DRUM – TRAINING PROGRAM

A U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Funded Program

Regulatory requirements on Energy meters

By:- Mr. N.K.Bhati

Yadav Measurements Pvt. Ltd.
Udaipur , India

Power Finance Corporation Ltd.

(A Govt. of India Undertaking)
 Electricity Metering technologies and
systems

Regulatory requirements on Energy meters

By
Nand Kishore Bhati
Yadav Measurements Pvt.Ltd.

2
 Areas Covered Under this Module

– Give overview of Indian Electricity Act

2003.
– Requirements of National Electricity
policy.
– State regulators supply and metering
codes.
– Indian and state Grid codes.
– Metering requirements for Open
Access.

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 The Electricity Act 2003
An Act to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission,
distribution, trading and use of electricity and generally for taking
measures conducive to development of electricity industry,
– promoting competition therein,
– protecting interest of consumers and
– supply of electricity to all areas,
– rationalization of electricity tariff, ensuring transparent policies regarding
subsidies,
– promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies
– constitution of Central Electricity Authority,
– Regulatory Commissions and establishment of Appellate Tribunal and
– for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Published on 2nd June 2003., first amendment in Dec 2003 (effective 14 Jan 2004).
Electricity (Amendment ) Act 2007, effective from 15th June 2007.

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Indian Electricity Act 2003

• Repealed laws:
• Indian Electricity Act 1910
• Electricity (supply) Act 1948.
• Electricity regulatory commissions Act 1998
• Indian Electricity Rules 1956(???)
(However section 185 states IER 1956 shall continue till regulations under section 53 of this
Act are made)

(Excludes Jammu and kashmir)

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Indian Electricity Act 2003

• The Act calls for :

– Central Govt. to issue National Electricity policy,
tariff policy and National Electricity plan.

– Setting up Central and state regulators.

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Generation

• Generation is de-licensed, except for Hydro plants.

• Allows and encourages captive generation and dedicated
transmission lines
• Transmission, distribution and Trading in Electricity requires
license.

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Transmission

• Calls for setting up of National , regional and

state level load dispatch centers
• Keep account of quantity of electricity transmitted
thru regional/state Load dispatch center.
• Central transmission utility

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Distribution

• Multiple distribution licensee in a area may be

allowed
• Supply to consumers
• Allow open access
(Licensee to charge on the basis of actual electricity supplied.)

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Regulators
• Central regulator to define Grid code and grid standards.(
already released)
• State regulators to define
– Supply code and
– Specify provisions related to Safety of electricity supply.
• U/s 55 calls for 100 % metering (correct meters) with in two
years, unless specifically extension granted.
• Also calls for installation of meters for proper accounting and
audit at various stages of generation/ transmission/ distribution
etc.
• Calls for specifying standards of performance to be complied by
licensee.

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Central Electricity Authority

• CEA to make regulations for the installations

and operations of meters (177)

Central Electricity Authority Regulations, 2006 on Installation and Operation

of Meters

published on 17th March 2006, has two parts as regulations and standards on
installation and operations of meters.

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Others

• Regulations for investigations and enforcement.

• Offences and penalties
• Special courts, Appellate tribunals
• Re-organisation of electricity boards
• Etc etc

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National Electricity Policy
• 5.4.8 The Act mandates supply of electricity through a
correct meter within a stipulated period. The Authority
should develop regulations as required under Section
55 of the Act within three months.
• 5.4.9 The Act requires all consumers to be metered
within two years. The SERCs may obtain from the
Distribution Licensees their metering plans, approve
these, and monitor the same. The SERCs should
encourage use of pre-paid meters. In the first instance,
TOD meters for large consumers with a minimum load
of one MVA are also to be encouraged.
• The SERCs should also put in place independent
third-party meter testing arrangements. Some
regulators have taken actions and some are in the
process.
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5.13 PROTECTION OF CONSUMER INTERESTS AND
QUALITY STANDARDS

5.13.1 Appropriate Commission should regulate utilities based on

pre-determined indices on quality of power supply. Parameters
should include, amongst others, frequency and duration of
interruption, voltage parameters, harmonics, transformer failure
rates, waiting time for restoration of supply, percentage defective
meters and waiting list of new connections. The Appropriate
Commissions would specify expected standards of performance.
(This will call for testing of installed base of meters)

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 Objective and Scope..CEA Regulations.

(i) Correct measurement of electricity supplied is necessary for

accounting and billing of electrical energy. These Regulations cover
location, sealing, safety and other general issues in respect of meters
falling mainly in the following three categories:
• Meters for Interface Tariff
• Meters For consumers
• Meters for Energy Accounting and Audit

(ii) The scope of these Regulations covers all new and existing meters.

