Columbia Defective or nonregistering meters ordinance (§ 27-98)
Chapter 27: Utilities · Article III. Water and Light System
In short: If an electric meter stops registering, or is defective and its error can't be determined, your bill uses the director's estimate based on last year's same period. Only the discovery period is adjusted unless earlier defects are proven beyond reasonable doubt, up to six months for residential customers.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) When it is determined by the department that a meter is defective from any cause, including improper connection or misapplication, and the percentage of error cannot be determined, or when a meter fails to register the electric energy consumed, the customer's bill shall be adjusted on the basis of an estimate made by the director.
(b) Billing estimates for electricity shall be based on a like period of time during the previous year, with allowance being made for any increase or decrease in electric appliances or other energy consuming devices.
(c)
Adjustments to customer's bills, on the basis of estimates, shall be made only for the billing period during which the defective meter was discovered, except that, if it is possible to establish, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the meter was defective during prior billing periods, adjustments on the basis of estimates shall also be made for such other billing periods not to exceed six (6) months for residential customers.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 27-98
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.