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<chapter num="05" heading="Metering Requirements — General" title_num="20" subtitle_num="55">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Metering of Gas.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Customer Use. All gas sold by a utility shall be on the basis of meter measurement, except for installations where the usage is constant and the consumption may readily be computed, or as provided for in its filed rates.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Utility Use. Wherever practicable, consumption of gas within the utility itself, or by administrative units associated with it, shall be metered, except for installations where the usage is constant and the consumption may readily be computed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Commission Approval.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Meters. Before any meter may be installed for use for revenue billing purposes, the type and design of the meter shall be approved by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Correcting Devices. Before any pressure or temperature device may be used for the purpose of correcting the registration of a meter, the type and design of the device or devices shall be approved by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Testing Equipment. Before any type of prover or other item of testing equipment may be used to test meters and associated devices, the type and design of the provers or testing equipment shall be approved by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Metering Installations.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Condition. A meter may not be installed if it is mechanically defective, has incorrect constants, or has not been tested, and adjusted if necessary.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Capacity. The capacity of the metering installation and the index mechanism should be consistent with the gas requirements of the customer.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Meter Multiplier.">
    <text>If it is necessary to apply a multiplier such as 10, 100, 1000, etc. to a meter reading to obtain the actual consumption, the information shall be shown on the face of the meter register.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Meter Reading Interval.">
    <text>Meters shall be read at approximate monthly intervals, unless otherwise authorized by the Commission.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Meter Reading Records.">
    <text>The meter reading sheets, cards, or records from which bills are prepared shall show:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Customer's name, address, and rate schedule;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Identifying number or description of the meter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Meter readings;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Date of meter reading;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>If the reading has been estimated;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>Any applicable fixed multiplier or constant.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Inventory Records.">
    <text>Each utility shall maintain records of each meter and associated metering device which will identify each item as to its design, capacity, and application. The identifying information may include, as applicable: manufacturer, number, type, capacity, multiplier, constants, pressure rating, and compensated index with associated pressure.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" heading="History Records.">
    <text>Each utility shall maintain records for each meter and associated metering device, which shall show, as applicable, the date of installation, the date of removal from service, and the location at the present address.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" heading="Test Records.">
    <text>Each utility shall maintain the latest test records for each meter which shall include the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The date and reason for the test;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The reading of the meter before making any test;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The proof “as found” at check flow;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>The proof “as left” at check and full rated flow; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>If a test of the meter is made by using a working standard other than a bell prover, the utility shall retain all data taken at the time of the test in sufficiently complete form to permit the convenient checking of the test methods and the calculations.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Public Utilities Article, §§2-121, 5-101, and 7-301, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: July 1, 1964 (Order No. 55567)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter revised effective October 21, 1974 (Order No. 60922)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .06F amended effective February 7, 2000 (27:2 Md. R. 146)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>