N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 16 § 226.8

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 25, June 18, 2024

Section 226.8 - Domestic meters-in-test programs

(a)Domestic meter in-test program.

After installation, all domestic meters shall receive an in-test at least once every seven years, except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this section. In-tests of meters shall be made at ambient temperature conditions at the same open and check test flow rates as used for out-tests specified in section 226.6(a) of this Part. Where possible, all in-tests shall be performed within 60 working days after removal from customers' premises.

(b)Alternate domestic meter in-test program.

(1) Initial notification. In lieu of the schedule of testing set forth in subdivision (a) of this section, any utility may apply to department staff for approval to adopt the alternate domestic meter in-test program described in this subdivision. The initial application for approval and any subsequent revisions shall include full formulation of said program complying with paragraphs (2) through (9) of this subdivision.

(2) Categories and test groups. All meters in use shall be segregated into categories based on delivered volume and grouped into test groups based upon performance.

(i) All meters shall be first grouped into category A. Any utility having more than 100,000 domestic meters in service may further separate those meters servicing minimum bill customers into category B and those registering 360 CCF or less in the preceding calendar year into category C. A minimum bill customer shall be any customer whose average monthly consumption registered on the meter during the preceding calendar year did not exceed the minimum consumption indicated in the initial block of the utility's rate schedule for residential customers.

(ii) The meters in each category shall be grouped into test groups as follows:

Test group	Calculated annual test rate (%)
0	2.00
1	4.00-4.99
2	5.00-5.99
3	6.00-7.99
4	8.00 and above
5	Approved retirement program

Test group five shall be composed of all meters included in an approved retirement program. In the event that a utility has more than one retirement program in progress each program will be clearly identified and reported on separate forms. The total number of meters required for test within test groups one, two, three and five in any category shall be determined on the basis of the combined calculated test rate of all meter types within the group. Each type of meter within test group four shall be tested at its calculated test rate in accordance with table 1 of Appendix 7-A of this Title, infra.

(iii) Meter types within each test group shall be identifiable by manufacturer and size. In addition, each participating utility shall maintain test data segregated by manufacturer, case, size, and age group to assist in the analysis of meter performance.

(3) Meters in use shall be segregated into age groups in one-year increments as follows: "Age Group 1" will include meters last tested within 0 - 12 months, "Age Group 2" will include meters last tested within 13 - 24 months, etc.

(4) Minimum overall test rate. Except as provided in paragraph (6) of this subdivision, the required annual test rate will be used to determine the minimum number of meters to be tested from each test group for each approved utility in an ensuing calendar year and shall be based upon meter performance at the check rate during the preceding calendar year. For example, the performance of meters at each approved utility in calendar year 1993 will determine the test rate for each meter test group and the number of meters required to be tested at the utility in calendar year 1995.

(i) Category A. Each approved utility shall test its domestic meters as follows:

(a) Except as provided for in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, the required annual rate of test for each meter type shall not be less than four percent. The annual rate of test shall be determined by using a base of 4.0 percent of such meters in service where 100 percent of the meters are within ±2.0 percent of 100 percent proof. For each one percent of the meters found over 2.0 percent slow, the test rate shall increase 0.133 percent. For each one percent of the meters found over 2.0 percent fast, the test rate shall increase 0.267 percent.

(b) The required annual rate of test for a meter type in an ensuing year shall be based on the preceding year's check rate performance of those meters last tested eight or more years prior. For those meter types in category A where the utility submits data indicating that more than 50 percent of the in-service meters were last tested within the previous eight years, the required annual rate of test for a meter type in the ensuing calendar year shall be based on the performance of meters in all age groups tested in the preceding calendar year.

(c) Where the calculated test rate is between 8 and 14 percent, the test rate shall be determined from table 1 of Appendix 7-A of this Title, infra.

(d) Where the calculated test rate exceeds 14 percent in table 1 of Appendix 7-A of this Title, infra, the following test rate shall apply: test rate = 2x+y36, where x = percentage of meters fast and y = percentage of meters slow.

