No. 40704 (Amendment): Rule R746-310. Uniform Rules Governing Electricity Service by Electric Utilities

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 40704
Filed: 08/25/2016 01:01:49 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this proposed amendment is to update the rule in three respects: 1) update the version of the referenced National Electrical Safety Code to the 2017 edition; 2) update the version of the referenced American National Standards for Electricity Metering to the 2014 edition; and 3) update the version of the reference American National Standard for Electric Power Systems and Equipment Voltage Ratings to the 2011 edition.

Summary of the rule or change:

Presently, Rule R746-310 incorporates by reference the 2007 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and 2001 and 2006 editions of the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) electricity industry codes. More recent versions of these codes have been adopted by their publishers. The rule presently incorporates a portion of the 2007 edition of the NESC, specifically "C2-2017", which covers basic provisions for safeguarding persons from hazards arising from the installation, operation, or maintenance of certain electric facilities and work rules for the construction, maintenance, and operation of those facilities. The 2017 version updates certain definitions, simplifies minimum approach tables and voltage exposure for arc flash, and clarifies certain engineering parameters with respect to wire attention and ungrounded portions of guys and swimming pools. With respect to the ANSI, the rule presently incorporates sections "C12.1-2001" and "C84.1-2006". The proposed change would update these to "C12.1-2014" and "C84.1-2011", respectively. The latter four digits in each section indicate the year the publisher adopted the referenced version. C12.1-2014 establishes acceptable performance criteria for new types of AC watthour meters, demand meters, demand registers, pulse devices, and auxiliary devices. The 2014 update contains several revisions to respond to changes in the industry, addressing performance requirements, accuracy tests, the effect of high voltage line surges, the effect of operating temperature, the effective of relative humidity, and establishing a testing schedule. C84.1-2011 establishes nominal voltage ratings and operating tolerances for 60-hertz electric power systems above 100 volts. It includes preferred voltage ratings up to and including 1,200 kV maximum system voltage, as defined in the standard. The 2011 edition updates a table to reflect changes in lighting characteristics.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 54-4-18
• Section 54-4-1

This rule or change incorporates by reference the following material:

• Updates 2017 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) C2-2017, published by IEEE Standard Association, 04/26/2016
• Updates Approved American National Standard, published by National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 02/01/2016
• Updates Approved American National Standard, published by National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 01/17/2012

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The proposed rule changes should not result in any costs to the State because the changes merely adopt modest technical revisions to standards that are already incorporated and enforced. Public Service Commission purchased two copies of each publication, and the cost is as follows: IEEE-C2-2017 - $302, ANSI C84.1-2011 - $176, ANSI C12.1-2014 - $492.

local governments:

The rule applies to utilities furnishing electricity in Utah. Local governments operating utilities are already expected to operate pursuant to prudent and customary industry standards. No anticipated costs are expected.

small businesses:

The rule applies to operators of electric utilities and no impact on small business is anticipated.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

The rule applies to utilities furnishing electricity in Utah, and no effects on persons other than utilities are anticipated.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Compliance costs for affected persons are not expected because this rule change simply adopts prevailing standards and practices for electric utilities.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The proposed rule change adopts and formalizes current operating practices and requirements. Therefore, the proposed rule change will not result in any additional costs.

Thad LeVar, Commission Chair

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:

Public Service Commission
Administration
HEBER M WELLS BLDG
160 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2316

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Sheri Bintz at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6714, by FAX at 801-530-6796, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]
• Michael Hammer at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6729, by FAX at , or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

10/17/2016

This rule may become effective on:

10/24/2016

Authorized by:

Michael Hammer, Administrative Law Judge

RULE TEXT

R746. Public Service Commission, Administration.

R746-310. Uniform Rules Governing Electricity Service by Electric Utilities.

R746-310-1. General Provisions.

A. 1. Scope and Applicability -- The following rules apply to the methods and conditions for service employed by utilities furnishing electricity in Utah.

2. A utility may petition the Commission for an exemption from specified portions of these rules in accordance with R746-100-15, Deviation from Rules.

B. Definitions --

1. "Capacity" means load which equipment or electrical system can carry.

2. "CFR" means the Code of Federal Regulations, 1998 edition.

3. "Commission" means the Public Service Commission of Utah.

