E-23—Verification of electronic electricity meters containing a test mode function

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

Category: Electricity
Bulletin: E-23 (rev. 2)
Documents: S-E-06 section 5.6.2
Issue Date: 2009-08-27
Effective Date: 2009-10-01
Supercedes: E-23 (rev. 1)


Table of contents


1.0 Purpose

The intent of this bulletin is to provide a revised policy for testing energy and demand registers of electronic meters which contain a test mode function.

2.0 Scope

This bulletin applies to electronic electricity meters which contain a test mode function that are submitted for approval or have been approved by Measurement Canada.

3.0 Background

Electronic meters are generally designed with multiple modes of operation such as, normal, alternate and test mode.The normal mode is the mode used by the meter while in service.The alternate and test modes are the modes which can be activated by the user through a switch or other means.The test mode is used for meter testing and is designed to increase resolution of the energy register and/or reduce the time required to test the demand function.

The present policy contained in the Electricity and Gas Inspection Procedures Manual for the verification of the electronic energy and demand functions approved for revenue metering requires all the specified demand tests be performed using the test mode feature, with one final test performed in normal mode.The normal mode test is performed to verify the accuracy of the demand measurement and energy registration of the meter when in the normal operating mode.

Following a review of this policy in consultation with the electricity industry, Measurement Canada has determined that increased evaluation of the test mode at the approval stage could be done to confirm the performance of the test mode function and eligibility for use in meter verification. Consequently, Measurement Canada has decided to remove the normal mode test requirement for meters which have a test mode approved for verification purposes.

4.0 Terminology

For the purposes of this bulletin, the following terminology shall apply:

Register
A memory location in the meter where the value of a measured quantity is electronically recorded.
Register test
The performance test which compares the quantity measured by a certified reference standard against the quantity accumulated and stored in a memory location used in the normal mode of operation.
Verification
All the operations carried out by an inspector or accredited meter verifier having the object of ascertaining and confirming that a meter entirely satisfies specified requirements.Verification includes both inspection and the application of the verification mark.Any reference to verification applies to both the verification and reverification of meters, whether by 100% inspection or through the use of statistical sampling methods authorized by Measurement Canada.

5.0 Policy on the approval of test mode

5.1 Electronic electricity meters containing a test mode shall be evaluated for approval to use the test mode for meter verification.Evaluation shall include an assessment of the meter design to confirm which approved measurement functions can be tested using the test mode.

5.2 Where the test mode is found to comply with the specifications for test mode contained in PS-E-07, the Notice of Approval shall clearly indicate one of the following as applicable:

  1. the test mode is approved for the purpose of verifying the performance and accuracy of energy measurement functions which have been approved as legal units of measurement in this notice of approval.
  2. the test mode is approved for the purpose of verifying the performance and accuracy of demand measurement functions which have been approved as legal units of measurement in this notice of approval.
  3. the test mode is approved for the purpose of verifying the performance and accuracy of energy and demand measurement functions which have been approved as legal units of measurement in this notice of approval.

5.3 The approval applicants for all electronic electricity meters approved prior to the issuance of this bulletin are responsible for applying to Measurement Canada for the approval to use test mode for meter verification.

5.4 Any accredited organization that wishes to use the test mode on specific meters to verify energy and demand functions shall ensure that the approval to use test mode for verification is stated in the Notice of Approval as prescribed in clause 5.2.If not, then the accredited organization will need to contact the approval applicant indicated on the Notice of Approval and request that the applicant obtain approval from Measurement Canada to use the test mode for verification.

6.0 Policy on the verification of electronic electricity meters containing test mode

6.1 Use of test mode

The test mode where approved may be used for meter verification testing to the extent indicated in the Notice of Approval without requiring further testing in the normal mode of operation (as prescribed in the note provided under clause 8.7 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Procedures Manual July 7, 1998).

6.2 Register testing

6.2.1 The register values obtained during verification testing shall be determined to a resolution of 0.1%.

6.2.2 The register test may be performed using the following options:

  1. by using the test mode if the test mode permits access to registration to the required resolution indicated in clause 6.2.1; or
  2. by accessing the internal registers via the optical port; or by any other communications port available on the meter, where registration is provided to a resolution of 0.1%
  3. by performing a normal mode energy test with registration accumulated to a resolution of 0.1%.

6.2.3 If meter multipliers are modified during verification tests, then the meter program shall be evaluated to confirm that the correct multipliers have been re-programmed prior to sealing.

7.0 Revisions

The purpose of revision 1 was to include a policy for the approval of test mode on meters approved prior to the issuance of this bulletin and to clarify the requirements for register testing.

The purpose of revision 2 is to remove the definition of “Display” as the term is not used in this bulletin; to modify the definition of “Register” such that it more correctly reflects the definition of “Register (Electronic)” in S-E-06; and to make minor editorial modifications.