COVID-19

Table of contents

The impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt by individuals and communities around the world. Given the rapidly changing environment, we must all do our part.

Measurement Canada (MC), an agency of the Government of Canada's Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development is continuing to take steps to protect the safety of our people and communities by evaluating and modifying our service delivery to respect public health measures. We are working to deliver our legislative mandate, programs and services, while also taking measures to reduce the potential for the spread of COVID-19 and the impacts on our clients and stakeholders.

The health and safety of our employees is our first priority. The following protocols must be followed by all MC employees based on the current advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada (this advice is subject to change):

  • Employees who have travelled outside of Canada should, upon their return, self-isolate or self-quarantine for 14 days;
  • Employees who have COVID-19 symptoms must advise their manager immediately, contact their local public health authority or medical practitioner, and leave the workplace. If they cannot leave the workplace immediately, they must self-isolate at their workstation or other designated location and avoid contact with other staff; and
  • Employees who are at home and who may have COVID-19 are to follow the advice of their local public health authority regarding self-isolation or self-quarantine.

MC expects regulated parties and contractors entering MC facilities to take similar measures.

Because the situation is constantly evolving, our plans may change, and if they do, we will continue to let you know. This information will be updated when there are changes to our approach and when service delivery begins to return to normal operating conditions.

List of services

Type approvals

The Weights and Measures Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act require that scales, gas pumps, electricity and natural gas meters, and other measuring devices used in financial transactions based on measurement be approved by MC. These type approvals require the physical evaluation of a prototype device.

MC's approval services laboratories are providing type approval services with a limited number of staff. The laboratories are accepting type approval applications as well as receiving prototype devices (with prior consent) at our testing facilities at 151 Tunney's Pasture Driveway in Ottawa and shipping them from there.

We are making every effort to address delays resulting from the laboratories' reduction in service capacity, maximize our operations, respond to client needs and deliver services according to our service standards.

Questions? Please send an email to ic.mcinfo-infomc.ic@canada.ca.

Standards calibrations

The Weights and Measures Act and Electricity and Gas Inspection Act require that physical standards of mass, length, volume, gas flow, pressure, temperature and electricity used to certify the accuracy of measuring devices be calibrated and certified at intervals prescribed by regulation.

Many MC calibration laboratories are open, but operating with minimal staff. Our calibration laboratories in Ottawa are accepting and calibrating standards.

For further information on our calibration services, please send an email to ic.mcinfo-infomc.ic@canada.ca.

MC may allow certain test (local) standards (e.g. weight kits) and measuring apparatus (e.g. electricity meter test consoles) that cannot be calibrated, and/or that have passed their recertification date to continue to be used by MC accredited or registered authorized service providers for examinations and verifications. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Questions? Please send an email to MC's Engineering and Laboratory Services Directorate at ic.mcinfo-infomc.ic@canada.ca.

Measuring devices due for examination during the Covid 19 pandemic

As you may know, businesses (device owners) operating in one or more of the eight trade sectors (dairy, grain and field crops, fishing, forestry, mining, retail food, retail petroleum and wholesale petroleum) are required to have their devices examined (inspected) within mandatory examination frequencies. It is an offence under Canada's Weights and Measures Act to use a device after the next examination due date has passed.

Because of the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of associated public health measures on businesses, we stopped notifying them of that requirement in 2020 and suspended related enforcement actions. We plan to resume the delivery of notifications to remind businesses of their legal obligations, but no enforcement action will be taken at this time given the challenges businesses continue to experience as a result of the pandemic. Nevertheless, we strongly encourage businesses operating in one or more of the eight trade sectors and who own measuring devices due for recertification to take the necessary steps to book the examination of their devices as soon as operationally possible.

Inspections performed by MC before the device is placed into service

Please contact an MC representative to schedule an inspection.

During an inspection, industry should not ask our inspectors and officials to sign documents such as visitor request forms and COVID-19 screening forms before entering its facilities. It is expected that information of that nature would have been shared in a collaborative way prior to the inspection taking place in order to minimize the risk of public health issues arising as they relate to COVID-19. As you are aware, MC officials are not present at establishments as visitors, but rather, as inspectors under MC's legislation, which allows them to enter any place in which they have reasonable grounds to believe that an activity regulated by MC legislation is conducted, for the purpose of verifying compliance and/or preventing non-compliance.

MC employees are required to follow the policies, procedures and terms of employment established by their employer. Additionally, although MC inspectors are not obligated to share personal information with regulated parties regarding their personal travels or health conditions, under these unprecedented times, some information may be shared to protect all individuals within COVID-19 public health guidelines.

MC understands the concerns of industry with respect to COVID-19 and the exceptional circumstances that currently exist. The purpose of this notice is to inform regulated parties of some of the measures that it has put in place regarding the COVID-19 situation. These measures are informed by MC's obligations regarding the health and safety of its employees, which derive from Part II of the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Regarding the COVID-19 situation, MC is also taking into consideration the advice and recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and Treasury Board.

Any requests can be made by sending an email to ic.mcinfo-infomc.ic@canada.ca.

Meters due for replacement or reverification

Electricity and gas meters due for replacement or reverification

Accessibility issues

In March 2020, MC temporarily suspended the requirements for meter replacement and reverification. Utilities and other contractors with meters due for replacement or reverification were encouraged to suspend the removal of meters at residences and other public places while COVID-19 public health measures were in place.

MC, in collaboration with its electricity and gas industry partners, developed and implemented a risk management framework (RMF) to facilitate the replacement and reverification of meters that were more likely to create energy consumption errors for consumers while taking into account the measures imposed by public health authorities.

