Metered billing; estimates for metered service.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 11-12-320
in effect11-12-320 Metered billing; estimates for metered service.
City water supplied for other than fire purposes through service pipes controlled by water meter shall be charged and paid for on the basis of the amount registered by such meter, except in cases where it shall be found that such meter is registering incorrectly, has stopped registering, or has not been read before the issuance of the next bill.
In such cases, charge and payment shall be made on an estimate prepared by the Comptroller, or the Comptroller’s designee, based on the average of 12 preceding readings of such meter, excluding excessive or deficient readings.
Where such meter has been installed for a lesser period than one year, or where less than 12 competent readings exist, such estimate may be based on a lesser number than 12 readings taken preceding or subsequent to such incorrect or stopped registration. Changed condition of occupancy or use, making for greater or less consumption during such period of incorrect or stopped registration, shall be taken into consideration in the preparation of such estimate.
The next time a meter is read, if it registers the amount of water consumed since the meter was last read, the following bill will reflect the actual water consumption from the most recent billing period, and will account for the difference between the estimated and actual consumption for the period between water meter readings. However, if the meter has not been read in 24 consecutive months, through no fault of the person who owns or controls the property, the following bill shall reflect: (i) the actual consumption for the most recent billing period, (ii) any actual consumption found to have occurred during the period in which the meter was not read, and (iii) a charge for the difference between actual consumption based on the most recent meter reading and the estimated consumption. If this calculation results in an increase in water bill charges and the Comptroller, or the Comptroller’s designee, finds that such increase is through no fault of the owner or person who controls the property, the bill subsequent to the first bill in which the water meter is read after a minimum of 24 consecutive months shall reflect: (i) the actual consumption for the most recent billing period and (ii) an adjustment of the previous bill to reflect an estimated amount for the previous billing period only.
(Prior code § 185-32; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. XII, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 10-27-21, p. 39543, Art. VII, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-20-25, p. 39283, Art. V, § 11)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2656859Fetched: 10/24/2026