4. "Contract Demand" means the maximum amount of kilowatt demand that the customer expects to use and for which the customer has contracted with the utility.

5. "Customer" means a person, firm, partnership, company, corporation, organization, or governmental agency supplied with electrical power by an electric utility subject to Commission jurisdiction, at one location and at one point of delivery.

6. "Customer's Installation" means the electrical wiring and apparatus owned by the customer and installed by or for the customer to facilitate electric service and which is located on the customer's side of the point of delivery of electric service.

7. "Customer meter" or "meter" means the device used to measure the electricity transmitted from an electric utility to a customer.

8. "Demand" means the rate in kilowatts at which electric energy is delivered by the utility to the customer at a given instant or averaged over a designated period of time.

9. "Electric service" means the availability of electric power and energy at the customer's point of delivery at the approximate voltage and for the purposes specified in the application for electric service, electric service agreement or contract, irrespective of whether electric power and energy is actually used.

10. "Energy" means electric energy measured in kilowatt-hours--kWh. For billing purposes energy is the customer's total use of electricity measured in kilowatt-hours during any month.

11. "FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

12. "Month" means the period of approximately 30 days intervening between regular successive meter reading dates.

13. "National Electrical Safety Code" means the 20[07]17 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code, C2-20[07]17, as [approved]promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers[American National Standards Institute, ISBN 07-7381-4893-8], which is incorporated by reference.

14. "Point of delivery" means the point, unless otherwise specified in the application for electric service, electric service agreement or contract, at which the utility's service wires are connected with the customer's wires or apparatus. If the utility's service wires are connected with the customer's wire or apparatus at more than one point, each connecting point shall be considered a separate point of delivery unless the additional connecting points are made by the utility for its sole convenience in supplying service. Additional service supplied by the utility at a different voltage or phase classification shall also be considered a separate point of delivery. Each point of delivery shall be separately metered and billed.

15. "Power" means electric power measured in kilowatts--kw. For billing purposes, power is the customer's maximum use of electricity shown or computed from the readings of the utility's kilowatt meter for a 15-minute period, unless otherwise specified in the applicable rate schedule; at the option of the utility it may be determined either by periodic tests or by permanent meters.

16. "Power factor" means the percentage determined by dividing customer's average power use in kilowatts, real power, by the average kilovolt-ampere power load, apparent power, imposed upon the utility by the customer.

17. "Premises" means a tract of land with the buildings thereon or a building or part of a building with its appurtenances.

18. "Rated capacity" means load for which equipment or electrical system is rated.

19. "Service line" means electrical conductor which ties customer point of delivery to distribution network.

20. "Transmission line" means high voltage line delivering electrical energy to substations.

21. "Utility" means an electrical corporation as defined in Section 54-2-1.

22. "Year" means the period between the date of commencement of service under the application for electric service, electric service agreement or contract and the same day of the following calendar year.

 

R746-310-3. Meters and Meter Testing.

A. Reference and Working Standards

1. Reference standards -- Utilities having 500 or more meters in service shall have a high grade reference standard meter which shall be calibrated at least annually by the U.S. Bureau of Standards or a testing agency that regularly calibrates with them. Other utilities with meters in service shall at least have access to another utility's or testing agency's high grade reference standards that are periodically calibrated.

2. Working standards -- Utilities furnishing metered service shall provide for, or have access to, high grade testing instruments, working standards, to test the accuracy of meters or other instruments used to measure electricity consumed by its customers. The error of accuracy of the working standards at both light load and full load shall be less than one percent of 100 percent of rated capacity. This accuracy shall be maintained by periodic calibration against reference standards.

B. Meter Tests -- Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, the requirements contained in the 20[0]1 4 edition of the American National Standards for Electric Meters Code for Electricity Metering, ANSI C12.1-20[0]1 4, incorporated by reference, shall be the minimum requirements relative to meter testing.

1. Accuracy limits -- After being tested, meters shall be adjusted to as near zero error as practicable. Meters shall not remain in service with an error over two percent of tested capacity, or if found to register at no load.

2. Before installation -- New meters shall be tested before installation. Removed meters shall be tested before or within 60 days of installation.

