§ 47 — Inspection and examination of apparatus

§ 47. Inspection and examination of apparatus. 1. A duly authorized\nagent of a utility corporation or municipality may enter any dwelling,\nbuilding or other location supplied with gas or electricity by the\nutility corporation or municipality, for the purpose of inspecting and\nexamining the meters, pipes, fittings, wires and other apparatus for\nregulating, supplying and/or ascertaining the quantity supplied, under\nthe following terms and conditions:\n (a) the agent exhibits a photo-identification badge and a written\nauthority signed by the president or vice-president and secretary or\nassistant secretary of the corporation, or by the mayor or clerk of a\nmunicipal corporation or by the chairman and secretary of a municipal\nboard in control of a municipal utility, and\n (b) any such inspection and examination shall be conducted on a\nnon-holiday work day between eight a.m. and six p.m. or such other\nreasonable time requested by the customer, except when an emergency may\nthreaten the health or safety of a person, the surrounding area or the\nutility's or municipality's distribution system, or except when the\ncommission by regulation establishes a different time for the inspection\nand examination where there is evidence of meter tampering or theft of\nservices.\n 2. Except when an emergency may threaten the health or safety of a\nperson, the surrounding area or the utility's or municipality's\ndistribution system or where authorized by court order, an agent of a\nutility or municipality, otherwise duly authorized to inspect and\nexamine apparatus may not enter locked premises without permission of a\nperson lawfully in control of the premises, nor use any manner of force\nto carry out such inspection and examination.\n