Section 67-A. Charges for past services

1. A gas or electric corporation
  shall inspect and assure the accuracy of  a  metering  device  upon  the
  request of any new commercial customer.
    2.  No  gas  corporation  or electric corporation shall charge its new
  commercial customer for past services received if the failure to  charge
  for such services resulted from the faulty operation or inoperation of a
  metering  device which the gas or electric corporation failed to inspect
  as provided in subdivision one of this section.
    3. The provisions of this section shall not apply in  the  case  of  a
  meter  which  is faulty or inoperable due to the culpable conduct of the
  customer or one of his agents.