Section 25-6.056 - Metering Device Test Plans(1) The test of any unit of metering equipment shall consist of a comparison of its accuracy with a standard of known accuracy. Units not meeting the accuracy or other requirements of Rule 25-6.052, F.A.C., at the time of the test shall be corrected to meet such requirements and adjusted to within the required accuracy as close to 100 percent accurate as practicable or their use discontinued.(2) All metering device tests shall be retained in accordance with Rule 25-6.022, F.A.C.(3) New instrument transformers shall be tested in accordance with subsection (5) of this rule. Instrument transformers that have been removed from service shall be tested prior to reinstallation if the reason for removal, physical appearance, or record of performance gives cause to doubt its reliability.(4) All metering equipment listed in paragraph 25-6.052(5)(a), F.A.C., shall be tested: (a) Before initial and each successive installation, either by the utility or the manufacturer, with the exception of units of metering equipment that are statistically sample tested by the utility under an approved Random Sampling Plan; and(b) When they are suspected by the utility of being inaccurate or damaged.(5) Acceptance Testing. Tests for all new units of metering equipment may be performed according to one of three plans: (a) On a 100 percent basis, with testing performed by the utility;(b) On a statistically sampled basis under an approved Random Sampling Plan, with testing performed by the utility; or(c) On a 100 percent basis, with testing performed by the manufacturer and the test results for each unit provided by the manufacturer and maintained by the utility.(6) Within each population specified in an approved sampling plan or periodic test plan of mechanical or lagged demand meters, or other metering devices for which acceptability is stated in terms of full-scale value, each device shall have the same class amperage and class voltage.(7) In-Service Testing. (a) In-service metering devices may be sample tested under an approved Random Sampling Plan.(b) In-service metering devices that are not included in an approved Random Sampling Plan shall be tested periodically. The periodic testing schedule for equipment not included in an approved Random Sampling Plan must be approved by the Commission.(8) Random Sampling Plans Submitted for Approval.(a) Random Sampling Plans published by the United States Department of Defense or by The American Society for Quality Control, or any other sampling plans that have been approved by the Commission prior to the effective date of this rule need not be re-approved for the types of equipment for which they were approved.(b) Each Random Sampling Plan submitted for approval shall include, at a minimum, the following information: 1. Plans to more closely monitor populations of equipment in service for which estimates indicate accuracy problems, to determine if units in the population need to be adjusted or replaced (in-service sampling plans).2. A statement of the plan's statistical design and the rationale for using the plan in lieu of testing 100 percent of the units in the population.3. A precise statement of the plan's null hypothesis and alternative hypotheses, the probability of committing Type I error and Type II error, and the criteria for accepting or rejecting the null hypothesis.(c) "Variables" sampling plans may use either of the "known variability" or the "unknown variability" acceptance criteria. The acceptance criteria shall be appropriately modeled. Variables sampling plans shall use the population standard deviation to measure variability unless the proposed plan is accompanied by adequate justification for using another parameter.(9) The analysis of a proposed Random Sampling Plan, or a proposed periodic in-service testing schedule where applicable, shall include assessments of the plan's ability to detect the presence of inaccurate equipment, the economy of testing only a sample of the units in the population, the impact of having inaccurate units used for billing purposes, the number of units in the population, and the historical performance of the type of equipment covered by the proposed plan.(10) Approval of Sampling Plans and In-Service Testing Schedules. All utilities subject to this rule shall submit to the Commission's Division of Engineering a proposed Random Sampling Plan for each population of metering devices for which it intends to use a random sampling plan for acceptance testing or for in-service testing, and a proposed periodic testing schedule for each population of metering devices for which it does not submit a proposed in-service random sampling plan. Sampling plans and in-service testing schedules must be reviewed and approved pursuant to subsection (11) of this rule prior to their use.(11) Review of Proposed Test Plan. As used in this subsection, the word "plan" includes periodic testing schedules as well as Random Sampling Plans. Except where a utility has requested a formal ruling by the Commission, the Division of Engineering shall within 90 days after submission review each utility's plan to determine whether it satisfies the criteria set forth in subsections (8) and (9) above and shall notify the utility in writing of its decision accepting or rejecting the proposed plan. If a proposed plan is rejected, the written notice of rejection shall state clearly the reasons for rejecting the proposed plan. If a utility's proposed plan is rejected, the utility shall submit a revised plan to the Commission within 60 days after receiving the notice of rejection. Where a utility has requested staff review of its plan and the plan has been rejected, the utility may petition the Commission for approval of the initially proposed plan.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 25-6.056
Rulemaking Authority 366.05(1) FS. Law Implemented 366.05(3) FS.
New 7-29-69, Amended 4-13-80, Formerly 25-6.56, Amended 5-19-97, 7-3-06.New 7-29-69, Amended 4-13-80, Formerly 25-6.56, Amended 5-19-97, 7-3-06.