Wisconsin Administrative Code › Public Service Commission › Chapter PSC 134 - Standards For Gas Service › Section PSC 134.31 - Request and referee tests

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) Each utility
			 furnishing gas service shall make a test of the accuracy of any gas meter upon
			 request of the customer, provided the customer does not request such test more
			 frequently than once in 6 months. A report giving the results of each request
			 test shall be made to the customer and the complete, original record shall be
			 kept on file in the office of the utility. A customer or group of customers may
			 not abuse the request test procedures. Abuse shall be determined by the
			 commission.
(2) Any gas meter may
			 be tested by a commission inspector upon written application of the customer.
			 For such test, a fee shall be forwarded to the commission by the customer with
			 the application. The amount of this fee shall be refunded to the customer by
			 the utility if the meter is found to be more than 2% fast as determined in s.
			 PSC
			 134.14(1). The amount of the fee that
			 is to be remitted for such tests shall be $5 for each consumption meter that
			 has a rated capacity not exceeding 1,000 cubic feet per hour; for larger
			 consumption meters, demand meters, etc., the test fee shall be the actual
			 expense of the test.
(3) All
			 referee meter tests shall include an inspection of the meter index by removing
			 the index from the meter body. The dials, gears and all other parts of the
			 index shall be visually inspected for wear, misalignment or other mechanical
			 defects which would affect the accuracy of the meter on a continuing or
			 sporadic basis. Any defects affecting the meter's accuracy shall be noted and
			 evaluated in the report of the test.
(4) METER RETENTION.
(a)
After a customer requested
			 test.
When a utility performs a customer-requested test on a
			 customer's meter under sub. (1) or when the commission requests that a meter be
			 tested, the utility shall keep the tested meter, in "as tested" condition, at a
			 designated location on the utility's premises for at least one full billing
			 period plus four weeks after the test result report is issued so that the meter
			 is available should another meter test be requested. If the meter tests as
			 accurate, the utility may choose to keep the tested meter installed at the
			 customer's premises for the designated time period rather than storing it at
			 the utility's premises.
(b)
After a referee test.
When a utility performs a referee test
			 on a customer's meter under sub. (2), the utility shall keep the tested meter,
			 in "as tested" condition, at a designated location on the utility's premises
			 for at least 10 business days after the test result report is issued so that
			 the meter is available should further testing or review be needed. If the meter
			 tests as accurate, the utility may choose to keep the tested meter installed at
			 the customer's premises for the designated time period rather than storing it
			 at the utility's premises.
(c)
When a complaint or dispute occurs.
When a utility receives a
			 complaint under s.
			 PSC
			 134.17 or is notified about a dispute under s.
			 PSC
			 134.064 involving meter accuracy, the utility shall
			 keep the meter, in "as tested" condition, at a designated location on the
			 utility's premises for at least one full billing period plus four weeks after
			 the complaint or dispute and any appeal of that dispute is resolved so that the
			 meter is available should testing be requested. If the meter was tested during
			 the complaint or dispute process, and it tested as accurate, the utility may
			 choose to keep the tested meter installed at the customer's premises for the
			 designated time period rather than storing it at the utility's
			 premises.