Section 21-309. METER BUY-BACK PROGRAM

 

309.1The General Manager is authorized to purchase by reimbursing or extending credits to the accounts of persons who have purchased water meters and are eligible to request such reimbursement or credit under this Section 309.

 

309.2A property owner or customer of record may make a written request to the Customer Service Department that the Authority reimburse or provide an account credit for water meters which are in service at the time of the request and which were purchased by the property owner or customer of record not more than five years prior to December 31, 2002.

 

309.3A property owner or customer of record may make a written request to the Customer Service Department that the Authority reimburse or provide an account credit for water meters which are in service at the time of the request and which were purchased by the property owner or customer of record at a date more than five years prior to December 31, 2002, but such request may only be granted by the General Manager pursuant to Section 309.8 (g).

 

309.4A person making the request shall forward to the Customer Service Department, all invoices and bills or other documentation which is (are) acceptable to the General Manager and sufficient, in the opinion of the General Manager, to demonstrate proof of the actual amount paid for the water meter for which the credit or reimbursement is sought.

 

309.5In order for a meter to be eligible for reimbursement or credit, and before any payment is made or credit given, the General Manager shall determine:

 

(a)The water meter that is the subject of the request is in good working condition and is compatible with the Authority's automated meter reading technology; and

 

(b)The water meter that is the subject of the request is installed and is functioning as part of the Authority's automated meter reading technology.

 

309.6The General Manager shall not reimburse or credit the requester's account for any costs associated with installation of the meter or for any costs other than a percentage of the actual cost of the meter, as described in Section 309.8.

 

309.7The basis for determining the amount of reimbursement or credit to be given shall be the actual cost of the customer's meter as determined by the General Manager, or the Authority's current contract cost, whichever is less.

 

309.8Except as provided in (g) below, payments or credits authorized by this Section 309 shall be made in accordance with the following schedule:

 

(a)If the water meter has been in service one year or less from December 31, 2002, the reimbursement or credit amount shall be 100 percent of the cost of the meter, as determined in Section 309.7.

 

(b)If the meter has been in service between one and two years, the reimbursement or credit amount shall be 80 percent of the cost as determined in Section 309.7.

 

(c)If the meter has been in service between two and three years, the reimbursement or credit shall be 60 percent of the cost as determined in Section 309.7.

 

(d)If the meter has been in service between three and four years, the reimbursement or credit shall be 40 percent of the cost as determined in Section 309.7.

 

(e)If the meter has been in service between four and five years, the reimbursement shall be 20 percent of the cost as determined in Section 309.7.

 

(f)Except as provided in Sub-section (g), if the meter has been in service more than five years, there shall be no reimbursement for the meter.

 

(g)The General Manager may negotiate amounts calculated on a basis other than that described in Sections 309.8 (a-f) if the condition of the meter warrants such negotiation and if there are other compelling factors which are not set forth in Section 309.8. The General Manager shall grant such exceptions only in extraordinary circumstances and shall, in each case, make a written determination that explains the basis of the compensation or credit and the rationale which supports the reimbursement or credit before payment is made or credit is given.

 

source

12 DCRR §§402 2(p), 402.2(r) and 402.2(u) (October 1981); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 49 DCR 8725 (September 20, 2002); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 782(January 24, 2003).