GEN-42—Policy for the renewal of electricity and gas meters

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

Category: General
Bulletin: GEN-42
Document(s): Bulletins G-18 and E-26
Issue date:
Effective date:


Table of contents


1.0 Purpose

This bulletin is intended to communicate the policy for obtaining Measurement Canada's (MC) recognition and acceptance of the application of an initial reverification period to a previously-used electricity or gas meter that has subsequently been renewed and reverified.

2.0 Scope

This bulletin applies to previously-used electricity and gas meters that are renewed, as opposed to reserviced, prior to being reverified.

3.0 References

4.0 Background

MC bulletins E-26—Reverification Periods for Electricity Meters and Metering Installations and G-18—Reverification Periods for Gas Meters, Ancillary Devices and Metering Installations include a policy that enables previously-used meters due for reverification to be granted a subsequent reverification period equal in duration to the initial reverification period for the specific meter type. Under this policy, the previously-used meters are required to be renewed, as opposed to being reserviced, prior to their reverification. A number of stakeholders have requested clarification of this policy and the Agency's expectations and requirements pertaining to meter renewal.

5.0 Terminology

Attestation

An official declaration made by the signatory that statements and conclusions made in support of compliance with particular policy requirements are accurate representations of the facts.

Authorized service provider

An organization that has been accredited for the verification and/or reverification of meters under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act (accredited meter verifier).

Renewed meter

A previously-used meter restored to the technical and metrological state of a new meter by a manufacturer or an authorized service provider in accordance with specifications and procedures whose suitability for purposes of meter renewal has been attested to by the meter manufacturing corporation.

Reserviced meter

A previously-used meter subjected to calibration or light repair under the controlled conditions and documented procedures of an accredited organization's quality management system recognized by Measurement Canada.

6.0 Policy for meter renewal

6.1 General

6.1.1 Previously-used meters may be renewed by the meter manufacturer or an authorized service provider (ASP).

6.1.2 A previously-used meter that has been renewed in accordance with the requirements of this bulletin qualifies for a subsequent reverification period that is equal in duration to the initial reverification period for its particular meter type.

6.1.3 A meter that has only been subjected to reservicing actions shall not be recognized by MC as a meter that has been renewed.

6.2 Meter renewal specifications and procedures

6.2.1 Meters shall be renewed in accordance with documented specifications and procedures established by the meter manufacturer or an ASP. Such specifications and procedures shall clearly identify their purpose as being for the renewal of a previously-used meter, as opposed to being for the reservicing, repair or refurbishment of such a meter.

6.2.2 Meter renewal specifications and procedures shall require the replacement of those meter components that are subject to degradation where such degradation has the potential to adversely affect meter performance reliability over a subsequent in-service period equal in duration to the meter type's initial reverification period. All such components shall be replaced with new components regardless of whether or not they exhibit signs of degradation at the time of meter renewal.

6.2.3 Meter renewal specifications and procedures shall ensure a renewed meter continues to conform to the particular type approved by MC.

6.3 Meter manufacturing corporation's attestation

6.3.1 In all cases, the meter manufacturing corporation shall be required to attest that its own meter renewal specifications and procedures or those of an ASP are in compliance with the requirements of this bulletin and are suitable for meter renewal purposes.

6.3.2 Meter manufacturing corporations making such attestations shall do so with an understanding that all in-service meters renewed in accordance with such specifications and procedures that are subsequently found to be unsuitable for meter renewal purposes shall have their status and associated subsequent reverification period adjusted to those of reserviced meters.

6.3.3 The meter manufacturing corporation shall produce a letter of attestation that includes the following statements:

  1. The following specifications and procedures (insert the document title, date and revision number) established by (insert the manufacturing corporation's or ASP's name, as applicable) for the renewal of the following meters (insert the make, model and Notice of Approval number for each meter) being attested to by (insert the manufacturing corporation's name) are upon request subject to review and acceptance by Measurement Canada; and
  2. (Insert the manufacturing corporation's name) attests that these meter renewal specifications and procedures as implemented by (insert the meter manufacturer's or ASP's name, as applicable) are in full compliance with Measurement Canada requirements and will result in the provision of a previously-used meter that has been restored to a technical and metrological state equivalent to that of a new meter as manufactured by (insert the manufacturer's name).

6.3.4 Letters of attestation shall be signed by the meter manufacturing corporation's head of engineering for the applicable meter type(s) in support of the statements and conclusions being made.

6.3.5 The letter of attestation shall be provided to the organization implementing the associated meter renewal specifications and procedures, as applicable.

6.3.6 MC reserves the right to review any meter renewal specifications and procedures attested to by the manufacturing corporation for compliance with the requirements of section 6.2.

6.4 Authorized service provider's responsibilities

6.4.1 An ASP that renews and reverifies meters shall include the applicable meter renewal specifications and procedures and the associated letter of attestation within its quality management system documentation.

6.4.2 An ASP that reverifies meters that have been renewed by the manufacturer shall include within its quality management system records a copy of the letter of attestation associated with the manufacturer's meter renewal specifications and procedures. The letter shall serve as objective evidence that the meters being reverified have been renewed in accordance with suitable specifications and procedures.

6.4.3 The ASP's inspection report or certificate shall include some means of distinguishing between meters that are new and initially verified and those that have been reserviced and reverified, renewed and reverified or reverified by compliance sampling.

6.4.4 An ASP shall be required to demonstrate its compliance with the requirements of this bulletin prior to obtaining authorization from MC to reverify renewed meters of a particular type.

6.5 Contractor's responsibilities

A contractor who, in trade applications, uses previously-used meters that have been renewed and reverified shall:

  1. ensure that the correct reverification period and seal expiration date are assigned and adhered to in accordance with bulletin G-18 or E-26 as applicable, and
  2. give due consideration to their metering accuracy obligations prescribed under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and ensure they are not increasing the risk of meter failure or lot failure when such meters have their performance assessed under marketplace monitoring or compliance sampling.