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 501.110 - Location and Installation of Meters

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) A
				utility shall install a meter on a service applicant's premises as near as practical
				to the point of entrance of gas service into the service applicant's building or
				utilization area as mutually agreed upon by the utility and service applicant. The
				utility shall install a meter in a readily accessible location and protect the meter
				from corrosion and other damage.
b) A
				utility shall not install a meter indoors unless outdoor installation is not
				possible or would make the meter installation financially infeasible. A utility
				shall not install an indoor meter in sleeping rooms, in small, unventilated areas,
				or in locations where the installation, reading or removal of the meter may prove
				difficult or hazardous. A utility shall not install indoor meters less than three
				feet from any ignition source or source of heat that might damage the meter. A
				utility shall not install a meter in a location where expected temperatures are
				likely to exist outside the range recommended by the meter manufacturer.
c) A utility shall not install a meter in front of
				a residential dwelling except with the consent of the service applicant or if no
				other practical external location is available.
d) A utility shall install all meters in a secured
				upright and level position. A utility may vary from this requirement if it installs
				a meter whose accuracy does not depend upon an upright and level installation. A
				utility shall install each meter to minimize anticipated stresses upon the
				connecting piping and the meter.
e) If
				it is not practical for a utility to locate a meter installation in a place free of
				vehicular traffic hazards, the utility shall install meter protection such as guard
				posts or rails to protect the meter installation from damage. If the utility
				determines meter protection is necessary, then the utility shall inform the service
				applicant and include an estimate of the cost for the additional meter protection.
				The service applicant may install the guard posts or rails prior to the installation
				of the meter if the utility approves the proposed protection, or the service
				applicant may reimburse the utility for the cost and installation of the guard posts
				or rails.
f) A utility may refuse to
				install a meter or to serve a service applicant if, in the utility's judgment, the
				metering installation is hazardous or the service applicant's installation of piping
				or gas burning equipment is hazardous or of such character that the utility cannot
				provide service in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 8-101 of the
				Act. In case of refusal, the utility shall inform the service applicant in writing
				of the reason for refusal to render service and make the service applicant aware of
				the refusal to provide service within five business days after the decision to
				refuse service.
g) A utility shall not
				install a meter without a temperature compensation device unless the utility uses a
				corrector or other acceptable auxiliary equipment to correct the meter's reading for
				temperature variation. A utility may install non-temperature compensated meters in
				indoor locations if the utility uses only that type and size of meter in indoor
				locations.
h) Each diaphragm, rotary and
				turbine meter shall have a register or display on the meter or correcting device
				that displays consumption in a definite and known proportion to the actual energy
				consumption of the customer, that is plainly visible, and that a customer can read.
				A customer may waive this requirement in writing. This requirement shall not affect
				the utility's right to secure meters for safety reasons or in situations in which
				the meter is subject to excessive risk of damage or tampering. At the customer's
				request, a utility shall explain to the customer how to read the meter used for
				billing that customer.
i) A utility
				shall avoid installing a meter or auxiliary or tertiary equipment in locations where
				the meter or auxiliary or tertiary equipment is in direct contact with soil or
				concrete unless the manufacturer designed the meter or equipment for those
				conditions.
j) A utility shall have
				security seals installed on all meters and auxiliary and tertiary equipment or take
				measures to secure its equipment in order to deter unauthorized personnel from
				tampering with it.
k) A utility shall
				secure all meter bypass valves when not in use in order to deter unauthorized
				personnel from tampering with them while also providing a readily apparent visual
				indication of tampering or other diversion activities.
l) A utility shall secure a regulator that it uses
				in conjunction with fixed factor billing if it discovers tampering with the pressure
				setting.