Meter Accuracy Requirements

Section 501.170  Meter Accuracy Requirements a)         Prior to installing a new, adjusted, refurbished, remanufactured or repaired gas meter, a utility shall ensure that the meter's average accuracy is not more than 1.0% slow and not more than 1.0% fast. If a utility finds that a meter is more than 1.0% fast or slow, the utility shall repair or retire the meter. b)         When a utility installs a meter, it shall verify the proper operation and settings of all auxiliary and tertiary equipment prior to activating a customer's service. c)         If a utility determines that a meter is in service and is mechanically defective, the utility shall repair or replace the meter. 1)         The utility shall repair or replace the meter within 48 hours if the defective meter impedes the utility's ability to provide service to the customer, unless the utility and the customer agree upon a longer time interval not to exceed 30 days. 2)         If the meter does not impede the customer's service, the utility must repair or replace the meter within 60 days unless the utility and the customer agree upon a longer time interval not to exceed 120 days. 3)         If the meter is of sufficient size that portions of a customer's structure require modification to remove the meter, then the utility has 90 days to replace the meter unless the utility and the customer agree upon a longer time interval not to exceed 180 days. d)         A utility shall test the accuracy of a meter, and verify the proper operation and settings of auxiliary equipment and tertiary equipment, after the utility removes the meter from service. e)         For those metering installations where a utility transfers the auxiliary equipment and tertiary equipment from an existing meter to a replacement meter, the utility shall inspect the auxiliary equipment and tertiary equipment to verify proper operation within 60 days after the meter exchange.