S-E-04—Installation requirements for multiple customer metering systems

Category: Electricity
Specification: S-E-04 (rev. 3)
Document(s): P-E-04
Issue date:
Effective date:
Supersedes: S-E-04 (rev. 2)


Table of contents


1.0 Scope

These specifications apply to the installation of multiple customer metering systems (MCMSs) which are used for the purpose of obtaining the basis of a charge in accordance with section 9 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

2.0 Authority

These specifications are issued under the authority of sections 12 and 18 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations.

3.0 Definitions

Act

The Electricity and Gas Inspection Act.

Authorized representative

Any Measurement Canada inspector or accredited organization authorized by Measurement Canada to perform the functions outlined in this document.

Commissioning

The process or procedure used during installation of multiple customer metering systems prior to activation to ensure the system is operating correctly. (For example, the process for assessing that current sensors or instrument transformers are connected to the correct load and associated with the applicable voltage connections.)

Contractor

Any person or body that has undertaken to supply electricity or gas to any purchaser.

Current test block

An appropriate terminal block or test switch used in a current circuit which allows the connection of test equipment to the current measuring circuit of the meter without interrupting the circuit.

Current transformer

A measuring instrument transformer in which the secondary current, in normal conditions of use, is substantially proportional to the primary current and differs in phase from it by an angle which is approximately zero for an appropriate direction of the connections.

Instrument transformer

A measuring transformer which is intended to reproduce in its secondary circuit, in a definite and known proportion, the current or voltage of its primary circuit with the phase relations substantially preserved.

Multiple customer metering system or device

Metering system that requires on-site central processing of metrological information for more than one metering point and which meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Systems that employ external sensors that are integral to the meter. These systems are generally used in multi-customer applications; however, they can operate as stand-alone, single-point meters.
  2. Systems that employ external approved instrument transformers that are not integral to the meter. This includes approved conventional current transformers with up to a 5 amp secondary output, approved current transformers having a secondary output up to 80 mA or 100 mA, and approved voltage transformers. These systems can be used in multi-customer applications; however, they can operate as stand-alone, single-point meters.
Sensor

A device for converting an alternating electrical quantity into another quantity for measurement purposes.

Voltage transformer

A measuring instrument transformer in which the secondary voltage, in normal conditions of use, is substantially proportional to the primary voltage and differs from it by an angle which is approximately zero for an appropriate direction of the connections.

Voltage test block

An appropriate terminal block or test switch used in a voltage circuit for isolating the voltage measuring circuit to the meter and providing a convenient point for the connection of test equipment.

4.0 Responsibilities of accredited organizations

4.1 The installation shall adhere to all applicable requirements of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and Regulations, including related specifications and bulletins.

4.2 Any installation found not to be in compliance with Measurement Canada requirements shall be reported to the local Measurement Canada district office.

5.0 Administrative requirements

5.1 General

5.1.1 The contractor shall be registered to supply electricity in accordance with section 6 of the Act.

5.1.2 The device shall be approved for billing purposes in accordance with the Act.

5.1.3 MCMSs shall be verified and sealed in accordance with the Act prior to installation.

5.1.4 Any additional installation requirements identified in the notice of approval shall be adhered to.

5.1.5 When auxiliary equipment such as instrument transformers is used in conjunction with the metering system, it shall be approved for billing purposes in accordance with the Act and installed in compliance with Measurement Canada requirements.

5.2 Notification

The contractor or the MCMS supplier or agent, on behalf of the contractor, shall supply written notification to the local Measurement Canada district office no later than 30 days from the date of activation of the system. This notification will include, as a minimum, the name of the owner/contractor, full mailing address, name of the contact person, phone number, location of installation, type of system, number of metering points and the date the installation was activated.

5.3 Contractor representative

The contractor shall provide a representative with authority to access all metering points and shall be legally authorized to work on live electrical equipment for all on-site inspections.

5.4 Documentation

All original inspection certificates and meter configuration charts shall be provided by the contractor upon request. The contractor shall also provide a schematic diagram indicating the locations of all metering equipment, including all sensors and/or instrument transformers within the building's electrical system.

5.5 Access

The authorized representative shall have safe and ready access to all system components, including all external sensing devices and/or auxiliary equipment for the purpose of conducting on-site inspections.

5.6 Safety

If any part of this document conflicts with official safety code requirements, the safety code requirements shall take precedence.

6.0 Technical requirements

6.1 General

Metering systems shall be installed and wired to facilitate on-site testing, which may include the possibility of service shut downs if the system cannot be easily removed from service. Additional information, including generic installation inspection procedures and requirements, can be obtained from Measurement Canada.

6.2 Hardware mounting arrangements

All components shall be securely mounted so as to facilitate safe and convenient access.

6.3 Connection of test equipment

6.3.1 Provisions shall be made for the connection of test equipment to all current carrying conductors and voltage circuits.

6.3.2 For voltage circuits, a voltage test block or a disconnect switch shall be installed. The working voltage at this point shall be no less than 120 volts AC and no more than 600 volts AC.

6.3.3 For systems utilizing separately approved instrument transformers, a current test block shall be installed. As a minimum, provisions shall be made to allow the connection of a clip-on ammeter to the secondary current conductors of the transformers.

6.4 Measurement circuits

6.4.1 The voltage for any given meter shall be taken from the same source in which the current is being measured.

6.4.2 In addition, the voltage supplied to the metering system should be connected in close proximity to the current sensing elements to ensure that the total measurement error does not exceed the tolerances prescribed by section 31 of the Regulations.

