The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-08-13
Railroad Commission Lays Down
Rules for Conduct of Gas and
Electric Companies
MUST ADJUST ALL METERS
New Rule Permits Sights Variations
But Holas These Within Certain
Limits--All Companies AT
fected by Rulings

The Wisconsin railroad commission
Wednesday issued an order fixing
standards for gas and electric service
in the state. The standards are in the
form of a set Of twenty-five rules and
are as follows:
Rule /. A meter may be considered
as correct if, when passing gas at the
rate of six cubic feet per hour per
light capacity, it shows, in comparison
with a standard gas proven, an error
which is not greater than per cent.
Check Once in Three Years
Rule 2. No gas company shall allow
a gas meter to remain in service for a
period longer than three years without
checking it for accuracy and readjust
ing it if found to be inaccurate.
Rule 3. Each company shall keep a
record Of tests made on meters before
installation and upon receiving them
from the services.
Rule 4. Each gas company shall pro-
vide itself with equipment necessary
for testing meters, such equipment to
consist Of 8 standard meter proven with
suitable accessories.
| Rule 5. Each gas company shall
make test of the accuracy of meter
upon request of consumer, provided
such consumer does not make a request
for test more frequently than once in
six months. A report giving the re-
suits of such tests shall be made to
the consumer, and a complete record of
such tests shall be kept on file in the
office of the company.
Rule 6. Upon formal application of
any consumer to the railroad commits
sion test shall be made upon the con-
sumner s meter by an Inspector employed
b. the railroad commission, such test
to be made as soon as practicable after
receipt of the application. For such
a test fee Of two dollars $4,000 shall
be paid by the consumer making appli-
cation for the test if the meter is
found to be slow or correct within the
allowable limits, and by the company
owning the meter if the meter is found
to be fast beyond the allowable limit.
| Rule z. Meter dials shall read d.
rectly in cubic feet Of gas and bills
rendered periodically by the company
shall designate the readings of the
meter at the beginning and end of
the time for which the bill is rendered
and give the dates at which the read
ings were taken,
Rule 8. The company furnishing gas
which, within a one mile radius from
the distribution center, given a month.
fly average total heating value Of not
less than 600 B. T. IT,, with a mimi
mum which shall not fall below $50
B. [. u, may be considered as giving
adequate service as far as the heating
!. value Of the gas is concerned.
Rule 8. Each gas company, whose
output exceeds twenty million cubic
feet a year, shall equip itself with a
STANDARD calorimeter outfit, with which
periodic tests upon the gas shall be
made. record of these tests shall be
made and kept open for public inspec-
tion.
Rule 10. Gas pressure, as measured
at meter inlets, shall never be less than
III inches nor more than inches OF
water pressure; and the daily varia
ton of pressure at the inlet of any
one meter on the system shall never
be greater than 100 per cent Of the
minimum pressure.
| Rule IL. Each company shall mako
frequent measurements of the pressure
and pressure variations, and these
shall be kept on record and open fol
Ipublic inspection.
| Rule Il. In no case shall the gas
contain more than thirty grains Of tota
Isulphur per 100 cubic feet, and not
more than a trace Of sulphur as sui
lphuretted hydrogen.
| Rule Is. Each company shall keer
La record of complaints which shall in
clude the name and address Of the con
Isumer, the date, the nature of the com
Iplaint and the remedy. A classified
summary of these records shall be sub
4 HtlbbCu W Tile commission on or before
the twenty eighth day of each month
for the preceding month.
| Rule Il. No electric meter which
registers upon emo load'' shall b.
lplaced in service or allowed TO remain
in service.
Four Per Cent Error Allowed
Rule IS. NO electric meter shall bt
placed in service or allowed to remain
il service which has m error of regis
itration in excess of 4 per cent on Igh
load, half load, or full load.
Rule 16. Each electric service mete
shall be tested and adjusted for &C
curacy at the time of, its installation.
Rule II. Each electric service mete
shall 6e tested at least once each year
the test to be made by comparing tn
meter while connected in its place O
service with suitable standards, on ligh
load half load, and full load rate o
operation.
Rule718. a complete record shall b
kept Of all tests made on electric me
ters.