Chapter PSC 185

PSC 185.41 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.42 PSC 185.42 Customer complaints. Each utility shall investigate and keep a record of complaints from its customers in regard to safety, service, or rates, and the operation of its system. The record shall show complainant’s name and address, the date the complaint is filed, the nature of the complaint, its resolution, and the date resolved.

PSC 185.42 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.43 PSC 185.43 Construction records.

PSC 185.43(1) (1) Every utility shall prepare and maintain a record of its utility plant. The records shall include a description of the unit of property, the year of its construction, and its location. They shall be in the form of a map or descriptive table.

PSC 185.43(2) (2) Class AB utilities are required by the uniform system of accounts to institute a perpetual inventory of their assets known as continuing property records. A continuing property record system shall contain the following criteria and detail:

PSC 185.43(2)(a) (a) The system shall be arranged by plant accounts as prescribed by the Uniform System of Accounts;

PSC 185.43(2)(b) (b) All property units shall be described in sufficient detail to permit their identification and shall have location information to allow verification of their physical existence;

PSC 185.43(2)(c) (c) All property units shall be identified with construction costs to establish their original cost for capitalization and retirement accounting;

PSC 185.43(2)(d) (d) The age and service life of property units shall be calculable for depreciation studies. The original cost, description, and age of the property unit at retirement shall be converted into mortality records and permanently retained. (See s. PSC 185.19);

PSC 185.43(2)(e) (e) Source documents supporting the original cost and quantities of property units shall be preserved for a period of 6 years after the plant is retired. (See s. PSC 185.19.) An exception is when a utility maintains approved continuing property records and permanent mortality records, then supporting documents need only be preserved for a period of 6 years after construction is completed. This provision meets commission requirements but may not satisfy other record-keeping needs;

PSC 185.43(2)(f) (f) Maps may be part of the continuing property records if they contain the description of the unit, its location, and the year of its construction. For maps to become the Continuing Property Record, the units shall be referenced to their original cost.

PSC 185.43(3) (3) A utility may apply for a waiver from any portion of subs. (1) and (2). Such application shall state the paragraphs to which a waiver is requested. Also, the utility shall provide the reasons it cannot or shall not have to comply with subs. (1) through (2) (f) and the impacts such a waiver would have on the utility’s ability to maintain usable continuing property records, if any.

PSC 185.43 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.44 PSC 185.44 Records and reports of service interruptions.

PSC 185.44(1) (1) Each utility shall notify the commission as soon as possible of any unusual occurrence which has caused or is expected to cause an interruption of service for one hour or longer to all of the customers or 500 (or more) customers, whichever number is the smaller. (This supplement does not preempt the requirements of ch. PSC 104.)

PSC 185.44 Note Note: See also s. PSC 185.88, Interruptions of service.

PSC 185.44(2) (2) Each utility shall maintain a record of each interruption (as defined in sub. (1)) showing the date and time it began, the duration, the cause, and the approximate number of customers affected.

PSC 185.44 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.45 PSC 185.45 Pumpage records. A record shall be kept of the amount of water pumped into the distribution system each day from each station. The daily pumpage shall be summarized by months and such daily records and monthly summaries kept on file.

PSC 185.45 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.46 PSC 185.46 Metering equipment records.

PSC 185.46(1) (1) Meter test records.

PSC 185.46(1)(a) (a) A utility shall create a record of a meter test whenever a meter is tested. If the meter is tested again, the utility need not retain the previous test record once the information in that record has been entered in the meter history record. The meter test record shall include all of the following:

PSC 185.46(1)(a)1. 1. Identification of the meter.

PSC 185.46(1)(a)2. 2. The service address at which the meter is installed.

PSC 185.46(1)(a)3. 3. The date of the test.

PSC 185.46(1)(a)4. 4. A statement of “as found” accuracies.

PSC 185.46(1)(a)5. 5. A statement of “as left” accuracies, when applicable.

PSC 185.46(1)(a)6. 6. The name of the person making the test.

PSC 185.46(1)(b) (b) Meter test records and meter history records may be kept as separate records or one record.

PSC 185.46(2) (2) Meter history records.

