S-E-04—Specifications for the Installation Requirements for Multiple Customer Metering Systems

S-E-04—Specifications for the Installation Requirements for Multiple Customer Metering Systems (PDF, 85 KB, 7 pages)

Table of Contents

1.0 Scope

These specifications apply to the installation of multiple customer metering systems which are used for the purpose of obtaining the basis of a charge in accordance with section 9 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

2.0 Authority

These specifications are issued under the authority of sections 12 and 18 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations.

3.0 Definitions

Act

The Electricity and Gas Inspection Act (Act).

Authorized Representative

Any Measurement Canada inspector or accredited organization authorized by Measurement Canada to perform the functions outlined in this document.

Commissioning

The process or procedure used during installation of MCMS prior to activation to ensure the system is operating correctly. (For example, the process for assessing that current sensors or instrument transformers are connected to the correct load and associated with the applicable voltage connections).

Contractor

Any person or body that has undertaken to supply electricity or gas to any purchaser.

Current Test Block

An appropriate terminal block or test switch, used in a current circuit which allows the connection of test equipment into the current measuring circuit of the meter without interrupting the circuit.

Current Transformer (CT)

A measuring instrument transformer in which the secondary current, in normal conditions of use, is substantially proportional to the primary current and differs in phase from it by an angle which is approximately zero for an appropriate direction of the connections

Instrument Transformer

A measuring transformer which is intended to reproduce in its secondary circuit, in a definite and known proportion, the current or voltage of its primary circuit with the phase relations substantially preserved.

Multiple Customer Metering Systems(MCMS) or device

Metering systems which fulfill one or both of the following criteria:

  1. Systems which require on site central processing of meterological information for more than one metering point.
  2. Systems which employ external sensors which are integral to the meter. These systems generally are used in multi customer applications. However, they can operate as stand alone, single point meters.
Sensor

A device for converting an alternating electrical quantity into another quantity for measurement purposes.

Voltage Transformer

A measuring instrument transformer in which the secondary voltage, in normal conditions of use, is substantially proportional to the primary voltage and differs from it by an angle which is approximately zero for an appropriate direction of the connections.

Voltage Test Block

An appropriate terminal block or test switch used in a voltage circuit for isolating the voltage measuring circuit to the meter and providing a convenient point for the connection of test equipment.

4.0 Responsibilities of Accredited Organizations

4.1 The installation shall adhere to all applicable requirements of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and Regulations, including related Specifications and Bulletins.

4.2 Any installation found not to be in compliance with Measurement Canada requirements shall be reported to the local Measurement Canada district office.

5.0 Administrative Requirements

5.1 General

5.1.1 The contractor shall be registered to supply electricity in accordance with section 6 of the Act.

5.1.2 The device shall be approved for billing purposes in accordance with the Act.

5.1.3 The Multiple Customer Metering Systems shall be verified and sealed in accordance with the Act prior to installation.

5.1.4 Any additional installation requirements identified in the notice of approval shall be adhered to.

5.1.5 When auxiliary equipments, such as instrument transformers, etc., are used in conjunction with the metering system, they shall be approved for billing purposes in accordance with the Act, and installed in compliance with Measurement Canada requirements.

5.2 Notification

The contractor, or on behalf of the contractor, the multiple customer metering systems supplier or agent shall supply written notification to the local Measurement Canada district office, no later than 30 days from the date of activation of the system. This notification will include, as a minimum, the owner/contractor, full mailing address, contact person, phone number, location of installation, type of system, number of metering points and the date the installation was activated.

5.3 Contractor Representative

The contractor shall provide a representative with authority to access all metering points and shall be legally authorized to work on live electrical equipment for all inspections on-site.

5.4 Documentation

All original inspection certificates and meter configuration charts shall be provided by the contractor upon request. The contractor shall also provide a schematic diagram indicating the locations of all metering equipment, including all sensors and/or instrument transformers within the building's electrical system.

5.5 Access

The authorized representative shall have safe and ready access to all system components, including all external sensing devices and/or auxiliary equipment for the purpose of conducting on site inspections.

5.6 Safety

If any part of this document conflicts with official safety code requirements, the safety code requirements shall take precedence.

6.0 Technical Requirements

6.1 General

Metering systems shall be installed and wired to facilitate on site testing, which may include the possibility of service shut downs if the system cannot be easily removed from service. Additional information, including generic installation inspection procedures and requirements, can be obtained from Measurement Canada.

6.2 Hardware Mounting Arrangements

All components shall be securely mounted so as to facilitate safe and convenient access.

6.3 Connection of Test Equipment

6.3.1 Provision shall be made for the connection of test equipment to all current carrying conductors and voltage circuits.

6.3.2 For voltage circuits, a voltage test block or a disconnect switch shall be installed. The working voltage at this point shall be no less than 120 volts ac and no more than 600 volts ac.

6.3.3 For systems utilizing separately approved instrument transformers a current test block shall be installed. As a minimum, provision shall be made to allow the connection of a clip-on ammeter to the secondary current conductors of the transformers.

6.4 Measurement Circuits

6.4.1 The voltage for any given meter shall be taken from the same source in which the current is being measured.

6.4.2 In addition, the voltage supplied to the metering system should be connected in close proximity to the current sensing elements to ensure that the total measurement error does not exceed the tolerances prescribed by section 31 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations.

6.4.3 The voltage sensing circuit and the current sensing circuit shall be separate and distinct. For example, the secondary wiring of the voltage sensors shall not pass through the current sensing elements.

