PS-EG-01—Provisional specifications for the approval of prepayment meters

Category: Electricity and gas
Issue date:
Effective date:
Revision number: 1
Supersedes: PS-EG-01


Table of contents


1.0 Scope

These provisional specifications apply to the approval of electricity and gas meters intended for use in prepayment metering applications.

2.0 Authority

These provisional specifications are issued under the authority of section 12 of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations.

3.0 References

Electricity and Gas Inspection Act

Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations

LMB-EG-07—Specifications for Approval of Type of Electricity Meters, Instrument Transformers and Auxiliary Devices

S-G-03—Specifications for the Approval of Type of Gas meters, Ancillary Devices and Associated Measuring Instruments

4.0 General requirements for meter design and performance evaluations

As the electricity or gas prepayment meter measures like a conventional meter, the prepayment meter must be evaluated in accordance with Measurement Canada's general and energy measurement specifications prescribed for electricity in LMB-EG-07, or for gas in S-G-03 (as would a conventional meter), and other applicable directives authorized by Measurement Canada.

5.0 Measurement data registration requirements

In consideration of the requirements of subparagraph 33(1)(k)(ii) of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, the application of prepayment methods does not require the registration or declaration of the purported amount of energy prepurchased if it can be derived from the monetary and rate information programmed into the meter. It should be noted that subparagraph 33(1)(k)(ii) refers to the purported amount of electricity or gas that should have been supplied on the basis of total price charged and the stated price per unit of measurement used to determine the total price.

Consequently, there is a need for the meter to present the prepayment information used to establish the purported amount of electricity or gas to be supplied. Therefore, in addition to the applicable display requirements specified for an integrating energy meter, to meet the statutory requirements of subparagraphs 33(1)(k)(i) and (ii) of the Act, the following information must be registered in a prepayment meter as a minimum:

  1. the amount of total monetary purchase and price per unit of measurement, for each rate as applicable; or
  2. the equivalent purported energy value, for each rate as applicable.

6.0 Programming requirements

6.1 Securing of programmable metrological features

Subject to the policies prescribed in 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4 of this document and in keeping with current policies, all programmable metrological features of a prepayment meter, with the exception of time-of-use (TOU) schedules, calendars, price rate factors and fixed price factors, must be secured under the meter seal such that any necessary programming changes will require the breaking of the meter seal.

6.2 Fixed amount of prepurchased energy

Where a contractor intends to sell electricity or gas as a fixed amount of prepurchased energy and the energy is sold on the basis of the total purchase price combined with the energy price rate and fixed price factors at the time of sale (e.g. the advertisement for the sale of a prepurchased magnetic card contains a declaration of the total purchase price, energy price rate and fixed price factors which will be downloaded on the prepayment meter), the following policies are applicable:

  1. Price rates and fixed price factors: The meter must operate in a manner such that once the prepayment system has downloaded the prepurchased energy values and activated the load circuit and meter, no changes must be permitted to the price rate and fixed price factors.
  2. Future price rates and fixed price factors: Future rates and factors can be programmed into the meter, but any changes to the rates and fixed factors must only come into effect once the prepurchased energy amounts have been consumed.
  3. TOU or seasonal rate function: Where TOU or seasonal rates are in use, the total price purchased must be specified for each TOU or seasonal rate. In addition, the meter must meet the requirements of clauses 6.2 (a) and (b) for each TOU or seasonal rate.
  4. Equivalent energy value: Where an equivalent energy value is calculated in the meter from the monetary parameters related to the purchase of prepaid electricity or gas, the equivalent energy value of any future prepurchased energy quantities must not replace any active energy quantity remaining in the meter but may be added to any remaining energy quantity.

6.3 Fixed amount of prepurchased energy (energy credit)

Where a contractor intends to sell electricity or gas as a fixed amount of prepurchased energy and the energy is sold on the basis of the legal unit of measurement in the form of an energy credit at the time of sale (e.g. the advertisement for the sale of a prepurchased magnetic card at a certain price contains a declaration of the 1000 kWhs of electricity or 1000 m3 of natural gas which will be downloaded on the prepayment meter), the meter must operate in a manner such that once the prepayment system has downloaded the prepurchased energy value and activated the load circuit and meter, any future prepurchased energy quantities must not replace any active energy quantity remaining in the meter but may be programmed into the meter as an addition to any remaining energy quantity.

6.4 Monetary credit

Where a contractor intends to use a prepayment meter to sell electricity or gas on the basis of a monetary credit and the amount of energy or volume is not combined with a specific energy or volume price rate at the time of purchase, the following policies are applicable:

  1. Price rates and fixed price factors: Price rates and factors may be programmed into the prepayment meter and changed as needed at the contractor's discretion.
  2. Future price rates and fixed price factors: Future rates and factors may be programmed into the meter and changed as needed at the contractor's discretion.
  3. TOU or seasonal rate function: Where TOU or seasonal rates are in use, these may be programmed in the meter and changed as needed at the contractor's discretion.

7.0 Revisions

The purpose of revision 1 was to:

  • replace the reference to LMB-EG-08—Specifications for approval of type of gas meters and auxiliary devices with a reference to S-G-03—Specifications for the Approval of Type of Gas meters, Ancillary Devices and Associated Measuring Instruments. MC has integrated the requirements of LMB-EG-08 into specifications S-G-03 (rev. 1). Therefore, LMB-EG-08 has become obsolete;
  • reformat the document according to new formatting requirements.