These regulations apply to LPG systems located in Maryland and to owners of these systems. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Accident” has the meaning stated in Public Utility Companies Article, §5-304, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Accuracy” means the degree of conformity of a measure to a standard or true value. “Associated metering device” means an instrument used to adjust the quantity of gas measured by a meter, based on the measurement of the: Temperature of the gas passing through the meter; Pressure of the gas passing through the meter; or Temperature and pressure of the gas passing through the meter. “Check flow” means a flow of gas at 20—50 percent of the rated capacity of a meter. “Commission” means the Public Service Commission of Maryland. “Full rated flow” means a flow of gas at approximately 100 percent of the rated capacity of a meter. “Gas” means LPG in the vapor state. “LPG” means liquified petroleum gas which includes propane, or butane, or other combustible gases, or mixtures thereof. “LPG system” means an LPG service installation located in Maryland that provides service to: Ten or more customers by underground pipes from a LPG storage tank; or At least two but fewer than ten customers by underground pipes from a LPG storage tank, if a portion of the LPG system is located in a public place. “Meter” means a device used by an owner to measure a quantity of gas. “Owner” means the person, as defined in Public Utilities Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, owning the LPG system. Each owner shall provide the Commission with the following information in writing: The location of each LPG system; The number of customers or dwelling units provided service by each LPG system; and The name, address, and telephone number of the office of the person responsible for each LPG system. The information required by §A of this regulation shall be filed with the Public Service Commission under COMAR 20.07.01.01. In this chapter, the following documents are incorporated by reference: 49 CFR Part 191 Transportation of Natural Gas and Other Gas by Pipeline; Annual Reports, Incident Reports, and Safety Related Condition Reports, as amended; 49 CFR Part 192 Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum Federal Safety Standards, as amended; and The applicable provisions in the GPTC Guide for Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, which is incorporated by reference under COMAR 20.55.02.02. Each owner shall use as acceptable good engineering practice applicable provisions under §A(3) of this regulation. Public Utilities Article, §§2-117(a), 5-101, 5-304, 12-101—12-113, and 13-203, Annotated Code of Maryland, shall apply to the owners of LPG systems to the extent ordered by the Commission. The Commission is an authorized agent of the United States Department of Transportation for the administration and enforcement of these regulations and those federal regulations that apply to LPG systems in this State. Upon reasonable notice, a representative of the Commission shall be given access to each LPG system in order to conduct tests or inspections to assure compliance with these regulations. Routine inspections of the LPG systems shall be made during regular business hours and may be inspected at any time in the event of an emergency or incident. Frequency of Leak Surveys. Each owner shall conduct a gas leak survey of a LPG pipeline system in accordance with the following schedule: At least once each calendar year, at intervals not exceeding 15 months, for a pipeline located in a business district or place of public assembly; At least once every 3 calendar years, at intervals not exceeding 39 months, for a pipeline made of cast iron, ductile iron, and cathodically unprotected steel; or At least once every 5 calendar years, at intervals not exceeding 63 months, for all other types of pipelines. Testing Methods. Each owner shall establish written procedures for conducting gas leak surveys as specified in this chapter. Acceptable methods for owners conducting gas leak surveys, as described in the GPTC Guide for Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, include: Subsurface gas detector survey, including bar hole surveys; Bubble leakage test for pipelines exposed to the atmosphere; or Pressure drop test. In addition to the acceptable methods listed in §B(2) of this regulation, other survey and test methods that have been tested and proven to be at least equal to the methods listed in §B(2) of this regulation and approved by the Commission may be used to meet the requirements of §B(1) of this regulation. A leak or leaks discovered by a gas leak survey conducted pursuant to this regulation shall be classified, and the appropriate action taken as described in the GPTC Guide For Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems. Field Operations. An owner shall conduct a leakage survey on each new or replaced service line before the line is placed in service, but after backfilling and a reasonable period of gas pressurizing. After a leak repair, an owner shall conduct a gas leakage survey in accordance with §B of this regulation. Records of Leak Surveys. An owner shall maintain a record of each leak survey listing by location and date for the following: Number of leaks detected; Severity of each leak; and Action taken to repair each leak. An owner shall maintain