E-25—Temporary permission for putting a meter into service without verification and sealing

The copy of this document located on Measurement Canada's website is considered to be the controlled copy.

Category: Electricity
Bulletin: E-25 (rev. 2)
Effective Date: 2008-09-15
Supersedes: E-25 (rev. 1)


Table of contents


1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this Bulletin is to implement a program that will allow certain electricity meters to be put in service without verification and sealing. It also allows modification of certain electricity meter functions without requiring mandatory re-verification and re-sealing of the meter. This program is the result of conclusions and recommendations determined through a pilot project which was performed to test a similar process and achieve the same objectives.

2.0 Scope

This temporary permission is applicable to electricity meters used in obtaining the basis for a charge in a transaction between the electricity distributors and major power consumers as specified in this Bulletin. This permission is limited to meters installed in metering sites which measure an aggregate minimum demand usage of 3 000 KW, or 3 300 KVA for each major power consumer.

3.0 Authority

This temporary permission is granted under the authority of subsection 9(2) of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

4.0 Terminology

Function
Defined in Bulletin GEN-25, Policy on the Approval, Initial Verification, and Re-verification for Electricity and Gas Meters: Legal Units of Measurement and Functions used for Billing.
Major Power Consumer
An electricity purchaser whose power consumption, purchased from a single registered contractor, is equal to or greater than 3 000 KW or 3 300KVA for all billing periods encompassing the duration of the dispensation. For the purposes of determining the aggregate demand, a major power consumer consists of a single legally identifiable entity.
Metering Site
A specific location where the custody of electricity is transferred to the purchaser, and the quantity of transferred electricity is measured.
Metrological Function
Defined in PS-E-09, Provisional Specifications for the Verification and Re-verification of Electricity Meters.
Registered Contractor
An organization registered pursuant to Section 6 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

5.0 Background

Measurement Canada has undertaken and completed the Electricity Trade Sector Review. The conclusion of that review resulted in several recommendations that were accepted by Measurement Canada. One of the recommendations proposed that metering used in transactions with major power consumers be exempt from certain verification and sealing requirements.

6.0 Minimum demand usage determination

6.1 Where more than one metering site is identified in the contract, the aggregate demand shall be determined by summation of demand from each site during coinciding integration periods.

7.0 Conditions for permission

7.1 Compliance with all requirements of this bulletin must be ascertained by Measurement Canada prior to granting of temporary dispensation.

7.2 A contract document must be authorized by each party to a transaction involving the sale of electricity.

7.2.1 The contract must identify each metering site which includes meter(s) that will be subject to this dispensation.

7.2.2 The contract must include the responsibilities of each party with regards to the access and modification of the meter(s) specified in the contract.

7.2.3 The contract must include the following statements or statements which convey the same intent:

  1. In the case of a disagreement between parties named in the contract where the accuracy of a meter is suspected, the parties will try to resolve their disagreement before requesting a dispute investigation by Measurement Canada.
  2. All parties named in the contract understand that the dispensation from certain Measurement Canada requirements may limit Measurement Canada's ability to successfully conclude a dispute investigation.
  3. This contract may be terminated at any time upon the request of any of the signatory parties.

7.3 Each party must agree to a documented formal process which includes the following:

  1. A method for initial assessment of the meter (accuracy testing). The terms, parameters, conditions and extent of testing are to be established and agreed to by the parties involved. Measurement Canada established test criteria may be used, but are not required.
  2. Identification of which functions may be modified after initial assessment.
  3. The methods, parameters and conditions for performing modifications.
  4. A method for assessment of the meter (accuracy testing), subsequent to modification. The terms, parameters, conditions and extent of testing are to be established and agreed to by the parties involved. Measurement Canada established test criteria may be used, but are not required.
  5. Conditions and parameters for meter integrity and security (sealing).

8.0 Temporary dispensation of verification and sealing requirements

8.1 Meters which comply with all the requirements of this temporary dispensation may be placed into service without verification and sealing.

8.2 Meters which comply with all the requirements of this temporary dispensation and which have had modifications performed to certain functions may remain in service without re-verification and sealing.

8.2.1 Modification may be performed which change the meter firmware version. The firmware version must be approved pursuant to all Measurement Canada approval requirements.

8.2.2 Modification may include adjusting, activating or deactivating various metrological functions from the meter display or outputs. The meter must be approved, pursuant to all Measurement Canada approval requirements, for use with each activated metrological function.

8.3 The registered contractor or meter owner must maintain a record of each modification performed on a meter. The record must contain the identity of the meter, the details and parameters of the modification, as well as the date and time the modification took place.

8.4 This temporary permission shall cease to apply to any meter which is the subject of a contract specified in section 7.2, immediately upon the termination of that contract. The meter owner which is the subject of such a contract, shall inform the local Measurement Canada office that the contract has been terminated.

9.0 Process to request permission

9.1 Any party to a transaction that meets the scope of this program and wishes to request a temporary dispensation from verification and sealing for a meter(s) involved in the transaction shall submit such request in writing to the local district office of Measurement Canada. Any documentation which substantiates that all parties to the transaction comply with the requirements established in this bulletin must be included in the submission or otherwise provided to Measurement Canada.

9.2 The local district office will perform a preliminary evaluation of the submission to determine compliance with the requirements of this bulletin. Where requirements of this bulletin appear to be satisfied, the submission will be forwarded to Program Development Directorate for final review.

10.0 Granting of permission

Where Measurement Canada has ascertained that parties requesting a temporary dispensation have complied with all requirements of this bulletin, a temporary permission will be granted in writing by the President of Measurement Canada. The letter will reference the authority of the President to grant such a temporary permission pursuant to subsection 9(2) of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, will identify the parties involved, and will state that the conditions for granting and maintaining the temporary dispensation are continual compliance with all requirements of this bulletin.

11.0 Compliance

Upon granting of a temporary permission, the involved parties must continually comply with the requirements of this bulletin and the conditions of the contract. Where any party to a transaction is not satisfied that another party to the same transaction is in compliance, the onus is on that party to inform the local Measurement Canada district office of their concerns. Measurement Canada will review the situation to ascertain whether compliance is being maintained. Any party may terminate the contract subject to the terms referred to in section 8.4.

12.0 Program review

This process may be reviewed on occasion by Measurement Canada to evaluate if regulatory amendments are supported and warranted. Any such review will evaluate the process for its efficiency and adequacy. Local Measurement Canada staff may perform review of existing Temporary Permissions.

13.0 Revocation of permission

Where Measurement Canada ascertains that a party fails to continuously comply with the requirements of this bulletin, the temporary permission granted to those involved parties will be revoked pursuant to the requirements of section 11 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

14.0 Revision

The purpose of this revision is to remove requirements identified under the Government of Canada Paper Burden Reduction Initiative.

The purpose of revision 1 was to make the necessary revisions to move from a pilot project to a program that was applicable to all organizations.