6.4.3 The voltage sensing circuit and the current sensing circuit shall be separate and distinct. For example, the secondary wiring of the voltage sensors shall not pass through the current sensing elements.

6.5 Visible traceability

6.5.1 To facilitate tracing, all voltage and current primary and secondary sensor connections shall be identified through the use of labels, tags or colour coding, in relation to the phase in which they are connected. Refer to Measurement Canada's Generic Procedure for Conducting Installation Verifications of Multiple Customer Metering Systems for standard colour codes.

6.5.2 All sensor serial numbers shall be visible, legible and permanently affixed to the sensors.

6.5.3 For sensors where visual inspection is not possible or does not provide conclusive evidence of the metrological validity of the system, other options may be used, such as taking voltage readings, de-energizing circuits, using circuit tracers or validation through cross phase measurements.

6.6 Commissioning process

6.6.1 All MCMSs shall be subject to a commissioning process by the contractor prior to activation of the service.

7.0 Installation verification requirements

7.1 Installation verifications shall be carried out by a representative authorized under the Act.

7.2 All metering systems shall be subjected to an initial installation verification concurrent with the commissioning process but no later than one year from the date that the device was activated.

7.3 The installation shall be inspected to the system's original verification configuration and the installation schematic diagram to ensure that the following are correct:

  1. All voltage connections, including any external voltage sensors.
  2. All current connections, including the external current sensors.
  3. All phase associations between all voltage and current circuits.
  4. All metering points are connected to the applicable service.

7.4 Systems utilizing separately approved instrument transformers shall conform to MC's standard drawings and the installation schematic diagram, and shall be verified to ensure the following are correct:

  1. All voltage and current connections to the instrument transformers.
  2. Phase association between all voltage and current circuits.
  3. All metering points are connected to the applicable service.
  4. Colour coding or labelling of instrument transformer wiring.
  5. All grounding of the instrument transformer secondaries.
  6. Polarity of the instrument transformers.
  7. Nameplate markings of the instrument transformers.

7.5 Installation verification records shall be maintained and show evidence of conformity with these requirements.

8.0 Installation seals

8.1 Provisions shall be made for the effective hard sealing of all terminal blocks, strips, paddle boards, etc. used for the purpose of connecting external sensors and/or instrument transformers to the main body of the meter. This sealing requirement is in addition to the initial verification (in shop) and sealing of the metrological components.

8.2 Following the completion of all mandatory on-site installation inspections, pursuant to section 7.0 of this document, the MCMS shall be sealed by an authorized representative.

8.3 Where the installation inspection pursuant to section 7.0 is not completed at the time of commissioning, the MCMS shall be sealed by the registered contractor prior to activation.

9.0 Breaking of installation seal

9.1 As prescribed by section 8.0 of this document, the seal may be broken by an authorized representative for the purpose of allowing modifications to an existing installation or for the purpose of initiating a reverification process.

9.2 Such modifications may include adding, removing, replacing or upgrading existing metering points, replacing blown fuses, or making other modifications which have no metrological impact on the integrity of the overall metering system.

9.3 The seal shall be replaced once verification of the modification has been made in accordance with section 8.0 of this document or the non-metrological component has been replaced.

9.4 Breaking of installation seal by registered contractor

9.4.1 The registered contractor may break the installation seal on the condition that they inform the local district office. The local district office shall be provided with a rationale prior to the breaking of the installation seal by the registered contractor.

9.4.2 The registered contractor shall maintain records or log of events kept when breaking a seal which includes the following:

  1. Any events or modifications which require that the seal as prescribed in section 8.0 of this document be broken.
  2. Name of registered contractor representative.
  3. Date the seal was broken.
  4. Reasons for breaking the seal and description of the work performed.
  5. A statement that the system has been reassessed in accordance with the registered contractor's commissioning process and resealed related to the meter's inspection numbers, serial numbers, locations, etc.
  6. List of equipment that has been installed or changed for any reason such as blown fuses, power outages, upgrades, etc.

9.5 At no time shall an unsealed installation be used for revenue purposes.

10.0 Installation modifications

An authorized representative accredited for MCMS installation inspections or the local Measurement Canada district office shall be notified, in advance, of any modifications required to an MCMS. Any modifications to an MCMS are subject to all requirements of this document including the re-inspection of the installation modifications pursuant to section 7.0.

11.0 Records of installation modifications

11.1 Records or logs of events kept by the authorized representative when breaking an installation seal shall include the following:

  1. Reasons for breaking the installation seal and description of the work performed.
  2. Name of the accredited organization, including the name of the organization's employee who conducted the work.
  3. Date the installation seal was broken.
  4. List of equipment that has been installed or changed for any reason such as meter inspection numbers, serial numbers, locations, blown fuses, power outages, upgrades, etc.
  5. Updated system configuration chart and installation wiring diagrams identifying modifications to the system.
  6. A record that the system has been re-inspected and resealed according to the accredited organization's procedures and these specifications.

12.0 Revisions

The purpose of revision 1 was to clarify the requirements for accredited organizations.

The purpose of revision 2 was to:

  1. add a new section addressing responsibilities of accredited organizations;
  2. add a new section addressing measurement circuits and colour coding;
  3. expand and provide additional clarity to inspection requirements;
  4. expand and provide additional clarification of installation seals and breaking installation seals;
  5. reorganize and reformat the document;
  6. include requirements for commissioning.

The purpose of revision 3 is to clarify the definition of the term "multiple customer metering system".