Joint Working Group on the Establishment of Initial Reverification Periods and the Compliance Sampling of In-service Electricity and Natural Gas Meters.

In January 2008, the Initial Reverification Periods and Compliance Sampling Joint Working Group (JWG) was launched by Measurement Canada. This JWG has been mandated with the task of establishing the requirements which would be utilised in support of two different, but interconnected, Agency initiatives.

The first initiative relates to the requirements which would need to be satisfied by a meter approval applicant (typically the meter manufacturer) in those cases where a lengthened initial reverification period (other than that prescribed by the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act) was being sought for a particular class or type of meter. The JWG’s second task was to develop a new compliance sampling plan which would replace the meter sampling specification (LMB-EG-04) that was issued by the Agency in 1988. The Compliance sampling plan is a statistical sampling based specification which assesses in-service meter performance quality for the purposes of extending the seal period of in-service electricity and natural gas meters.

The JWG has completed the work associated with initial reverification periods and the Agency has issued the necessary Specifications and Bulletins in support of the conclusions and recommendations established by the JWG. These documents can be found on Measurement Canad’s website and are identified as S-EG-01, E-26, E-28, G-18, and G-03.

The Compliance Sampling requirements are currently under development and the JWG is expected to complete this work in 2009.

The Initial Reverification Period and Compliance Sampling JWG is comprised of a balanced representation from utilities, manufacturers and Measurement Canada and the JWG is chaired by Bruce Lyng, Senior Program Officer, Utility Metering Division. Meeting Minutes associated with the noted JWG are available and may be obtained from the chair of the JWG, on specific request.