(iii) Provisions of IE Rules 1956 in relations to installation and operations

of meters are not to be in force and replaced by these regulations.

(This is an elaborate 20 page document , recommended to be read

by all metering engineers.)

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CEA I&OM regulations 2006

• Covers types of meters,

• Ownership of meters,
• standards applicable,
• location of meters,
• accuracy class of meters,
• installation of meters,
• operation testing and maintenance of meters,
• access to meters,

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CEA I&OM regulations 2006

• sealing of meters,
• safety of meters,
• Meter reading and recording
• Meter failure and discrepancies,
• Anti tampering features

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CEA I&OM regulations 2006

• Quality assurance of meters: calls for distribution

licensee to set quality system for meter testing and
immediate actions for NABL accreditation of meter
testing laboratories.
• Defines periodicity for calibration of various type of
meters, including CT/PT.
• Promoting and adaptation of new technologies.

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Salient points

• All meters to be static type only.

• Meter means Meter, CT/PT and wiring.
• For single phase meters consumers need to ensure NO common
Neutral and install ELPD.
• Lead seals not to be used in new meters and all old seals to be
replaced in a phased manner.
• Interface meters shall measure fundamental frequency energy,
for other types not mentioned anything .
• Anti tampering features of meters specified.
• All type of meters need to be tested at least once in five years,
including CT/PT

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Latest update

• CEA has issued two drafts of Safety standard

for comments, likely to be published soon.
– Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to
Safety and Electricity Supply) Regulations, 2007.
– “Central Electricity Authority (Safety requirements for
construction, operation and maintenance of electrical
plants and electric lines) Regulations, 2008”.

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Latest update

• MOP has also issued new “Electricity Rules 2005”.

• Not clear what will be status of IER1956??

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 State Supply code and metering code for
distribution companies.

One typical example

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission

(Electricity Supply Code and Connected Matters) Regulations,
2004’.

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Supply code… as per para 50 of the Act.

• The State Commission shall specify an Electricity Supply Code to

provide
• for recovery of electricity charges, intervals for billing of electricity
charges
• disconnection of supply of electricity for non-payment thereof;
restoration of supply of electricity; tampering, distress or damage
to electrical plant, electric lines or meter,
• entry of distribution licensee or any person acting on his behalf
for disconnecting supply and removing the meter; entry for
replacing, altering or maintaining electric lines or electrical plant
or meter.

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State Supply code ….example RERC

25. Supply through meter

• (1) All supply of electricity shall be through installation
of a correct meter in accordance with the metering
code approved by the Commission or regulations
made in this behalf by the Authority.
• Provided that supply to agriculture consumers who are
on the date of coming into force of these regulations,
being supplied electricity otherwise than through a
meter shall not be so supplied beyond March 31,2005.
• (2) Metering in each case shall be provided on ground
floor only.
• (3) Supply of electricity to temporary connections shall
be made preferably through pre paid meters.
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 30. Defective meter

• (1) In case the consumer or the licensee suspect a meter to be

not functioning properly, he may give a notice to the other party
and the accuracy of the meter shall be tested by the licensee on
site or in its testing laboratory. In case the consumer so desires,
the testing shall be arranged at laboratories designated by
commission.
• (2) In the event of the meter being found inaccurate, the excess
amount recovered from the consumer may be adjusted in the
subsequent two bills. If any additional amount is to be recovered
from the consumer, it may be recovered in subsequent two bills.
• (3) The excess or short amount under sub clause (2) may be
adjusted or recovered as the case may be for the period from the
last meter testing till the date of meter being removed for testing is
replaced but in any case not exceeding six months.

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RERC Metering Regulations (2007)

Regulations:
• Supplement the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and
Operation of Meters) Regulations 2006
• Bring about uniformity in practice by the licensees , generating
companies and other stake-holders within the State

specify
• the requisite national / international standards
• requirements of calibration and testing of metering equipments,
• practices that shall be employed and
• the facilities that shall be provided for the measurement and
recording of various parameters.

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Interface meters

• Draw out type modular design with CT shorting connectors.

• Main and Check meter.
• TTB for testing to be provided for both.
• Meter to have Aux Power supply, AC 230v and 110/220 V DC with
change over.
• RTC battery back time of 12 years.
• Configurable s/w to suit different tariffs.
• Total and fundamental energy measurement.
• 75 days Load Survey at 15 minutes period.
• measurement and support ABT tariff ,
• On line communication to be provided.
• Time synchronisation facility to be there.

