GENERAL SERVICE: SEPARATE BILLING.
Dallas City Code § 49-18.3
in effectSEC. 49-18.3. GENERAL SERVICE: SEPARATE BILLING.
(a) Conditions of separate billing. Separate billing will not be initiated until the customer agrees to the terms and conditions in this section, in writing. A general service customer inside the city may receive separate bills for water service and wastewater service if he installs and maintains, at his expense, meters or other liquid measuring devices that are accurate and approved by the director to measure:
(1) total wastewater discharged directly into the wastewater system from the premises; or
(2) water losses from activities involving evaporation, irrigation or water consumed in products, as illustrated by, but not limited to, cooling towers, boilers, lawn watering systems, or food products.
(b) Customer charge. A customer who chooses to be billed under this section must pay an additional customer charge of $60.00 per month for each meter installed pursuant to this section, regardless of the size of the meter.
(c) Annual testing. Annual testing by a certified technician is required to ensure that meters are registering correctly for accurate billing. The customer shall provide the director with certified test results from an independent party demonstrating that the meter or device is functioning accurately.
(d) Where meter or device is inaccurate. When a meter installed pursuant to this subsection is inaccurate, the director may estimate usage or discharge. If a customer fails to repair or replace an inaccurate meter, the director shall bill the customer for the usage charge in Section 49-18.2 (c)(3) or (4), whichever is applicable. A customer is required to repair inaccurate or improperly registered meters or devices within 30 days of receiving a written notification from the utility. Separate billing may be terminated if repairs are not made within 30 days of the written notification. After 30 days, no estimates of usage will be made for a meter or device installed under this section that is inaccurate or improperly registering usage. After repairs, a customer shall provide the director with certified test results from an independent party demonstrating that the meter or device is functioning accurately and properly.
(e) Approved meter or device. Meters and other liquid measuring devices must be purchased from the department-approved product list. Any meter or liquid measuring device that is not on the department’s approved products list must be approved by the department before installation. Installation may not begin until the customer receives approval from the department. Approval is at the discretion of the director. Upon approval, the customer must provide certified test results of the meter and/or device from the manufacturer to the department prior to installation of the water, wastewater, or other liquid meter or measuring device.
(f) Non-standard meter or device conditions. Meters or other liquid measuring devices that are not from the department approved product list are not eligible for separate billing. Meters must conform to standards included in a separate billing agreement for the manufacturer type, size, and dials. Meter dials must be configured in accordance with department standards to ensure readings are recorded in hundreds of gallons.
(g) Location. Meters and other liquid measuring devices must be installed to allow safe access for reading and inspection by the department.
(h) Termination. Abuse of the separate billing option, or any attempts to defraud the department, will result in termination of separate billing at the utility’s discretion. Further, a violation of any provision of this section will be enforced in accordance with all applicable provisions of this code. (Ord. Nos. 19201; 21430; 25385; 26961; 28795; 32003 ; 33420 )
Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-125221Fetched: 10/26/2026