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2005-05-03 Communiqué - Moratorium on the Application of Authorized Draft Specifications: Proposed Approval Amendments for Electronic Metering Devices, Event Logger Section only - Gas Meters (issued: 1992-01-15; Reference: Bulletin Gen-06)

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Moratorium on the Application of Authorized Draft Specifications: Proposed Approval Amendments for Electronic Metering Devices, Event Logger Section only - Gas Meters (issued: 1992-01-15; Reference: Bulletin Gen-06), in PDF format, 109 KB


Issue

Measurement Canada has experienced a significant number of application difficulties with regard to the Agency’s authorized draft specifications: Proposed Approval Amendments for Electronic Metering Devices, Event Logger Section only (issued: 1992-01-15; Reference: Bulletin Gen-06), as concerns their application to the pattern approval of gas meters. Consequently, for reasons outlined in this information notice, a moratorium has been established on the application of these authorized draft specifications.


Background and Considerations

Section 9 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act (Act) requires that a meter be verified and sealed prior to use in service. Subsection 15(2) of the Act requires that a meter with a broken seal not be continued in service until it has been reverified and resealed. The “sealing” aspects of the legislation are intended to provide means of detecting unauthorized access to areas in the meter which contain functions and parameters which may affect the accuracy of a meter.

In the early 1990s, advancements in meter technology enabled the potential for use of event loggers as possible alternatives to physical sealing. In 1992, Measurement Canada established draft requirements for event loggers for this purpose. However, with the advancement in technology and two-way communications which have occurred over the last decade, the effectiveness and application of the 1992 event loggers requirements as a potential alternative to physical sealing has come further into question.

To address these developments, Measurement Canada has worked to define and identify applicable requirements for a “seal”, including new requirements for event loggers which could be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to hard sealing. To provide guidance for the establishment of these requirements, Measurement Canada developed the documents entitled Principles for Sealing Meters and Trade Devices (issued 1999-07-26) and Principles for Event Loggers (issued 1999-11-19), both of which are published on the Agency’s Web site. Further to the publication of the applicable principles, Measurement Canada has developed and held a public consultation on the draft specification for the pattern approval of event loggers on electricity meters. These specifications are expected to be finalized and released during the current fiscal year.

As a result of the work conducted in this area, it has become apparent that interim interpretations and additional new pattern approval requirements will be needed if the Agency is to continue to effectively apply the current authorized draft specifications for gas meter event loggers. However, Measurement Canada has concluded that the implementation of any new requirements would result in amending the current authorized draft specifications and could pre-empt the effective completion of the work and consultation needed to develop new comprehensive specifications applicable to pattern approval of gas meter event loggers.

In consideration of these factors, Measurement Canada has decided to establish a moratorium, effective immediately, on the application of the Agency’s authorized draft specifications: Proposed Approval Amendments for Electronic Metering Devices, Event Logger Section only (issued: 1992-01-15), as they pertain to the pattern approval of gas meters. An amendment will be made to bulletin Gen-06 to reflect this decision. This moratorium will remain in effect until new gas meter event logger specifications are developed in consultation with natural gas stakeholders and issued by the Agency. This decision will not affect any gas meters which currently have approved event loggers.

Notwithstanding the above, Measurement Canada will continue to require that gas meters be designed with physical sealing provisions which prevent access to metrological components (such as pressure and temperature transducers, etc.) as currently established in the Agency’s pattern approval specifications for gas meters (LMB-EG-08, clause 3-3.3). It should be noted that for the purpose of pattern approval this device design requirement is to be met notwithstanding the verification and sealing policies which have been issued by Measurement Canada.

Any enquiries with respect to this notice should be directed to the following Measurement Canada representative:

Bruce Lyng