the records required under §E(1) of this regulation as long as the segment of pipeline involved remains in service. Identification. An owner shall install tracer wire on all newly installed plastic pipes. When the open trenching method of pipeline construction is used, an owner shall install suitable identification tape at least 12 inches above the top of the pipe. Location of Residential Service Lines and Meters. Residential customer meters shall be placed as close to the exterior building wall as possible. Gas service may not be provided to new or renewed service lines if there is any underground pipeline after the meter, unless the pipeline carries gas only to gas utilization equipment located outdoors. If it is not possible to comply with §B(1) or (2) of this regulation, written permission shall be obtained from the Commission before placing the meter and activating the service. If a residential service line is replaced, the new service line shall be installed as provided in §B(1)—(3) of this regulation. Each owner of a LPG system shall maintain records and provide reports to the Commission as required by this regulation. Fatal Accidents. In the event of a fatal accident, an owner shall promptly notify the Commission of the fatal accident by telephone. A written report shall be submitted to the Commission within 20 days of the date of the incident resulting in the fatal accident reported under §B(1) of this regulation. Leaks in pipes or tanks that are hazardous to the public shall be reported immediately to the local central fire department communications center and to the Commission. Each owner shall submit to the Commission, on a quarterly basis, reports summarizing the leaks discovered, leak calls made pursuant to §C of this regulation, and the owner's responses to these events. All reports required to be filed with the United States Department of Transportation by 49 CFR 191 and 192 shall also be filed with the Commission. The Commission may require additional reports to be submitted to it by owners of LPG systems. Construction Notices. An owner shall notify the Commission in writing at least 10 days before the estimated start date of a major construction project. A major construction project includes: A new pressure-regulating station; A significant modification to gas supply equipment at an existing pressure-regulating station; A new propane plant; A significant modification to process equipment at an existing propane plant; or A new pipeline installation of 500 or more feet. The notification required by this regulation shall be on a form provided by the Commission. Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-117(a), 2-121, 5-101, 5-304, 7-301—7-302, 11-102, 12-101—12-113, and 13-203, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: September 13, 1982 (9:18 Md. R. 1801) Regulation .02 amended effective March 31, 2003 (30:6 Md. R. 422) Regulation .04 amended effective November 2, 1987 (14:22 Md. R. 2340) Regulations .07 and .08 adopted effective October 11, 1982 (9:20 Md. R. 1982) Regulation .07C amended effective January 15, 1996 (23:1 Md. R. 36) Regulation .08E amended effective November 2, 1987 (14:22 Md. R. 2340) Chapter revised effective April 21, 2008 (35:8 Md. R. 809) Except for LPG systems installed before October 1, 2001, all customers shall be billed on the basis of the metered measurement of gas. The Commission shall approve any meter and associated metering device installed for billing purposes. Except for the test required by Regulation .03B(2) of this chapter, the tests required by Regulation .03 of this chapter shall be performed by a meter shop approved by the Commission. General. Any meter test required by this regulation shall be made at both check flow and full rated flow. Preinstallation Test. Meter Accuracy. Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, the owner shall test a meter for accuracy before the meter is placed in service. The date of the accuracy test shall be within 2 years of the date the meter is placed in service. Leak Test. An owner shall test a meter for leaks before the meter is placed in service. Sample Testing New Meters. An owner may sample test new meters for accuracy in accordance with a sample plan approved by the Commission. Request Test. Request for Test. Upon request by a customer and at no charge, the owner shall test the accuracy of the meter and associated metering device, if installed, serving the customer. A test under this subsection need not be made more often than once in 18 months. Customer May Observe. The customer, or the customer's representative, may be present when the test is performed. Report to Customer. A report of the results of the test shall be made to the customer within a reasonable time after the completion of the test, and a record of the report, together with a complete record of the test, shall be kept on file at the office of the owner for at least 3 years. Referee Test. Application for Test. Upon written application to the Commission by a customer or an owner, an accuracy test shall be made of the customer's meter and associated metering device, if installed, as soon as practicable by a representative of the Commission. A test under this subsection need not be made more often than once in 18 months. Deposit for Test. The application under §D(1) of this regulation shall be accompanied by a $10 deposit. Notice to Owner. On receipt