PSC 185.46(2)(a) (a) Each utility shall keep a history record for each meter sufficient to fulfill the requirements of s. PSC 185.19, including all of the following:

PSC 185.46(2)(a)1. 1. The date the meter was placed into service.

PSC 185.46(2)(a)2. 2. The information in all of the meter’s test records under sub. (1).

PSC 185.46(2)(a)3. 3. The date the meter was retired from service.

PSC 185.46(2)(b) (b) Meter test records and meter history records may be kept as separate records or one record.

PSC 185.46 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97; CR 13-033: r. and recr. (1), (2) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15.

PSC 185.47 PSC 185.47 Other records. Other required records which are referred to elsewhere in this chapter include records of adjustment of customer bills (s. PSC 185.35 (8)), main flushing (s. PSC 185.86), valve and hydrant operations, pumpage and metered consumption (s. PSC 185.85 (2)), and service interruptions (s. PSC 185.88).

PSC 185.47 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

subch. V of ch. PSC 185 Subchapter V — Engineering

PSC 185.51 PSC 185.51 Requirement for good engineering practice. The design and construction of the utility’s water plant shall conform to good standard engineering practice and shall conform to the requirements of this chapter and the requirements of appropriate federal, state, and local regulatory authorities.

PSC 185.51 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.52 PSC 185.52 General construction requirements.

PSC 185.52(1) (1) Mains.

PSC 185.52(1)(a) (a) Installed depth. Mains shall be placed at such depth or otherwise protected as shall prevent freezing.

PSC 185.52(1)(b) (b) Dead-ends. Where practical the utility shall design its distribution system to avoid dead-end mains. Where dead-ends are necessary, hydrants or other flushing devices shall be installed to permit flushing. (See s. PSC 185.86.)

PSC 185.52(1)(c) (c) Networked systems. Where practical the distribution system shall be laid out to maximize service reliability.

PSC 185.52(1)(d) (d) Segmentation of system. Valves shall be provided at reasonable intervals and at appropriate locations so that repairs to or maintenance of the mains shall minimize service interruptions.

PSC 185.52(1)(e) (e) Location of mains. Utility-owned mains shall be located either in public right-of-way, or in a readily accessible easement. As much as possible, easements shall be free of pavement, expensive landscaping, mobile home pads, etc.

PSC 185.52(1)(f) (f) Main ownership conditions. A utility may choose whether or not it shall accept for ownership the mains within a mobile home park. Mains may only be accepted if they meet the utility’s construction standards and the requirements of ss. PSC 185.51 and 185.52.

PSC 185.52(2) (2) Service laterals.

PSC 185.52(2)(a) (a) Installed depth. Laterals shall be placed at such depth or otherwise protected as will prevent freezing.

PSC 185.52(2)(b) (b) Single connections. A customer’s lateral shall be directly connected to utility-owned facilities, and there shall be no other customer connection downstream from the utility’s shut-off valve. This does not apply to multi-occupancy premises, such as apartments, condominiums, and shopping centers.

PSC 185.52 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.53 PSC 185.53 Metering configuration.

PSC 185.53(1) (1) Master metering. Unless a utility owns the water distribution facilities within a mobile home park, condominium association, trust, etc., the private system shall be master metered and the park owner, condominium association, trust, etc., shall be the utility’s billable customer.

PSC 185.53(2) (2) Individual metering. A utility may only provide retail service directly to individual dwellings within a mobile home park, condominium association, trust, etc., if the distribution facilities within the mobile home park, condominium association, trust, etc., are owned by the utility on easements. Such facilities may only be accepted for ownership at a utility’s discretion and only if the facilities meet the utility’s construction standards and the requirements of ss. PSC 185.51 and 185.52.

PSC 185.53 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

subch. VI of ch. PSC 185 Subchapter VI — Customer Meters, Accuracy Requirements

PSC 185.61 PSC 185.61 Meters.

PSC 185.61(1) (1) All meters used for measuring the quantity of water delivered to a customer shall be in good working condition. They shall be adequate in size and design for the type of service measured and shall be accurate to the standard specified in s. PSC 185.65. Cold water meters of the turbine type shall be used for metered service only where the actual flow rates fall entirely within the normal test flow limits of the meter.

