4 Colo. Code Regs. § 723-3-3303
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 16, August 25, 2024
Section 4 CCR 723-3-3303 - Meter Testing Equipment and Facilities(a) Unless specifically exempted by the Commission, each utility furnishing metered electric service shall provide such meter laboratory, standard meters, instruments, and other equipment and facilities as may be necessary to make the tests required by these rules. Such equipment and facilities shall be acceptable to the Commission and shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by the Commission's authorized representatives.(b) Each utility shall make such tests as are prescribed under these rules with such frequency, in such manner, and at such places as may be approved by this Commission. Each utility shall file an application for approval of its testing practices. The application shall include:(I) all information required by paragraphs 3002(b) and 3002(c);(II) a description of the test methods employed and the frequency of tests or observations for determining voltage of electric service furnished;(III) a description of meter testing equipment, including methods employed to ascertain and maintain accuracy of all testing equipment;(IV) rules covering testing and adjustment of service meters when installed and periodic tests after installation; and(V) supporting information and justification for the items listed in subparagraphs (II) through (IV) of this paragraph.(c) Revisions to any portion of testing practices approved pursuant to the procedure in paragraph (b) of this rule shall be accomplished by the filing and approval of a new application.(d) Each utility furnishing metered electric service shall provide such portable indicating electrical testing instruments or portable watt-hour meters of suitable range and type for testing switchboard instruments, recording volt-meters, service watt-hour meters, and other electrical instruments in use, as may be deemed necessary and satisfactory by the Commission.(e) Rotating standards that are used by the utility in testing service meters shall be tested for accuracy by using reference standards. If the reference standards used by the utility are service type watt-hour meters, those watt-hour meters must be permanently mounted in the utility's laboratory and may be used for no other purpose than testing rotating standards.(f) Reference standards shall be submitted at least once each year to a laboratory of recognized standing, for the purpose of testing and adjustment. A utility that maintains its own standardizing laboratory shall be permitted to test and certify its own reference standards, provided the instruments and methods used are acceptable to the Commission.(g) When in use, commutator-type rotating standards shall be compared with the reference standards in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended frequency. When in use, induction-type rotating standards shall be compared with the reference standards in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended frequency. If any working rotating standard tests within plus or minus one percent error at any load at which the standard will be used, the standard may be adjusted by comparison with the utility's reference standards. However, if any working rotating standard tests in error of more than plus or minus one percent, that standard shall be tested, adjusted, and certified in a standardizing laboratory of recognized standing. If a utility is exempted as provided in paragraph (a) of this rule, it shall have its working rotating standards tested by a standardizing laboratory of recognized standing at least once a year. Each rotating standard shall at all times be accompanied by a certificate or calibrating card signed by the standardizing laboratory, giving the date when it was last certified and adjusted.(h) When in use, all electrical meter testing equipment shall have their calibration checked either annually or more frequently if specified by the manufacturer. For all instruments requiring an as found/as left date sheet, calibration certifications shall be kept on-site for a period of seven years or until the instruments are recertified by a laboratory of recognized standing, whichever is later. All instruments shall have a tag affixed stating the date calibrated and the date the instrument is due for recertification. If an instrument is found to be out of the manufacturer's specifications, the instrument shall be calibrated and certified to the manufacturer's specifications by a laboratory of recognized standing. Upon request from any person, a copy of the certification letter and date sheet shall be provided for the instrument in question.(i) A utility shall keep records of certification and calibrations for all testing equipment required by this rule for the life of the equipment.(j) In its tariff, a utility shall include a description of its meter testing equipment and of the methods employed to ascertain and to maintain accuracy of all testing equipment.(k) For those paragraphs of this rule which require a utility to maintain facilities and equipment, a utility may meet those requirements by having the facilities and equipment readily available (as, for example and without limitation, by contracting with a testing facility). A utility which uses this paragraph of the rule is responsible for its compliance with the provisions of this entire rule.(l) For those paragraphs of this rule which require a utility to test or to maintain equipment, a utility may meet those requirements by having the equipment tested by a third party (as, for example and without limitation, an independent testing facility). A utility which uses this paragraph of the rule is responsible for its compliance with the provisions of this entire rule.38 CR 17, September 10, 2015, effective 9/30/201539 CR 06, March 25, 2016, effective 4/14/201639 CR 08, April 25, 2016, effective 5/15/201640 CR 22, November 25, 2017, effective 12/15/201742 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/2/201942 CR 07, April 10, 2019, effective 4/30/201942 CR 09, May 10, 2019, effective 5/30/201943 CR 08, April 25, 2020, effective 5/15/202043 CR 12, June 25, 2020, effective 7/15/202043 CR 20, October 25, 2020, effective 11/14/202044 CR 13, July 10, 2021, effective 7/30/202144 CR 24, December 25, 2021, effective 1/14/202245 CR 18, September 25, 2022, effective 10/15/202246 CR 02, January 25, 2023, effective 2/14/2023