of a request from a customer, the Commission shall notify the owner and the owner may not knowingly remove or adjust the meter and associated metering device, if installed, unless instructed by the Commission. The owner shall furnish to the Commission's representative reasonable assistance if required to make the test. Customer May Observe. The customer, or the customer's representative, may be present when the test is performed. Report to Customer. A written report of the results of the test shall be sent to the customer and to the owner. Disposition of Deposit. If the accuracy test shows an over-registration of more than 2 percent at check flow, a deposit shall be refunded by the Commission and the owner billed the amount of the deposit. If the accuracy test shows an under-registration or an over-registration of 2 percent or less at check flow, the Commission shall retain the deposit. In-Service Performance Test. An owner shall prepare and submit to the Commission an in-service performance plan. The Commission shall approve an owner's in-service performance plan before its implementation. An owner shall perform an in-service accuracy test of meters and associated metering devices, if installed, on a periodic interval or variable interval basis. Report. An owner shall prepare a report showing all in-service performance tests conducted during a calendar year. The owner shall submit the report to the commission by April 1 of the following year. As Found Test. An owner shall test a meter before adjustment, repair, or retirement. As Left Test. If a meter does not meet the accuracy requirements of Regulation .04A of this chapter, an owner shall adjust, repair, or both, and test the meter for accuracy before returning it to service. Preinstallation Accuracy. If a meter is tested under Regulation .03B and G of this chapter, an owner may not install or return to service a meter that is more than 0.5 percent fast or more than 1.5 percent slow. In-Service Performance Test Accuracy. If a meter is tested under Regulation .03E of this chapter, an owner shall count the test as a failure if the meter and associated metering device, if installed, are found to be more than 2 percent fast or slow. Balance. If a meter's accuracy at check flow is found to differ from accuracy at full rated flow by more than 1 percent, an owner shall adjust or repair, or both, and test the meter before returning it to service. Billing Adjustment Fast Meters. Bill Recalculation. If an accuracy test shows an over-registration of more than 2 percent at check flow, the owner shall recalculate the bills for service of the last customer of record receiving service through the meter and shall make a refund if the amount of the adjustment exceeds $10. The refund shall be for the period that the customer received service through the meter, but for not more than the periods established in §D(1)(b) and (c) of this regulation. Known Date of Error. If the date on which the error first developed or occurred can be established, then the owner shall make a refund based on that known date. Unknown Date of Error. If the known date of error cannot be established, then it shall be assumed that the over-registration existed for a period of 3 years or a period equal to 1/2 of the time since the meter was last tested, whichever is less. Slow Meters. If an accuracy test shows an under-registration of more than 2 percent at check flow, the owner may bill the customer 1/2 of the unbilled undercharge for a period of 12 months, unless the meter has been tested within that 12-month period, in which event the utility may bill the customer 1/2 the unbilled undercharge for the period since the meter was last tested. If the amount of under-registration is less than $20, the utility may not bill the customer for the undercharge. Nonregistering Meters. If a meter is found not to register, the owner may issue an estimated bill. If the customer is informed of the nonregistering meter in less than 4 months of the meter becoming nonregistering, the utility may bill the customer for estimated consumption for the duration of the nonregistration. If the customer is not informed of the nonregistering meter in less than 4 months of the meter becoming nonregistering, the utility may bill the customer for 1/2 of the estimated consumption for the duration of the nonregistration up to a maximum of 6 months. Inventory. Each owner shall maintain records of each meter and associated metering device, which identify each item as to its design, capacity, and application. The identifying information shall include, as applicable: Manufacturer; Number; Type; Capacity; Multiplier; Constants; Pressure rating; and Compensated index with associated pressure. History. Each owner shall maintain records for each meter and associated metering device, which shall show, as applicable: Date of each installation; Date of each removal from service; and Current location. Meter Test Records. Each owner shall maintain records for each test of a meter, which shall include the following: The date and reason for the test; The reading of the meter before making any test; The accuracy “as found” at check flow and full rated flow; and The accuracy “as left”, if applicable, at check flow and full rated flow. Public Utilities Article, §§5-101, 7-301, 7-302, and 11-102, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: March 31, 2003 (30:6 Md. R. 422)