Chapter PSC 134

PSC 134.28 PSC 134.28 Meter testing.

PSC 134.28(1) (1) Each meter test of a diaphragm type meter with a capacity of 2,400 cubic feet per hour or less shall consist of one proving at a rate of flow of 15 to 30% of the rated capacity of that meter and one proving at a rate of flow at 90 to 120% of the rated capacity of the meter. The capacity of the meter for test purposes shall be the capacity at one-half inch water column differential pressure.

PSC 134.28(2) (2) Each meter test of a diaphragm type meter having a capacity greater than 2,400 cubic feet per hour shall consist of one proving at a rate of flow of 15 to 30% of the rated capacity of that meter and one proving at a rate of flow of 90 to 120% of the rated capacity of the meter but not less than 2,500 cubic feet per hour. The capacity of the meter for test purposes shall be the capacity at one-half inch water column differential pressure.

PSC 134.28(3) (3) Rotary meters shall be tested at 2 loads with the minimum load at 10% of rating by the use of a portable or volumetric meter or other approved proving devices, or be given a differential test. In the latter case an original test record shall be set up immediately after installation; future differential test results shall be recorded and compared with the original test record.

PSC 134.28(4) (4) A test of an orifice meter shall consist of tests of the recording gauges, and the removal, inspection and measurement of the orifice.

PSC 134.28(5) (5) Temperature-compensated gas displacement meters when tested shall be proved to a base temperature of 60° Fahrenheit.

PSC 134.28(6) (6) Turbine-type meters shall be tested at 2 loads with the minimum load at 10% of rating by the use of a portable or volumetric meter or other approved proving devices, or be given a turbine blade, rotor and gear assembly spin test, either by manual or velocity rotation. Before a particular type turbine meter can be used, the manufacturer must file with and be accepted by the commission a minimum coasting time which will satisfactorily indicate the operating condition of the internal metering mechanism. For the spin test method a test record shall be set up; and the original and subsequent spin test results shall be recorded and compared with the specified minimum coasting time as filed with the commission for that type meter.

PSC 134.28 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; am. (3), Register, November, 1962, No. 83, eff. 12-1-62; cr. (5), Register, January, 1965, No. 109, eff. 2-1-65; cr. (6), Register, April, 1969, No 160, eff. 5-1-69; am. (1) and (2), Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89.

PSC 134.29 PSC 134.29 Installation test. No meter shall be used to meter gas consumption for billing purposes unless it was tested and found correct, as defined in s. PSC 134.27 not longer than 15 months previous to its use. The first test on a meter or a retest after a major overhaul shall include a check of the registering device and linkages.

PSC 134.29 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; am. Register, April, 1969, No. 160, eff. 5-1-69.

PSC 134.291 PSC 134.291 Statistical sample testing plan for new meters. The following new meter sample testing plan may be used for testing new meters instead of the new meter test requirements of s. PSC 134.26 (1), if the commission authorizes the adoption of the plan by a utility.

PSC 134.291(1) (1) Meters, as received from the manufacturer, shall be divided into homogeneous lots by manufacturers and types. The maximum number of meters in any lot may not exceed 1,000 or be less than 96. From each such lot assembled, there shall be drawn a coded sample size specified in Military Standard 414 (MIL-STD-414) dated 11 June 1957, as shown for the various group sizes using Inspection Level IV of Table A-2 on page 4 and a corresponding actual sample size as shown on Table B-3 on page 45. The sample shall be drawn by a random method that ensures that each meter in the lot has an equal chance of being selected.

PSC 134.291(2) (2) The test criterion for acceptance or rejection of each lot shall be based on a separate analysis conducted at both the open and check flow rate, as specified in s. PSC 134.28 (1) by means of the Standard Deviation Method, Double Specification Limit and with an Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) of .25 for the open accuracy analysis and an AQL of .40 for the check accuracy analysis as shown in Table B-3, MIL-STD-414, page 45. The statistical analysis calculations shall be made following the example on page 43 of MIL-STD-414 with the upper and lower specification limits U and L designated at 101% and 99% respectively.

