Information Bulletin — Approval of Software-Controlled Electricity and Gas Metering Devices - AMI Mass Meter Deployment Initiatives

Approval of Software-Controlled Electricity and Gas Metering Devices - AMI Mass Meter Deployment Initiatives (PDF, 34 KB, 2 pages)

2011-09-16

Purpose

The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to notify approval applicants and meter manufacturers of Measurement Canada's administrative policy concerning the approval of electricity and gas metering devices that are the subject of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) mass meter deployment initiatives.

Background

In recognition of the many mass metering deployment initiatives that have and continue to be undertaken by provincial energy ministries or by electricity contractors (utilities) in support of the implementation of AMI initiatives, Measurement Canada has recently undertaken to review and update many of the Agency's metering related policies and requirements. The objective and intent of the Agency's review has been to ensure the appropriateness of the historic requirements and policies in recognition of the design, performance, and functionality of the new technologies available in today's metering marketplace. As a result, significant changes have been introduced to many of Measurement Canada's meter verification and reverification requirements and policies including: meter reverification periods (initial and subsequent); meter performance assessment sampling plans (acceptance and compliance); and, under specific circumstances, the potential for granting temporary dispensation to legacy meters that are subject to imminent replacement under a mass metering deployment.

Measurement Canada is currently completing the development of the new Specifications for the Approval of Software Controlled Electricity and Gas Metering Devices. Once authorized and made available by the President of Measurement Canada, these new specifications will, in application, represent the introduction of one of the more significant changes to occur in electricity and gas meter pattern approval requirements in many years. These new requirements will introduce substantial changes to both the information required to be submitted by an approval applicant and, in many cases, the design of software controlled electricity and gas meters. Where approval is granted against the new specifications, meter owners will benefit from the availability of meters that may be approved for in-service software upgrades without the need for reverification. The approved software update capability can be employed to correct in-service software related issues or to update approved communication or metrological software in order to benefit from new technological features.

As many utilities across the country are currently in the process of researching, developing, or implementing mass metering deployment initiatives involving electronic meters, the Agency's release of the new software approval specification represents an opportunity for both meter manufacturers and meter purchasers. In recognition of these potential benefits as well as the budgetary significance and time line challenges associated with mass metering deployment initiatives, Measurement Canada has established a new administrative policy with specific regard to the approval of software controlled electricity and gas meters.

Policy

Subject to the following application criteria and conditions, electricity and gas meter approval applications that are received by Measurement Canada and which include a request for meter assessment and approval against the Specifications for the Approval of Software Controlled Electricity and Gas Metering Devices, shall be considered and processed as priority applications by the Agency.

Where an approval application is considered as a priority application under this policy, the subject approval application shall, for the purposes of pattern approval administration, be placed into an alternate pattern approval processing queue that is distinctly enumerated and processed on a first come first serve basis.

Criteria and Conditions

  1. This policy applies to all electricity and gas meter makes and models which are the subject of a mass deployment initiative that is supported by public notice issued by either a meter vendor (the approval applicant or its Canadian representative) or purchaser (Canadian utility), which indicates that a contract has been awarded in this regard to the subject meter manufacturer. The applicant shall provide documentary evidence of compliance with this condition at the time of application.
  2. The application of this policy is limited to the approval application processing and administrative queue and has no bearing on Measurement Canada's pattern approval requirements, testing process, or compliance conclusions. In this regard, the time lines associated with the receipt of application and, where appropriate, the issuance of a notice of approval continues to be subject to the completeness of the information submitted by the applicant in support of the application and the meter's compliance with the applicable approval requirements and specifications.
  3. This policy will become effective on the date upon which the Specifications for the Approval of Software Controlled Electricity and Gas Metering Devices are authorized by the President, Measurement Canada.

Alan Johnston
President
Measurement Canada

For additional information concerning this Information Bulletin, please contact:
Bruce Lyng
Senior Program Officer, Utility Metering Division
Program Development Directorate
Email: bruce.lyng@ic.gc.ca