(ii) Category B. Each approved utility may include meters servicing minimum bill customers separately in category B and test them as follows:

(a) The minimum number of category B meters to be tested on an annual basis shall be two percent of the utility's total number of minimum bill meters in service. In addition, on an annual basis, two percent of the total number of such meters in service shall be inspected for physical integrity and labeled on the customer's premises by qualified personnel. The meters inspected and labeled shall be those in service 10 or more years, the majority to be selected from those longest in service. In lieu of the number required for inspection, an equal number in service 10 or more years may be tested.

(b) The utility shall submit an annual summary report of those meters removed for fault and found to be faulty. Each reason for removal shall be segregated and reported separately, and will include the following: leak, does not pass gas, does not register, and meters found on inspection to be unserviceable.

(iii) Category C. With the exclusion of those meters qualifying for the option provided in category B, each approved utility may include meters registering 360 CCF or less in the preceding calendar year separately in category C and test them as follows:

(a) Except as provided for in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, the annual rate of test for each meter type in an ensuing year shall be determined by using a base of 3.5 percent of the qualifying meters in service where 100 percent of the meters in the preceding year are within ± 2.0 percent of 100 percent proof. For each one percent of the meters found over 2.0 percent slow, the test rate shall increase 0.067 percent. For each one percent of the meters found over 2.0 percent fast, the test rate shall increase 0.133 percent.

(b) Where the calculated annual test rate is between 5.5 and 8.5 percent, the test rate shall be determined from table 2 of Appendix 7-A of this Title, infra.

(c) Where the calculated annual test rate exceeds 8.5 percent in table 2 of Appendix 7-A of this Title, infra, the following test rate shall apply: test rate = 2x+y41.5, where x = percentage of meters fast and y = percentage of meters slow.

(iv) For meter types where 98 percent upon in-test are found to be within ± 1.5 percent of 100 percent proof in a preceding year, the test rate for the ensuing year shall be 2.0 percent of those type meters in service.

(5) The meters tested shall be from all age groups, the majority to be selected from those longest in service.

(6) The required meter tests for categories A and B shall include a minimum of one percent or 100 meters, whichever is less, for each age group in service. In addition, a sufficient number of meters shall be selected from the oldest age groups to comply with paragraph (4) of this subdivision.

(7) Meters removed from service for reasons other than the requirements set forth in paragraphs (4) and (6) of this subdivision may be included for compliance therewith, provided that:

(i) the number of meters removed for fault or found faulty that may be credited against the test requirements for any meter type shall not exceed the number of the meters tested and found to be in sound condition; and

(ii) meters that are removed and found to be inoperative or leaking shall be reported as such.

(8) Upon submission of a program satisfactory to the department staff, as described in subdivision (c) of this section, any utility may retire, or accelerate the repair of, any group of meters identifiable by make, type, or any other factor which affects performance. The number of meters that are removed in excess of the number that is required may be credited to those meters with a history of superior test rates. The number credited to each test group shall be limited to quantities which will assure a two-percent sample of the superior performing meters.

(9) Any utility that does not meet its annual test requirements, in any test group, shall schedule such deficits in the following year's test requirements. Where a utility has exceeded its test requirements in any test group, such meters may be credited toward any deficits in the current year requirements, providing that the credits are applied to those meters with a history of superior test rates. A maximum of two percent or 200 meters, whichever is less, in any test group, may be credited towards the following year's test requirements.

(c)Retirement program.

If a utility files with the department staff a satisfactory retirement program for any group of meters identifiable by make, type or any other factor which affects performance, the annual testing requirements of said type meter may be made as follows for the program's duration as set forth in the filing:

Period of retirement program, years	Minimum percent of retired meters to be tested per year
Not more than 15	20.0
Not more than 10	15.0
Not more than 5	10.0
Not more than 2	0.0

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 16 § 226.8