Section 134.31. Request and referee tests.

 

(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.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38 , eff. 3-1-59; cr. (3), Register, July, 1983, No. 331 , eff. 8-1-83; am. (2), Register, December, 1984, No. 348 , eff. 1-1-85; am. (1) and (2), Register, November, 1989, No. 407 , eff. 12-1-89; CR 13-033 : am. (3), cr. (4) Register July 2015 No. 715 , eff. 8-1-15.