6.5 Visible Traceability

6.5.1 To facilitate tracing, all voltage and current primary and secondary sensor connections shall be identified through the use of labels, tags or colour coding, in relation to the phase in which they are connected. Refer to Measurement Canada's Generic Procedure for Conducting Installation Verifications of Multiple Customer Metering Systems for standard colour codes.

6.5.2 All sensor serial numbers shall be visible, legible, and permanently affixed to the sensors.

6.5.3 For sensors where visual inspection is not possible or does not provide conclusive evidence of the metrological validity of the system other options may be used, such as taking voltage readings, de-energizing circuits, using circuit tracers or validation through cross phase measurements.

6.6 Commissioning Process

6.6.1 All MCMS shall be subject to a commissioning process by the contractor, prior to activation of the service.

7.0 Installation Verification Requirements

7.1 Installation verifications shall be carried out by a representative, authorized under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

7.2 All metering systems shall be subjected to an initial installation verification concurrent with the commissioning process but no later than one year from the date that the device was activated.

7.3 The installation shall be inspected to the system's original verification configuration and the installation schematic diagram to ensure that the following are correct.

  1. All voltage connections, including any external voltage sensors.
  2. All current connections, including the external current sensors.
  3. All phase association between all voltage and current circuits.
  4. All metering points are connected to the applicable service.

7.4 Systems utilizing separately approved instrument transformers shall conform to MC's standard drawings, the installation schematic diagram and shall be verified to ensure the following are correct.

  1. All voltage and current connections to the instrument transformers.
  2. Phase association between all voltage and current circuits.
  3. All metering points are connected to the applicable service.
  4. Colour coding or labelling of instrument transformer wiring.
  5. All grounding of the instrument transformer secondaries.
  6. Polarity of the instrument transformers.
  7. Nameplate markings of the instrument transformers.

7.5 Installation verifications records shall be maintained and show evidence of conformity with these requirements.

8.0 Installation Seals

8.1 Provision shall be made for the effective hard sealing of all terminal blocks, strips, paddle boards, etc. used for the purpose of connecting external sensors and/or instrument transformers to the main body of the meter. This sealing requirement is in addition to the initial verification (in shop) and sealing of the metrological components.

8.2 Following the completion of all mandatory on site installation inspections, pursuant to section 7.0 of this document the MCMS shall be sealed by an authorized representative.

8.3 Where the installation inspection pursuant to section 7.0 is not completed at the time of commissioning the MCMS shall be sealed by the registered contractor prior to activation.

9.0 Breaking of Installation Seal(s)

9.1 The seal as prescribed by section 8.0 of this document may be broken by an authorized representative for the purpose of allowing modifications to an existing installation, or for the purpose of initiating a reverification process.

9.2 Such modifications may include the adding, removing, replacing, or upgrading of existing metering points, replacing blown fuses, or making other modifications which have no metrological impact on the integrity of the overall metering system.

9.3 The seal shall be replaced once verification of the modification has been made in accordance with section 8.0 of this document or the non metrological component has been replaced.

9.4 Breaking of Installation Seal by Registered Contractor

9.4.1 The registered contractor may break the installation seal on the condition that they inform the local district office. The local district office shall be provided rationale prior to the breaking of the installation seal by the registered contractor.

9.4.2 The registered contractor shall maintain records or log of events kept when breaking a seal which includes:

  1. Any events or modifications which require that the seal as prescribed in section 8.0 of this document be broken.
  2. Name of registered contractor representative.
  3. Date of breaking the seal.
  4. Reasons for breaking the seal and description of the work performed.
  5. A statement that the system has been re assessed in accordance with the registered contractor's commissioning process and resealed related to meters inspection numbers, serial numbers, locations; etc.
  6. List of equipment that has been installed or changed for any reason such as; blown fuses, power outages, upgrades, etc.

9.5 At no time, shall an unsealed installation be used for revenue purposes.

10.0 Installation Modifications

An authorized representative accredited for MCMS installation inspections or the local Measurement Canada district office shall be notified, in advance, of any modifications required to a MCMS system. Any modifications to a MCMS are subject to all requirements of this document including the re-inspection of the installation modifications pursuant to section 7.0.

11.0 Records of installation modifications

11.1 Records or log of events kept by the authorized representative when breaking an installation seal shall include:

  1. Reasons for breaking the installation seal, and description of the work performed.
  2. Name of the accredited organization, including the name of the organization's employee who conducted the work.
  3. Date of breaking the installation seal.
  4. List of equipment that has been installed or changed for any reason such as; meter inspection numbers, serial numbers, locations, blown fuses, power outages, upgrades, etc.
  5. Updated system configuration chart and installation wiring diagrams identifying modifications to the system.
  6. A record that the system has been re-inspected and resealed according to the accredited organization's procedures and this specification.

12.0 Revisions

The purpose of revision 1 is to clarify the requirements for accredited organizations.

The purpose of revision 2 is to:

  1. add in new section addressing responsibilities of accredited organizations.
  2. add in new section addressing measurement circuits and colour coding.
  3. expand and provided additional clarity to inspection requirements.
  4. expand and provide additional clarification of installation seals and breaking installation seals.
  5. reorganize and reformat the document.
  6. included requirements for commissioning.

13.0 Additional Information

For additional information regarding this specification, please contact the Senior Program Officer responsible for electricity measurement. Further information regarding Measurement Canada and its programs can be found on the Measurement Canada web site at http://mc.ic.gc.ca.

Alan E. Johnston
President
Measurement Canada