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Energy Accounting meters

• 3 phase 4 wire type meters

• Meters at 33kV and above to have same functionality like Interface
meters, below 33kV, type C of consumer meters.
• TTB for testing to be provided for both.
• RTC battery back time of 12 years.
• Configurable s/w to suit different tariffs.
• Total and fundamental energy measurement.
• 75 days Load Survey at 15 minutes period.

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Instrument transformers

• Accuracy class be same as meters.

• Burden on IT to be between 25 to100% of rating.
• Dedicated It or dedicated core for metering.
• 11/33/kV CT/PT sets used shall preferably be dry type.
• No fuses be used on HV or LV side of PT/CVT.

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Consumer Meters

Meter Type A-
– (a) Single-phase whole current meters kWh Cl 1, (<5kW)
– (b) Poly phase whole current meters kWh, Cl 1, (18.65kW)
Meter Type B-
– LT Tri-vector CT Operated meters. Cl 0.5S, (50kVA), 75 days LS
communication..
Meter Type C-
– HT Tri-vector CT-VT operated meters, Cl 0.5S upto 33kV, 0.2S
for rest., kVA max demand, 30 min, 75 days LS, communication.

• Other requirements also specified.

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TESTING ARRANGEMENTS:

Test facilities shall be as under:

• (a) Automatic meter test bench with high accuracy static source and
0.02 class electronic reference standard meter shall be used for
testing and calibration of portable test set.
• (b) Portable test set with static source and electronic reference meter
of 0.1S class shall be used for testing of meters at site.
• Test sets of 0.1 class, used for testing, shall be periodically tested
and calibrated using higher accuracy Class electronic reference sub-
meters.

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 The routine testing of meters:
Consumer meters
i. Extra High Voltage consumers. -1 year
ii. High voltage consumers.
a) Above 500 KVA contract demand -1 year
b) Upto 500 KVA contract demand -2 years
iii. Industrial Low Tension consumers -2 years
iv. Low Tension consumers other than domestic services
-3 years
v. Domestic service consumers -5 years

Interface meters 1 year

Energy Audit/Accounting meters 2 years

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• the requirements of CT/PT are specified.
These need to be tested once at least in 5
years.

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Meter test lab of Utility

• Laboratory of the Licensee shall be accredited by NABL for

calibration in Laboratory and calibration and testing at site.

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• Meter maintenance system defined.
• Sealing and seals management defined.
• A time schedule for seals replace,ment and
meter replacement as per CEA regulations
defined.

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Quality assurance of meters.

• The distribution licensee shall put in place a system of quality

assurance for meter,
– starting from receipt, storage in-house testing (if any),
installation, periodic testing lab and site testing procedure,
removal/replacement and disposal of meters including sealing
practices

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Indian Electricity Grid Code
• Drafted by PGCIL, released by CERC effective from 1/2/2000.
Now a revised Grid code has been released, which has become
effective from 1/4/2006.
• Defines objectives, scope, role of RLDC, CTU, planning code for
ISTS, conditions of connections, grant of transmission license,
operating code for regional grids, scheduling & management and
metering code.
• Annex 2 as regulatory requirements for special energy meters for
grids. Defines hardware , software and testing requirements.
• Specifies in-situ testing every year and full testing /calibration by
Accredited lab every 5 years.

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METERING CODE FOR RAJASTHAN GRID…Scope

1. The scope of the code covers the practices that shall be

employed and the facilities that shall be provided for the
measurement and recording of various parameters like
active/reactive/apparent power/energy, power factor, voltage,
frequency etc.
2. The code also specifies the requirement of calibration, testing
and commissioning for metering equipments. The code broadly
indicates the technical features of various elements of the
metering, data-communication and testing system, the
procedure for assessment of consumption in case of defective
and stopped meters and also lays down guidelines for
resolution of disputes between different agencies.

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METERING CODE FOR RAJASTHAN GRID…Scope

• To ensure proper metering system as per

specified standards.
• To perform testing/calibration of equipments
and meters at inter connection points in the
presence of interested parties and the utilities
and to make available the test reports to the
parties and to concerned
utilities/organizations including SPC.

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definitions
• Actual Metering point
– Actual metering point means the physical location of
current and voltage sensing devices i.e. CTs, VTs and
meters at which electricity is metered.
• Metering Equipment
– Metering Equipment means meters, measurement
transformers (CTs & VTs), metering protection equipment
including alarms, circuitry and their associated data
collection outstations and wiring which are part of the
measuring equipment at or relating to a site.
– CT means current transformers and term VT is used to
cover either PT or CVT.

