OAR 860-023-0015: Testing Gas and Electric Meters

(1) All meters shall be tested before installation, or within 30 days thereafter. No meter will be placed in service or be allowed to remain in service which has an error in registration in excess of two percent under conditions of normal operation. These requirements may be waived by written agreement if the energy utility provides an approved random sampling technique for testing new meters. (2) New meters, repaired meters, and meters that have been removed from service shall be correct to within two percent fast or slow before being installed or reinstalled. (3) Each energy utility shall adopt schedules for periodic tests and repairs of meters. The length of time meters shall be allowed to remain in service before receiving periodic tests and repairs is to be determined from periodic analysis of the accuracy of meters tested. The schedules adopted shall be subject to the Commission’s approval. (4) Whenever any meter is tested, the energy utility shall prepare a test record, including the information needed for identifying the meter, the reason for making the test, the reading of the meter, the result of the test, and all data taken at the time of the test in sufficiently complete form to permit the convenient checking of methods employed. The energy utility shall retain the current and immediately prior test records for all meters tested. (5) Each energy utility shall, unless specifically excluded by the Commission, provide such laboratory meter-testing equipment and other equipment and facilities as needed to make the tests required of it by these rules or other orders of the Commission. The apparatus and equipment so provided shall be subject to the Commission’s approval.