3. Periodic -- In-service meters shall be periodically or sample tested.

4. Request -- Upon written request, utilities shall promptly test the accuracy of a customer's meter. If the meter has been tested within 12 months preceding the date of the request, the utility may require the customer to make a deposit. The deposit shall not exceed the estimated cost of performing the test. If the meter is found to have an error of more than two percent of tested capacity, the deposit shall be refunded; otherwise, the deposit may be retained by the utility as a service charge. Customers shall be entitled to observe tests, and utilities shall provide test reports to customers.

5. Referee -- In the event of a dispute, the customer may request a referee test in writing. The Commission may require the deposit of a testing fee. Upon filing of the request and receipt of the deposit, if required, the Commission shall notify the utility to arrange for the test. The utility shall not remove the meter prior to the test without Commission approval. The meter shall be tested in the presence of a Commission representative, and if the meter is found to be inaccurate by more than two percent of rated capacity, the customer's deposit shall be refunded; otherwise, it may be retained.

C. Bill Adjustments for Meter Error --

1. Fast meter -- If a meter tested pursuant to this section is more than two percent fast, the utility shall refund to the customer the overcharge based on the corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in use, not exceeding six months, unless it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed. In this instance, the overcharge shall be computed back to, but not beyond that time.

2. Slow meter -- If a meter tested pursuant to this section is more than two percent slow, the utility may bill the customer for the estimated energy consumed but not covered by the bill for a period not exceeding six months unless it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed. In this instance, the bill shall be computed back to, but not beyond that time.

3. Non-registering meter -- If a meter does not register, the utility may bill the customer for the estimated energy used but not registered for a period not exceeding three months.

D. Meter Records -- Utilities shall maintain records for each meter until retirement. This record shall contain the identification number; manufacturer's name, type and rating; each test, adjustment and repair; date of purchase; and location, date of installation, and removal from service. Utilities shall keep records of the last meter test for every meter. At a minimum, the records shall identify the meter, the date, the location of and reason for the test, the name of the person or organization making the test, and the test results.

 

R746-310-4. Station Instruments, Voltage and Frequency Restrictions and Station Equipment.

A. Station Instruments -- Utilities shall install the instruments necessary to obtain a record of the load on their systems, showing at least the monthly peak and a monthly record of the output of their plants. Utilities purchasing electrical energy shall install the instruments necessary to furnish information regarding monthly purchases of electrical energy, unless those supplying the energy have already installed instruments from which that information can be obtained.

Utilities shall maintain records indicating the data obtained by station instruments.

B. Voltage and Frequency Restrictions --

1. Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, the requirements contained in the 20[06]11 edition of the American National Standard for Electrical Power Systems and Equipment-Voltage Ratings (60 Hz), ANSI C84.1-20[06]11, incorporated by this reference, shall be the minimum requirements relative to utility voltages.

2. Utilities shall own or have access to portable indicating voltmeters or other devices necessary to accurately measure, upon complaint or request, the quality of electric service delivered to its customer to verify compliance with the standard established in Subsection R746-310-4(B)(1). Utilities shall make periodic voltage surveys sufficient to indicate the character of the service furnished from each distribution center and to ensure compliance with the voltage requirements of these rules. Utilities having indicating voltmeters shall keep at least one instrument in continuous service.

3. Utilities supplying alternating current shall maintain their frequencies to within one percent above and below 60 cycles per second during normal operations. Variations in frequency in excess of these limits due to emergencies are not violations of these rules.

C. Station Equipment --

1. Utilities shall inspect their poles, towers and other similar structures with reasonable frequency in order to determine the need for replacement, reinforcement or repair.

D. General Requirements -- Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, the requirements contained in the National Electrical Safety Code, as defined at R746-310-1(B)(13), constitute the minimum requirements relative to the following:

1. the installation and maintenance of electrical supply stations;

2. the installation and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical supply and communication lines;

3. the installation and maintenance of electric utilization equipment;

4. rules to be observed in the operation of electrical equipment and lines;

5. the grounding of electrical circuits.

 

KEY: public utilities, utility regulations, electric utility industries, electric safety codes

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [February 7, 2012]2016

Notice of Continuation: November 28, 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 54-3-1; 54-3-7; 54-4-1; 54-4-8; 54-4-14; 54-4-23

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