Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations (SOR/86-131)

PART VIDisputes

• 29 (1) Where a request is made pursuant to subsection 23(1) of the Act by a contractor or purchaser who is dissatisfied with the condition or registration of a meter, an inspector shall investigate the matter by means of one or more of the following procedures:

  • (a) make inquiries of the contractor or purchaser who made the request and of any person who could reasonably be expected to have knowledge relevant to the matter;

  • (b) examine any records referred to in section 16 or 17 of the Act that are relevant to the matter; and

  • (c) test the meter that is the subject of the request, after reasonable notice to the contractor and the purchaser involved in the matter that the meter will be tested at a time and place specified in the notice and that the contractor and the purchaser may appear or be represented at the test.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection 23(3) of the Act, the time in which a person may give notice to the inspector is 30 days after the date the certificate of findings referred to in that subsection was provided to that person.

• (3) A notice referred to in subsection 23(3) of the Act shall state in writing the reasons for dissatisfaction with the inspector’s findings.

• 30 (1) Where a matter has been referred to the director pursuant to subsection 23(3) of the Act, the director shall notify in writing each person directly concerned with the matter that is the subject of the notice, including the owner of any meter tested by an inspector in connection with the matter, stating

  • (a) that the inspector has referred the matter to the director for reconsideration;

  • (b) the reason or reasons for dissatisfaction indicated in the notice referred to in that subsection; and

  • (c) that any written statement relating to the matter and received by the director within 30 days after the date of the notice will be considered.

• (2) The reconsideration referred to in subsection 23(3) of the Act shall take into account the certificate of findings referred to in subsection 23(2) of the Act, the reason or reasons stated pursuant to subsection 29(3) and any written statement received pursuant to paragraph (1)(c).

• (3) The director shall inform, in writing, each person notified pursuant to subsection (1) of the director’s decision on the matter referred to the director for reconsideration pursuant to subsection 23(3) of the Act.

• 31 (1) For the purposes of subsections 24(1) and (2) of the Act, an error that is greater than

  • (a) 3% of the amount of electricity or gas supplied through the meter, and

  • (b) where the amount of electricity supplied and the time-related demand for electricity supplied are the joint basis of a charge for electricity sold to a purchaser, with respect to a time-related demand, two and one-half per cent of the maximum point of the electricity meter’s demand scale

  is not permitted.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection 24(3) of the Act, no error is permitted.

PART VIIFunctions of an Inspector

32 The functions of an inspector shall be the carrying out of

• (a) any inspection and testing of meters and any inspection of their installation required for the purposes of the Act and these Regulations;

• (b) any inspection and testing required to enable the determination of a period for the purposes of paragraph 12(1)(c) of the Act;

• (c) any accreditation audit referred to in section 24 or any audit required pursuant to a condition referred to in section 25;

• (d) any investigation required to assist in the determination of whether there is or has been an offence under section 30 of the Act;

• (e) any investigations, tests, inquiries and examinations in relation to sections 9, 11 and 23 of the Act; and

• (f) such other functions as are reasonably ancillary to the functions listed in paragraphs (a) to (e).

33 An inspector shall not, in the execution of his functions, use any measuring apparatus other than a measuring apparatus permitted by section 5 of the Act.

PART VIIIProvisions Specific to Gas

Prohibited Substances

34 No person shall supply to a purchaser for any purpose other than processing or delivery for processing, natural gas that contains more than 0.030 per cent of water vapour, calculated by volume at standard pressure and standard temperature.

Sale of Gas by Volume

35 A volume of gas measured by any meter that registers in units of volume shall be converted to standard volume by using the following equation, namely,

Pressure Multiplier

• 36 (1) The pressure multiplier for any pressure converting meter shall be established by using the following equation, namely,

  P_m = P_b/P_s

  where

  • (a) P_m is the pressure multiplier;

  • (b) P_b is the pressure expressed on the absolute pressure scale and used as the base pressure for the calibration of the pressure converting meter; and

  • (c) P_s is the standard pressure expressed on the absolute pressure scale.

• (2) The pressure multiplier for any meter other than a pressure correcting meter shall be established by using the following equation, namely,

  P_m = (P_ga + P_a)/P_s

  where

  • (a) P_m is the pressure multiplier;

  • (b) P_ga is the average meter pressure expressed on the gauge pressure scale;

  • (c) P_a is

    • (i) the mean atmospheric pressure at the meter location, expressed to at least four significant digits,

    • (ii) the atmospheric pressure calculated for the meter location pursuant to subsection 37(1), expressed to at least four significant digits,

    • (iii) the atmospheric pressure declared for the meter location pursuant to subsection 37(2), expressed to at least four significant digits, or

    • (iv) the measured atmospheric pressure at the meter location, expressed to at least four significant digits; and

  • (d) P_s is the standard pressure expressed on the absolute pressure scale.

