Illinois Administrative Code › Title 83 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part 501 - STANDARDS OF SERVICE FOR GAS UTILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIERS › Subpart B - NATURAL GAS MEASUREMENT REQUIREMENTS › Section 501.260 - Meter Tests Requested by the Customer

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) Upon the
				request of a customer, if the utility or manufacturer has not tested the meter
				within 12 months prior to the request, a utility furnishing metered gas service
				shall, without charge, test the accuracy of a meter used to measure the customer's
				gas consumption if either the meter's rated capacity is less than 16,000 cubic feet
				per hour or the meter's rated capacity is equal to or greater than 16,000 cubic feet
				per hour and the test can be done without removing the meter. If a customer so
				desires, a utility shall allow the customer or its representatives to witness the
				meter test, whether conducted on the customer's premises or at the utility's
				metering shop. The utility shall provide a written summary of the results of the
				meter test to the customer within five business days.
b) A utility shall test a meter within 45 days
				after receiving a customer's request, unless the customer agrees to a later time.
				The utility shall conduct the meter test between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through
				Friday, excluding holidays, unless the utility and the customer agree to a different
				day or time.
c) If a customer requests a
				test of a meter used to measure the customer's gas consumption and the customer
				wishes to witness the test, but the utility's testing facility is located out of
				state, the utility shall provide the option of having the meter tested at an
				in-state testing facility, if that location is more convenient for the customer,
				provided that the alternative location is in good standing with the Commission. A
				meter shop is in good standing if a Commission representative has conducted a review
				of the facility for compliance with the requirements of this Part within the last 40
				months and the meter shop has no outstanding non-compliance issues associated with
				its ability to accurately measure meter accuracy. A Commission representative shall
				advise, upon request by a utility, whether a meter shop is in good
				standing.
d) If a customer requests an
				accuracy test of a meter used to measure the customer's gas consumption, but the
				meter has a rated capacity equal to or greater than 16,000 cubic feet per hour and
				the requested test requires the physical removal of the meter, then the customer
				shall pay to the utility the costs associated with the test. A utility may not
				charge a customer more than $10,000 for the test unless the utility must send the
				meter to a non-affiliated third party for testing and, in that case, the utility may
				not charge a customer more than $25,000 for the test. In the testing costs charged
				to the customer, a utility may include meter removal and installation labor, costs
				associated with transportation of the meter to and from a meter shop, shop testing
				labor, transportation charges to send the meter to and from an outside testing
				facility, and outside testing lab fees. If a meter over-registers by more than 2%, a
				utility shall reimburse a customer its payment of fees associated with the meter
				test. A utility shall provide to its customer an itemized written statement of the
				cost of a requested meter test, obtain the customer's agreement to pay the stated
				cost, and receive payment from the customer for the requested meter test before
				taking any action to remove the meter or begin the requested meter test.
e) No later than April 1 of each year, a utility
				shall provide a report to the Director of the Safety and Reliability Division
				regarding the number of customer-requested meter tests that the utility conducted in
				the prior calendar year. The report shall list the meter size, meter type, test
				results, and testing location for each meter tested.
f) A utility shall waive the 12-month waiting
				period identified in subsection (a) for customer-requested meter tests if a customer
				makes one of the following demonstrations:
1) A
				deviation in the customer's measured gas usage in excess of 10% occurred following
				the utility's installation of a different meter on the customer's service and the
				difference is not attributable to weather or the customer's process changes;
				or
2) Relevant facts that point to
				potential accuracy problems with the meter.