of the errors at the medium and maximum rates of test flow, as set forth in the table above, divided by two.
G. 
The Town will furnish the customer a test record with all data from the test.
H. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.03(d), the meter shall be determined to be inaccurate and will not be returned to service if:
(1) 
The percent error of registration exceeds 103% or is less than 97%; or
(2) 
The registration at the minimum flow exceeds 103% or is less than 90%.
I. 
The deposit paid by the customer with the meter test request shall be refunded to the customer if the meter is determined to be inaccurate.
J. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.05, adjustments to the customer's water bill (and, if applicable, sewer bill) shall be made as follows:
(1) 
When the percentage error of registration exceeds 103% of the correct amount, the Town shall refund an amount equal to the charge for the excess billed for the shorter of the following:
(a) 
The previous 12 months;
(b) 
A period equal to 1/2 the time elapsed since the last test; or
(c) 
The period of occupancy by the customer.
(2) 
When the percentage error of registration is below 97% of the correct amount, the Town shall charge the customer for the unbilled amount for the shorter of:
(a) 
The previous 12 months;
(b) 
A period equal to 1/2 the time elapsed since the last test; or
(c) 
The period of occupancy by the customer.
Meters four inches and greater in size are required to have the meter tested every four years at customer expense.
A. 
Customers whose water meters are four inches or larger in size shall test those meters periodically in accordance with this article.
B. 
Meter testing shall be conducted and the results reported to the Town within four days of whichever of the following applies:
(1) 
The Town's installation of a new meter under the Town-wide meter replacement program which began in 2011;
(2) 
Installation of a meter on a new service at any time from 2011 on; and/or
(3) 
The prior meter test conducted under this article.
C. 
The Town shall endeavor to mail to the customer a reminder of the need for this testing six months before the due date.
D. 
The customer's meter testing firm must utilize testing facilities, equipment and procedures consistent with those in NHPUC regulation Puc 605.06, and the testing report must include a signed certification statement to that effect. The testing report shall contain all data and calculations associated with the test. The customer shall furnish the testing report to the Utilities Manager.
E. 
Should the customer not perform the required meter testing within the schedule indicated above, the Town has the right to engage a meter testing firm to perform the test and shall bill the customer for all costs of the test plus a surcharge in accordance with the fee schedule established per § 477-19.
F. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.03(c), the meter test flows shall be as follows:
Test Flows in Gallons per Minute (gpm)
Meter Size
(inches)
Minimum
Medium
Maximum
4
7
40
200
6
12
60
500
(1) 
For meters of larger size, test flows shall be agreed to by the Town, customer, and the customer's testing firm before the tests are performed.
G. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.03(e), the percent error of registration shall be taken as the algebraic sum of the errors at the medium and maximum rates of test flow, as set forth in the table above, divided by two.
H. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.03(d), the meter shall be determined to be inaccurate and will be replaced at the Town's expense if:
(1) 
The percent error of registration exceeds 103% or is less than 97%; or
(2) 
The registration at the minimum flow exceeds 103% or is less than 90%.
I. 
Consistent with NHPUC regulation Puc 605.05, adjustments to the customer's water bill (and, if applicable, sewer bill) shall be made as follows:
(1) 
When the percentage error of registration exceeds 103% of the correct amount, the Town shall refund an amount equal to the charge for the excess billed for the shorter of the following:
(a) 
The previous 12 months;
(b) 
A period equal to 1/2 the time elapsed since the last test; or
(c) 
The period of occupancy by the customer.
(2) 
When the percentage error of registration is below 97% of the correct amount, the Town shall charge the customer for the unbilled amount for the shorter of:
(a) 
The previous 12 months;
(b) 
A period equal to 1/2 the time elapsed since the last test; or
(c) 
The period of occupancy by the customer.