PSC 134.291(3) (3) One nonregistering meter may be removed from the sample lot for analysis purposes and replaced with another randomly selected meter. If more than one meter in a sample is found not to be registering, the entire lot shall be rejected.

PSC 134.291(4) (4) A lot shall be deemed acceptable for installation if the total estimated percent defective (P) is less than the appropriate maximum allowable percent defective (M) as determined from Table B-3 under the procedures of sub. (2). All meters in an acceptable lot shall be deemed to have met the accuracy requirements of s. PSC 134.26 (1) for placement in service without further testing.

PSC 134.291(5) (5) A lot shall be considered rejected and not acceptable for installation if the total estimated percent defective (P) exceeds the appropriate maximum allowable percent defective (M) as determined from Table B-3 under the procedures of sub. (2). All meters in a rejected lot shall be tested and adjusted in accordance with the procedures of s. PSC 134.27 or replaced with meters meeting these requirements.

PSC 134.291 Note Note: Military Standard 414 is on file at offices of the Public Service Commission, Secretary of State and Legislative Reference Bureau offices.

PSC 134.291 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89.

PSC 134.30 PSC 134.30 Periodic testing and maintenance. Each utility shall test its meters according to the following schedule except as provided in s. PSC 134.26 (1). Where pressure regulators, volume corrective devices, or other measuring devices are used on the service or used in conjunction with the meters, they shall be tested on the same schedule as the meters.

PSC 134.30(1) (1) All diaphragm meters that are measuring dry gas and have non-absorptive type diaphragms or were rediaphragmed since the introduction of dry gas shall be due for removal from service, tested, adjusted, repaired if necessary, and retested if reused, every 180 months if the meter capacity is 2,400 cubic feet per hour or less at 1⁄2-inch water column and every 48 months if the capacity is greater than 2,400 cubic feet. Meters shall be tested during the calendar year in which said 180th or 48th month falls.

PSC 134.30(2) (2) All diaphragm meters that are measuring dry gas that do not have non-absorptive-type diaphragms and have not been rediaphragmed since the introduction of dry gas shall be removed from service, tested, adjusted, re-diaphragmed and retested within 48 months of the introduction of dry gas if the meter capacity is 2,400 cubic feet per hour at 1⁄2-inch water column and within 24 months if the capacity is greater than 2,400 cubic feet.

PSC 134.30(3) (3) All diaphragm meters that measure other than dry gas shall be removed from service, tested, adjusted, repaired, if necessary, and retested if reused every 96 months if the meter capacity is 2,400 cubic feet per hour or less at 1⁄2-inch water column and every 48 months if the capacity is greater than 2,400 cubic feet.

PSC 134.30(4) (4) Rotary meters having a capacity of 15,000 cubic feet per hour or less at 4 oz. water column pressure shall be given a differential test at least once every 96 months and once every 48 months if the capacity is greater than 15,000 cubic feet. When the differential differs from the original test record by more than 50%, the meter shall be cleaned and/or repaired.

PSC 134.30(5) (5) Orifice meters shall have their differential and static recording gauges tested at least once each month, the diameter and condition of the orifice checked at least once a year. The specific gravity of the gas shall be checked as required in s. PSC 134.21 (4), and any temperature recording devices tested annually.

PSC 134.30(6) (6) Turbine meters shall be given an inspection and spin test at least once every 12 months. When the coasting time is equal to or less than the specified minimum coasting time as on file with the commission, the meter shall be cleaned and/or repaired.

PSC 134.30(7) (7) Turbine meters which are capable of automatically adjusting shall be inspected and tested at least once every 12 months. They shall be tested in accordance with s. PSC 134.28 (6) or with the use of the meter manufacturer’s electronic field prover.