PSC 185.61(2) (2) Meters and remote reading devices necessary for the billing of utility service shall be owned and maintained by the utility except where otherwise authorized by the commission.

PSC 185.61(3) (3) A utility may sell meters if such meters are to be used solely for nonutility purposes, such as unregulated sewer service. This section does not prohibit the sale of meters between utilities.

PSC 185.61 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97; CR 23-070: am. (1) Register June 2024 No. 822, eff. 7-1-24.

PSC 185.65 PSC 185.65 Accuracy requirements for meters.

PSC 185.65(1) (1) The test flow limits for positive displacement, compound, and turbine meters shall be as follows:

PSC 185.65 Note Note: See AWWA Standards C-700 (Positive Displacement Meters), C-702 (Compound Meters), and C-701 (Turbine Meters).

PSC 185.65 Note Note: * See s. PSC 185.61 (1).

PSC 185.65(2) (2) Positive displacement meters shall have a percent registration between 98.5 and 101.5 within the range of normal test flow limits before being placed in service. In addition, new meters shall have a percent registration at the minimum test flow between 90 [95] and 101.5. In all other cases, the percent registration shall be between 90 and 101.5 before being placed in service. These requirements, in addition to flow, are shown in the table below.

PSC 185.65 Note Note: It is the intent of the commission that new meters have an accuracy limits percent between 95 and 101.5.

PSC 185.65 Note * Section PSC 185.73 (3) provides that at this flow rate the test quantity may be reduced to that equivalent to one-half revolution of the test dial. For the typical 5/8-inch meter the minimum test quantity would, therefore, be 5 gal. or 1/2 cu. ft.

PSC 185.65(3) (3) Compound meters shall have a percent registration between 97 and 103 throughout the range of normal test flow limits. At flows within the change-over flow range, the percent registration shall not be less than 90%.

PSC 185.65(4) (4) Turbine meters shall have a percent registration between 97 and 103 throughout the range of normal test flow limits and a percent registration of at least 95% at the minimum test flow.

PSC 185.65(5) (5) For meter installations with remote reading devices the above accuracy requirements apply to the metering accuracy of the complete installation.

PSC 185.65 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

subch. VII of ch. PSC 185 Subchapter VII — Meter Testing

PSC 185.71 PSC 185.71 Meter testing facilities and equipment.

PSC 185.71(1) (1) Each utility furnishing metered water service shall own or provide, through contract or otherwise, adequate equipment and facilities to provide for testing all of its water meters in compliance with this chapter.

PSC 185.71(2) (2) The meter testing facility shall, to the extent practical, simulate the actual service condition of inlet pressure and outlet pressure. It shall be provided with the necessary fittings, including a quick-acting valve for controlling the starting and stopping of the test, and a device for regulating the flow of water through the meter under test within the requirements of this chapter.

PSC 185.71(3) (3) The overall accuracy of the test equipment and test procedures shall be sufficient to enable the testing of service meters within the requirements of this chapter and regulations. In any event, the inherent overall accuracy of the equipment shall permit tests with an overall error of not to exceed 0.5% at normal test flows and 1.0% at the stated minimum test flow.

PSC 185.71 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.72 PSC 185.72 Calibration of meter testing equipment.

PSC 185.72(1) (1) Volumetric standards shall be accompanied by a dated certificate of accuracy from an approved laboratory or agency. For any weight standard used, the scales shall be tested periodically by an approved agency and a record maintained of the results of the test.

PSC 185.72(2) (2) A reference meter used for testing domestic or larger meters may be used only if the referenced meter has been tested and calibrated during the preceding 6 months. A record shall be kept of the 2 latest tests of any reference meter. (See also s. PSC 185.73 (1).)

PSC 185.72 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.73 PSC 185.73 Testing of customer meters.

PSC 185.73(1) (1) The test of any customer meter shall consist of a comparison of its accuracy with that of a standard of known accuracy. Where the test standard consists of a previously calibrated reference or service meter, the test results for the customer meter shall be adjusted to compensate for the inaccuracies of the reference meter at the particular flow rates.

PSC 185.73(2) (2) A utility shall test a meter “as found,” or before repair, and, unless the meter must be retained under s. PSC 185.77 (3), “as left,” or after repair.