Atmospheric Pressure

• 37 (1) The atmospheric pressure shall be calculated for a meter location by using the following equation, namely,

  • (a) in the International system of units,

    P_a = 101.560 - (0.0113 × M) kPa, or

  • (b) in the Imperial system of units,

    P_a = 14.73 - (0.0005 × F) psia

    where

  • (c) P_a is the calculated atmospheric pressure; and

  • (d) M is the number of metres of elevation of the meter location above mean sea level and F is the number of feet of elevation of the meter location above mean sea level, in either case as determined by a survey carried out by a registered surveyor or as determined from the most recent applicable topographical maps published by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.

• (2) The atmospheric pressure declared for a meter location shall not differ from the atmospheric pressure calculated for that meter location pursuant to subsection (1) by more than

  • (a) in the International system of units,

    0.621 + (0.001 × P_ga) kPa, or

  • (b) in the Imperial system of units,

    0.090 + (0.001 × P_ga) psi

    where

    P_ga

    is the average meter pressure expressed on the gauge pressure scale.

Temperature Multiplier

• 38 (1) Subject to section 39, the temperature multiplier for any temperature converting meter shall be established by using the following equation, namely,

  • (a) in the International system of units,

    T_m = 288.15/(T_b + 273.15), or

  • (b) in the Imperial system of units,

    T_m = 519.67/(T_b + 459.67)

    where

  • (c) T_m is the temperature multiplier; and

  • (d) T_b is the temperature established by the contractor and used as the base temperature for the calibration of the temperature converting meter.

• (2) Subject to section 39, the temperature multiplier of any meter other than a temperature converting meter shall be established by using the following equation, namely,

  • (a) in the International system of units,

    T_m = 288.15/(T_ga + 273.15), or

  • (b) in the Imperial system of units,

    T_m = 519.67/(T_ga + 459.67)

    where

  • (c) T_m is the temperature multiplier; and

  • (d) T_ga is the average flowing gas temperature.

39 A temperature multiplier of one may be used for

• (a) meters that are purchased prior to December 31, 1986 and

  • (i) that have a capacity that is less than 14 standard cubic metres per hour at a differential pressure of 0.125 kPa, or

  • (ii) that have a capacity that is less than 500 standard cubic feet per hour at a differential pressure of 0.5 in. of water column;

• (b) meters that are installed prior to December 31, 1986, where the average meter pressure exceeds the atmospheric pressure by more than 3.5 kPa in the International system of units or 0.5 psi in the Imperial system of units; and

• (c) meters that are installed where the average meter pressure does not exceed the atmospheric pressure by more than 3.5 kPa in the International system of units or 0.5 psi in the Imperial system of units and that

  • (i) were most recently sealed prior to December 31, 1986, and

  • (ii) have a capacity that is greater than that stated in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii), whichever is applicable.

Supercompressibility Factor

40 For the purpose of paragraph 35(e),

• (a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the supercompressibility factor for any meter shall be established based on

  • (i) the pressure exerted by the gas within the meter and the temperature of the gas flowing through the meter as determined by continuous monitoring at the meter location,

  • (ii) the relative density, the carbon dioxide content and the nitrogen content of the gas being measured, as determined by

    • (A) a gas sampling process, if the process gives results that are representative of the gas at the meter location, or

    • (B) continuous monitoring at the meter location, and

  • (iii) if the parameters of the gas referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) vary, either the time weighted or the volume weighted averages of those parameters during the period that the volume of the gas is measured by the meter;

• (b) the supercompressibility factor for any meter for which the pressure exerted by the gas within the meter expressed on the gauge pressure scale does not exceed 207 kPa in the International system of units, or 30 psi in the Imperial system of units, may be established based on

  • (i) the pressure exerted by the gas within the meter, established and maintained through the use of a pressure factor metering regulator that has been approved and verified under section 9 of the Act,

  • (ii) an assumed flowing gas temperature of 59°F or 15°C, and

  • (iii) the relative density, the carbon dioxide content and the nitrogen content of the gas being measured as determined by a gas sampling process, if the process gives results that are representative of the gas at the meter location; or

• (c) a supercompressibility factor of one may be used if the pressure exerted by the gas within the meter expressed on the gauge pressure scale does not exceed 700 kPa in the International system of units or 100 psi in the Imperial system of units.