PSC 134.30(8) (8) Whenever an automatically adjusting turbine meter automatically adjusts the volume for plus or minus 5% or more while in operation at a steady flow rate of 10% or more of the meter’s rated capacity, the meter shall be cleaned and/or repaired.

PSC 134.30(9) (9) Whenever an automatically adjusting turbine meter is being tested at a steady flow rate of 10% or more of the meter’s rated capacity and indicates an error of plus or minus 1% or more, the meter shall be cleaned and/or repaired.

PSC 134.30 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; am. (4), Register, November, 1962, No. 83, eff. 12-1-62; am. (1), Register, January, 1965, No. 109, eff. 2-1-65; am. (4) and cr. (6), Register, April, 1969, No. 160, eff. 5-1-69; cr. (7) to (9), Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; am. (1) and (4), Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89.

PSC 134.31 PSC 134.31 Request and referee tests.

PSC 134.31(1) (1) Each utility furnishing gas service shall make a test of the accuracy of any gas meter upon request of the customer, provided the customer does not request such test more frequently than once in 6 months. A report giving the results of each request test shall be made to the customer and the complete, original record shall be kept on file in the office of the utility. A customer or group of customers may not abuse the request test procedures. Abuse shall be determined by the commission.

PSC 134.31(2) (2) Any gas meter may be tested by a commission inspector upon written application of the customer. For such test, a fee shall be forwarded to the commission by the customer with the application. The amount of this fee shall be refunded to the customer by the utility if the meter is found to be more than 2% fast as determined in s. PSC 134.14 (1). The amount of the fee that is to be remitted for such tests shall be $5 for each consumption meter that has a rated capacity not exceeding 1,000 cubic feet per hour; for larger consumption meters, demand meters, etc., the test fee shall be the actual expense of the test.

PSC 134.31(3) (3) All referee meter tests shall include an inspection of the meter index by removing the index from the meter body. The dials, gears and all other parts of the index shall be visually inspected for wear, misalignment or other mechanical defects which would affect the accuracy of the meter on a continuing or sporadic basis. Any defects affecting the meter’s accuracy shall be noted and evaluated in the report of the test.

PSC 134.31(4) (4) Meter retention.

PSC 134.31(4)(a) (a) After a customer requested test. When a utility performs a customer-requested test on a customer’s meter under sub. (1) or when the commission requests that a meter be tested, the utility shall keep the tested meter, in “as tested” condition, at a designated location on the utility’s premises for at least one full billing period plus four weeks after the test result report is issued so that the meter is available should another meter test be requested. If the meter tests as accurate, the utility may choose to keep the tested meter installed at the customer’s premises for the designated time period rather than storing it at the utility’s premises.

PSC 134.31(4)(b) (b) After a referee test. When a utility performs a referee test on a customer’s meter under sub. (2), the utility shall keep the tested meter, in “as tested” condition, at a designated location on the utility’s premises for at least 10 business days after the test result report is issued so that the meter is available should further testing or review be needed. If the meter tests as accurate, the utility may choose to keep the tested meter installed at the customer’s premises for the designated time period rather than storing it at the utility’s premises.

PSC 134.31(4)(c) (c) When a complaint or dispute occurs. When a utility receives a complaint under s. PSC 134.17 or is notified about a dispute under s. PSC 134.064 involving meter accuracy, the utility shall keep the meter, in “as tested” condition, at a designated location on the utility’s premises for at least one full billing period plus four weeks after the complaint or dispute and any appeal of that dispute is resolved so that the meter is available should testing be requested. If the meter was tested during the complaint or dispute process, and it tested as accurate, the utility may choose to keep the tested meter installed at the customer’s premises for the designated time period rather than storing it at the utility’s premises.

PSC 134.31 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; cr. (3), Register, July, 1983, No. 331, eff. 8-1-83; am. (2), Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; am. (1) and (2), Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89; CR 13-033: am. (3), cr. (4) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15.