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Type of Meters and Metering Capability

• The meters & RTUs to be used shall be suitable for

measurement of bulk, inter-utility energy / power exchanges.
The meters shall be all electronic (static) poly phase trivector
type having facility to measure active, reactive and apparent
energy/power in all four quadrants i.e. a true import export
meter. All inter utility trade meters shall be bi-directional while
capacitor bank meters and sub-station aux. meters shall be
unidirectional if, bidirectional meters already exist, these will not
be changed.
• The frequency based energy meters suitable for
Availability Based Tariff (ABT) shall also be provided.
• For commercial transaction between the utilities, the metering
shall be 3 phase 4 wire type.

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• Specifies main and back up metering arrangements.
• Specifies need for TTBs and CT shorting arrangements on
meters.
• Meters of inter state / major generating stations shall be capable
of powered with 230 volt alternating current auxiliary supply and
110 volt or 220 volt DC supply of the substation so that metering
core of PT/CVT is never loaded and in case of shut down on
feeder/breaker, meter can be interrogated locally or remotely. It
will normally be powered by AC auxiliary supply and will be
switched over to DC supply only when AC auxiliary supply fails .

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System for Joint Inspection, Testing & Calibration

• The metering points between RVUN, RVPN

and Discoms shall be regularly inspected
twice in a year or at an interval as mutually
agreed jointly by both the agencies involved
for dispatch and receipt of energy .

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Testing Arrangements

Two types of test facilities shall be available:

• (a) Automatic meter test bench with high accuracy, static
source and 0.02S class electronic reference standard meter. One
bench shall be located at each Discom headquarters (i.e. at
Jaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur). These benches with 0.02 class
reference standard shall also be used for checking and
calibration of portable testing equipments.
• (b) Portable test set with static source and electronic reference
meter of 0.1 class shall be used for verification and joint testing
of accuracy of static trivector meters at site on regular/routine
basis.

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Operation and Maintenance of the Metering
System

• The operation and maintenance of the

metering system includes proper installation,
regular maintenance of the metering system,
checking of errors of the CTs, VTs and
meters, proper laying of cables and
protection thereof,

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Open Access Regulations…example

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and

Conditions for Open Access)
Regulations, 2004.

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Definitions

• “Open Access” means the non-discriminatory provision for

the use of transmission lines or distribution system or
associated facilities with such lines or system by any licensee
or consumer or a person engaged in generation in
accordance with the regulations specified by the Appropriate
Commission.

• "Open Access Customer" means a consumer permitted

by the Commission to receive supply of electricity from a
person other than distribution licensee of his area of supply,
and the expression includes a generating company and
licensee, who has availed of or intends to avail of open
access.

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Special Energy Meters

– Tri-vector meters with Time of the Day (TOD) facility shall

be installed by the open access customers.
– The meters shall be capable of time-differentiated
measurements (15 minutes) of necessary parameters.
These meters shall always be maintained in good
condition and shall be open for inspection by any person
authorized by the nodal agency.
– The meter shall include CTs, PTs and associated
accessories and shall be tested and calibrated at least
once in a year.
– The meters shall be sealed by the distribution licensee in
whose area the Consumer is situated.

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Special Energy Meters… contd.

– In case the meter is provided by the

transmission/distribution licensee, the open access
customer shall pay for its rent and also provide
security deposit.
– The meter shall be capable of communicating its
reading to SLDC on real time basis.
– The metering code prevailing in the state shall be
applicable to the open access customers also.

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BIS new standard

• BIS committee has approved a new standard

called:
Code of Practice for Testing, Evaluation,
Installation and Maintenance of ac
Electricity Meters.

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This code of practice covers the following aspects:
– Type approval
– Life certification
– Verification
– Sealing and seal management
– Acceptance
– Transportation
– Storage
– Installation and commissioning
– Maintaining in service with emphasis on in-service
compliance.
– Meter test station practices

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• Applicable for all classes of meters except
0.2, and up to 33 kV.

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• This document defines the acceptable errors of meters, when in
services, when tested under reference conditions or on site.
• Also specifies requirements of operating practices as per ISO
17025 and MTE calibration and measurement traceability.

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Latest update

• CBIP report 88 is superseded by a new

document
• Manual on Standardization of AC Static
Electrical Energy Meters.
– Publication number 304, july 2008.
• BIS is working on new standards to align
Indian Metering standards with IEC
standards.

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• Any questions please ???

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Electricity Metering technologies and systems

THANKS!

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