110/02/2012 Slide 1

UL Listing for Electric Meters

Prepared by Tom Lawton, TESCO – The Eastern Specialty Company

for the Spring Energy Council of New England (ECNE) ConferenceMeter & Revenue Protection Metering Track March 15, 2013

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Session Objectives

• Understand Current Meter Standard Testing

• Understand Why UL is Working on Meter Standard

• Understand What’s in the Draft Standard UL 2735

• Understand the Relationship with ANSI

• Status of the UL Standard Development

• Challenges of Implementing the UL Standard

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Current Meter Standard Testing

Meter Testing for new and in-service meters is specified in ANSI C12.1-2008, American National Standard for Electric Meters, Code for Electricity Metering. Most utility commissions use this Standard a reference or the basis for their meter testing requirements.

ANSI C12.1 is focused on maintenance of meter accuracy under various test conditions along with safe meter operation under various hazard conditions such as

• Exposure to Surge Conditions• Exposure to Temporary Overloads • Exposure to High and Low Temperatures• Exposure to RF• Exposure to Magnetic Fields

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Current ANSI C12.1 Performance Requirements

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Current Meter Testing to Standards

• Many State Utility Commissions require that new electric meters meet ANSI C12.1 and C12.20 requirements.

• New meters are tested using all or a group of tests specified in ANSI C12.1 and C12.20, typically performed by the meter vendors.

• Meter vendors have different interpretations of certain ANSI tests and even what “ANSI qualified” means.

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Current Meter Testing to Standards

• During AMI deployments the burden is shifting to utilities to insure the thoroughness and accuracy of the meter vendor ANSI testing.

• Continued adherence to the ANSI Standard depends on the meter vendor’s design control and manufacturing process control

• ANSI does not do audits of meter vendors testing facilities or their manufacturing facilities

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Self Regulation of Standards

• ANSI is self-regulating. Unless a customer challenges or requests copies of ANSI tests that lead to the claim of being ANSI compliant by the vendor there is no outside regulating body.

• Certain states such as New York require a separate approval process before a meter can be used within the state by a regulated utility for revenue purposes on a customer site. This is the exception rather than the rule.

• If no issues arise this system of self regulation will work indefinitely.

• When issues arise the public starts to look for outside regulating bodies.

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Issues Arising?

For the first time in our collective careers meters have been in the popular meter in an unflaterring way. Segments of the general population have the perception that;

• AMI Meters may spontaneously catch

• AMI Meters may blow up

• AMI Meters may disconnect power by themselves

• AMI meters are “cheap computers” and are not robust enough for long term outdoor use

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What regulatory alternatives are out there?

When US Consumers think about electrical safety within their home they think about licensed electricians and inspectors for electrical work and the UL Mark for products used within their home.

• Customer: Why don’t meters have a UL label? Are the AMI meters safe?

• Utility: Are ANSI standards “tough” enough? How good is the meter vendor testing?

- Excerpt from PECO News Release October 9, 2012

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WHY Consider UL?

•UL standards are focused on safety versus meter operation.•UL is nationally and internationally recognized by

Utility Customers•UL is an independent product assessment firm•UL provides outside regulation and inspections of

manufacturers•As a private, not for profit, entity UL has

recognized this interest and eagerly stepped forward.

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UL Meter Safety Standard 2735

Currently a Draft Standard under review

ScopeAll Type S and Type A electric meters rated up to 600 volts and any other type of meter intended for

installation within the enclosure of “complete equipment”.

ContentsMeter Construction RequirementsMeter Performance

Meter Markings

Standards for Components

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UL Meter Safety Standard 2735

Meter Construction Requirements

Meter forms as defined in ANSI C12.10 unless alternate forms are specified by a Utility

EnclosuresCoversCT’s, internal and externalBatteriesService SwitchesCircuit BoardsUL recognized or tested components

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UL Meter Safety Standard 2735

Meter Performance Tests

Tests for various fault conditions

How easy to set on fire

Strength of Construction

Some tests from ANSI C12.1 Section 4

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UL Meter Safety Standard 2735

Component Standards

UL Standards for many meter components will apply:

• Fuses• Transformers• Switches • Terminal Blocks• Connectors

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Status of the UL Standard Development

• Meter Safety Joint Working Group formed in

late 2011 to develop UL Standard with assistance from

ANSI C12.1 Committee. Members:

• ANSI (Utilities and Vendors)

• UL

• First draft posted by UL for comment in Feb 2013

• Many issues to work out

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Issues to Address

• UL is very interested in capitalizing on this opportunity to regulate electric meters – a market they have been excluded from in the past by the NFPA

• Draft Standard 2735 was issued without any prior notification to the ANSI C12 Main Committee despite assurances that UL would work with and participate with ANSI to avoid a Standard that contradicts the complementary ANSI standard

• Manufacturing cost for a meter would increase significantly – neither the manufacturer nor the end user are sure how much this cost increase will be or if the increase is warranted.

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Challenges of Implementing a UL Standard

• Agreement on a common standard by UL and ANSI

• Meter vendor acceptance of the new standard

• Coordination of UL and ANSI testing of meters

• Lead Time and Cost of UL listing

• Need for ANSI Testing in the shadow of a UL Standard

• UL part of new meter certification process

• UL part of new component selection and design changes

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Pro’s and Con’s of a UL Mark on Electric Meters

Pro’s

• Greater perception of safety by the general public

• Outside inspection to maintain certification

• All changes to meter construction are monitored and approved by an outside group

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Pro’s and Con’s of a UL Mark on Electric Meters

Con’s

• Greater cost to Utility and Utility customers

• Slower innovation for meters

• Potential for short term meter shortages after implementation

• Potential for fewer meter vendors and options for Utilities

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Use of UL as an Independent Test Lab

Current involvement of UL in the metering space

• Independent Test Lab to run ANSI tests

• Independent Test Lab to run customer specific tests

• Independent Test Lab to recommend and run safety tests on any metering product

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Please feel free to call or e-mail any questions

Tom LawtonTom.Lawton@TescoMeterManager.com 215-688-0298 (cell)

THE EASTERN SPECIALTY COMPANY

Questions?