DATE:	August 21, 2014
TO:	Office of Commission Clerk (Stauffer)
FROM:	Office of the General Counsel (Cowdery) Division of Economics (Rome) Division of Engineering (Moses, Velazquez)
RE:	Docket No. 140131-EU – Proposed Amendment of Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., Determination of Average Meter Registration Error.
AGENDA:	09/04/14 – Regular Agenda – Rule Proposal - Interested Persons May Participate
COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED:			All Commissioners
PREHEARING OFFICER:			Brown
RULE STATUS:			Proposal may be deferred
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:			None

 

 Case Background

Pursuant to Section 366.05(1), Florida Statutes (F.S.), the Commission has jurisdiction to prescribe standards of quality and measurements for public utilities and to adopt rules to implement and enforce the provisions of Chapter 366, F.S.  Section 366.05(3), F.S., specifically states that the Commission must provide for the examination and testing of all meters used for measuring any product or service of a public utility.  Rule 25-6.058, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), Determination of Average Meter Registration Error, describes how average meter registration error for watthour and demand registers is to be determined.  This recommendation addresses whether Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., should be amended to correct an error in the description of the average registration error calculation in subparagraph (1)(c)1.

Notice of the rule development appeared in the May 29, 2014 edition of the Florida Administrative Register.  There was no request for a workshop and no workshop was held.  The Commission has jurisdiction pursuant to Chapter 366.05, F.S.

 

Discussion of Issues

Issue 1: 

 Should the Commission propose the amendment of Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., Determination of Average Meter Registration Error?

Recommendation: 

 Yes, the Commission should propose the amendment of Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., as set forth in Attachment A.  (Cowdery, Moses, Rome)

Staff Analysis: 

 Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., which describes how utilities must determine average meter registration error, applies to the five investor-owned electric utilities.  The current language in subparagraph (1)(c)1., describes one of two methods a utility may use to determine the average registration error if a polyphase metering installation is used on a varying load.  The subparagraph states:

The weighted algebraic average of its error at light load (approximately 10 percent rates test amperes) given a weight of one, its error at heavy load (approximately 100 percent rated test amperes) and 100 percent factor given a weight of four, and at heavy load (approximately 100 percent rated test amperes) and 50 percent lagging power factor given a weight of two; ...

(emphasis added).  As written, the current rule language expressed as an equation is (4FL +LL + 2PF)/7 rather than correct equation, (4FL + 2LL + PF)/7, as contained in the current ANSI Standard.  This is because the words “one” and “two,” as shown in bold font in the paragraph above, were inadvertently switched.  Staff recommends that this error be corrected, as shown in Attachment A.

Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs

 

            Pursuant to Section 120.54, F.S., agencies are encouraged to prepare a statement of estimated regulatory costs (SERC) before the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule.  The SERC is appended as Attachment B.  The SERC analyzes whether the rule repeal is likely to have an adverse impact on growth, private sector job creation or employment, or private sector investment in excess of $1 million in the aggregate within 5 years after implementation. The SERC concludes that the amendment of Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., will likely not directly or indirectly increase regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in aggregate in Florida within 1 year after implementation.  Further, the SERC concludes that the rule amendment will not likely have an adverse impact on business competitiveness, productivity, or innovation in excess of $1 million in the aggregate within 5 years of implementation. Thus, the rule amendment does not require legislative ratification, pursuant to Section 120.541(3), Florida Statutes.   In addition, the SERC states that amendment of Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C., would not have an adverse impact on small businesses, and would have no impact on small cities or small counties.  The SERC addresses additional statutory requirements. 

 

Staff recommends that the Commission should propose the amendment of Rule 25-6.058, F.A.C.

Issue 2: 

 Should this docket be closed?

Recommendation: 

 Yes.  If no requests for hearing or comments are filed, the rule should be filed with the Department of State, and the docket should be closed. (Cowdery)

Staff Analysis: 

  If no requests for hearing or comments are filed, the rule should be filed with the Department of State, and the docket should be closed.

 

 

25-6.058 Determination of Average Meter Registration Error.

(1) Average Meter Registration Error for Watthour Registers.

(a) If the metering installation is used to measure a load which has practically constant characteristics, such as a street-lighting load, the meter shall be tested under similar conditions of load and the registration error of the meter “as found” shall be considered as the average meter error.

(b) If a single-phase metering installation is used on a varying load, the average registration error shall be determined by one of the following methods. The utility shall select the method that best fits the customer’s usage pattern.

1. The weighted algebraic average of the error at approximately 10 percent and at 100 percent of the rated test amperes for the meter, the latter being given a weight of four times the former;

2. The simple average of the error at approximately 10 percent and at approximately 100 percent of the rated test amperes of the meter, each being given an equal weight; or

3. A single point, when calculating the error of an electronic meter, and the single point is an accurate representation of the error over the load range of the meter.

(c) If a polyphase metering installation is used on a varying load, the average registration error shall be determined by one of the following methods. The utility shall select the method that best fits the customer’s usage pattern.

1. The weighted algebraic average of its error at light load (approximately 10 percent rated test amperes) given a weight of two one, its error at heavy load (approximately 100 percent rated test amperes) and 100 percent power factor given a weight of four, and at heavy load (approximately 100 percent rated test amperes) and 50 percent lagging power factor given a weight of one two; or

2. A single point, when calculating the error of an electronic meter, and the single point is an accurate representation of the error over the load range of the meter.

(2) Average Meter Registration Error for Demand Registers.

(a) For mechanical or lagged demand meters, registration error shall be determined by testing the meter at both 40 percent and 80 percent of its full-scale value, as read on the reference or standard meter, or as near to these two points as practicable. The following two formulas shall be used to estimate the kilowatt error of the meter at 25 percent of full scale and at 100 percent of full scale:

E₂₅ = [E₈₀ – E₄₀]/[R₈₀ – R₄₀]*[R₂₅ – R₄₀] + E₄₀

E₁₀₀ = [E₈₀ – E₄₀]/[R₈₀ – R₄₀]*[R₁₀₀ – R₄₀] + E₄₀

where:

R₂₅ and R₁₀₀ denote the kilowatt readings on the reference meter at 25 percent and 100 percent of the full scale value of the meter being tested, respectively;

R₄₀ and R₈₀ denote the kilowatt readings on the reference meter at 40 percent and 80 percent of the full scale value of the meter being tested, respectively;

E₄₀ is the difference in kilowatts between the reference reading (R₄₀) and the reading on the meter being tested;

E₈₀ is the difference in kilowatts between the reference reading (R₈₀) and the reading on the meter being tested;

E₂₅ is the estimated kilowatt error corresponding to R₂₅; and

E₁₀₀ is the estimated kilowatt error corresponding to R₁₀₀.

The greater of these two estimated kilowatt errors, E₂₅ or E₁₀₀, shall be expressed as a percentage of the full-scale value of the meter being tested to determine if the meter meets the accuracy requirement of paragraph 25-6.052(3)(a), F.A.C.

(b) For electronic demand meters, demand registration need not be separately tested provided the meter has been inspected to contain the correct demand algorithm whenever watthour registration is tested.

Specific Authority 366.05(1) FS. Law Implemented 366.05(3) FS. History–New 7-29-69, Formerly 25-6.58, Amended 5-19-97, 7-3-06, __________.