PS-EG-01 — Provisional Specifications for the Approval of Prepayment Meters

PS-EG-01 — Provisional Specifications for the Approval of Prepayment Meters (PDF, 69.4 KB, 2 pages)

Date: 2006-02-06
Provisional Specifications: PS-EG-01
Category: Electricity and Gas

Table of Contents

1.0 Scope

This provisional specifications applies for the approval of electricity and gas meters intended for use in prepayment metering applications.

2.0 Authority

These provisional specifications are issued under the authority of section 12 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations.

3.0 General Meter Design and Performance Evaluation

As the electricity or gas prepayment meter measures like a conventional meter, the prepayment meter shall be evaluated in accordance with Measurement Canada's general and energy measurement specifications prescribed for electricity in LMB-EG-07, or for gas in LMB-EG-08 (as would a conventional meter), and other applicable directives authorized by Measurement Canada.

4.0 Measurement data registration requirements

In consideration of the requirements of 33(k)(ii) in the Act, the application of prepayment methods would not require the registration or declaration of the purported amount of energy pre-purchased if it can be derived from the monetary and rate information programmed into the meter. It should be noted that 33(k)(ii) refers to the purported amount of electricity or gas that should have been supplied on the basis of total price charged and the stated price per unit of measurement used to determine the total price. Consequently, there is a need for the meter to present the prepayment information used to establish the purported quantity of electricity or gas to be supplied. Therefore, in addition to the applicable display requirements specified for an integrating energy meter, to meet the statutory requirements of subparagraphs 33(k)(i) and (ii) of the Act, the following information shall be registered in a prepayment meter as a minimum:

  1. amount of total monetary purchase and price per unit of measurement, for each rate as applicable; or
  2. the equivalent purported energy value, for each rate (if applicable).

5.0 Programming Requirements

5.1 General — Security

Subject to the policies prescribed in 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of this document, and in keeping with current policies, all metrological programmable features of a prepayment meter, with the exception of Time-of-use (TOU) schedules, calendars, price rate factors and fixed price factors, shall be secured under the meter seal such that any necessary programming changes will require the breaking of the meter seal.

5.2 Fixed amount of prepurchased energy (combined purchase price, energy rate, fixed price factors):

Where a contractor intends to sell electricity or gas as a fixed amount of prepurchased energy, where the energy is sold on the basis on the total purchase price combined with the energy price rate and fixed price factors at the time of sale (e.g. a magnetic prepurchase card is advertised for sale containing a declaration of the total purchase price, energy price rate, and fixed price factors which will be downloaded in the prepayment meter), the following policies are applicable:

  1. Price rates and fixed price factors. The meter shall operate in a manner such that once the prepayment system has downloaded the prepurchased energy values and activated the load circuit and meter, no changes shall be permitted to the price rate and fixed price factors which have been prepurchased.
  2. Future price rates and fixed price factors. Future rates and factors can be programmed into the meter, but any changes to the rates and fixed factors must only come into effect once the prepurchased energy amounts have been consumed.
  3. TOU or seasonal rate function. Where TOU or seasonal rates are in use, the total price purchased shall be specified for each TOU or seasonal rate. In addition, the meter shall meet the requirements of clauses 5.2 (a) and (b) for each TOU or seasonal rate.
  4. Equivalent energy. Where an equivalent energy value is calculated in the meter from the monetary parameters related to the purchase of prepaid electricity or gas, the equivalent energy of any future prepurchased energy quantities shall not replace any active energy quantity remaining in the meter but may be added to any remaining energy quantity.

5.3 Fixed amount of prepurchased energy (energy credit):

Where a contractor intends to sell electricity or gas as a fixed amount of prepurchased energy, where the energy is sold on the basis of the legal unit of measurement, in the form of an energy credit at the time of sale (e.g. a magnetic prepurchase card is advertised for sale at a certain price containing a declaration of the 1000 kWhs of electricity or 1000 m3 of natural gas which will be downloaded in the prepayment meter), the meter shall operate in a manner such that once the prepayment system has downloaded the prepurchased energy value and activated the load circuit and meter, any future prepurchased energy quantities shall not replace any active energy quantity remaining in the meter but may be programmed into the meter as an addition to any remaining energy quantity.

5.4 Monetary credit

Where a contractor intends to use a prepayment meter to sell electricity or gas on the basis of a monetary credit (where the amount of energy or volume is not combined with a specific energy or volume price rate at the time of purchase), the following policies are applicable:

  1. Price rates and fixed price factors. Price rates and factors may be programmed into the prepayment meter and changed as needed at the contractor's discretion.
  2. Future price rates and fixed price factors. Future rates and factors may be programmed into the meter and changed as needed at the contractor's discretion.
  3. TOU or seasonal rate function. Where TOU or seasonal rates are in use, these may be programmed in the meter and changed as needed at the contractor's discretion.

Alan E. Johnston
President