Supply chain issues

Supply chain disruptions were significant during the COVID-19 lockdowns and continue to be a issue due to a range of factors such as changes in demand, labour and component shortages and high demand for raw materials. In addition, recent geopolitical conflicts and the potential for renewed restrictions have exacerbated the global supply chain crisis. Canadian electricity and gas industry stakeholders, such as local distribution companies, meter manufacturers, energy producers and transmission companies, face challenges in certain areas of their operational activities due to failing supply chains and delivery of essential components. For local distribution companies, this could ultimately impact their ability to fulfill their legal obligations with respect to in-service meters that are due for replacement or reverification.

As part of its mandate, MC must ensure that utilities and other contractors comply with the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations. However, in the event of such unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of a utility or contractor, some flexibility in the administration of the legislation should be provided. This flexibility will be balanced with consumer protection and consideration of vulnerable parties.

Revision of the scope of the risk management framework

In response, MC has revised the scope of its RMF to address a broader set of challenges resulting from unforeseen circumstances, such as those mentioned above.

Questions and answers

  1. What is a risk management framework?

    A risk management framework helps to determine the risk and probability of measurement inaccuracy for in-service residential and commercial electricity and gas meters as they get closer to the end of their service life. The duration of a meter's service life is variable and depends on its long-term performance reliability, past performance when reverified and conditions of use (e.g. supply pressure, outdoor/indoor environments and service conditions).

  2. What are unforeseen circumstances?

    These are generally circumstances beyond the control of utilities or contractors that affect their ability to fulfill their legal obligations with respect to meters due for replacement or reverification. Examples of unforeseen circumstances include:

    • restrictive public health measures limiting access to in-service meters (e.g. the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures)
    • supply chain issues affecting the availability of new meters, replacement parts or components.

    Note: Financial or human resource problems that utilities or service providers may face are not generally considered to be unforeseen circumstances and cannot be addressed by a RMF.

  3. What should utilities do when they can't access meters due to measures imposed by public health authorities?

    All meters that aren't accessible due to public health measures must be identified and the reasons for their inaccessibility must be documented. Examples of reasons include the following:

    • Restriction of regional mobility of public services
    • Site access requires travelling under unsafe sanitary conditions
    • Site access is not possible due to a lockdown, quarantine or travel restrictions
    • Customer refuses access

  4. What should utilities do when they experience supply chain issues that affect their ability to meet their legal obligations with respect to in-service meters that are due for replacement or reverification?

    The circumstances surrounding supply chain issues as well as the resulting impact on the utility and possible solutions should be documented.

  5. What should consumers do if they have concerns about a meter replacement?

    Meters can be removed from service for a variety of reasons; however, additional directives similar to those issued by local public health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic must be followed. If a meter is being removed for a reason other than those mentioned above, or if public health measures cannot be followed, consumers should contact their utility or provider about their concerns.

Filing of a complaint

MC will continue to accept complaints of suspected inaccurate measurement. A preliminary review of the complaint will be performed based on the information provided by the consumer and other data MC has at its disposal. Depending on the results of this review, MC may schedule an inspection at a later date. In all cases, the consumer will be advised of the actions MC will be taking.

Provision of technical guidance

MC technical specialists and program officers provide direction and guidance on the application and interpretation of the acts, regulations, policies and procedures as part of their regular activities. There will be no change to the process for this type of service.

Questions? Please contact the MC official you have worked with in the past or send an email to ic.mcinfo-infomc.ic@canada.ca.

Submission of inspection results

The Online Reporting Application (ORA) Support Desk is operating as usual.

Questions? Please contact the ORA Support Desk at ora-adel@ised-isde.gc.ca.

Audit and oversight of authorized service providers

MC holds conformity assessment meetings and performs audits, follow-up inspections and recognized technician evaluations of authorized service providers recognized to certify scales, gas pumps, as well as electricity and natural gas meters.

Planned audits and other oversight activities of authorized service providers will be conducted in alternative ways wherever possible. You will be contacted by your MC representative concerning audit and oversight activities.

If an audit will proceed, industry should not ask our auditors and officials to sign various documents such as visitor request forms and COVID-19 screening forms before entering its facilities. It is expected that information of that nature would have been shared in a collaborative way prior to the audit taking place in order to minimize the risk of public health issues arising as they relate to COVID-19. As you are aware, MC officials are not present at establishments as visitors, but rather, as officials recognized under MC's legislation, which allows them to enter any place in which they have reasonable grounds to believe that an activity regulated by MC legislation is conducted, for the purpose of verifying compliance and/or preventing non-compliance.

MC employees are required to follow the policies, procedures and terms of employment established by their employer. Additionally, although MC auditors are not obligated to share personal information with regulated parties regarding their personal travels or health conditions, under these unprecedented times, some information may be shared to protect all individuals within COVID-19 public health guidelines.

MC understands the concerns of industry with respect to COVID-19 and the exceptional circumstances that currently exist. The purpose of this notice is to inform regulated parties of some of the measures that it has put in place regarding the COVID-19 situation. These measures are informed by MC's obligations regarding the health and safety of its employees, which derive from Part II of the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Regarding the COVID-19 situation, MC is also taking into consideration the advice and recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and Treasury Board.

Renewal of your recognition to perform inspections will proceed as normal.

Questions? Please contact the MC auditor assigned to you.

Training of authorized service provider recognized technicians

To the extent possible, MC is taking steps to deliver mandatory training online.

Questions? Please contact the MC auditor assigned to your organization.

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