Section 460.360  Testing Facilities and Equipment

a)         Each MSP shall provide a meter shop adequately equipped with reference standards, instruments and other facilities, equipment, and personnel necessary to make the tests required of the MSP by this Part. Each MSP shall provide working standards and portable standards necessary to make the tests required of the MSP by this Part. All apparatus and equipment shall be available at all times during the MSP's established business hours for the inspection of or use by authorized representatives of the Commission. If meters used for billing and maintaining customer usage data are tested at a facility located outside this State, the MSP shall take precautions to insure that the meters are not damaged in transit to or from that testing facility.

b)         Each MSP shall verify the accuracy of all reference standards at least once every twelve months. If the comparison indicates that the reference standard is in error by more than 0.5% on any combination on which it will be used, the MSP shall adjust the standard to reduce the inaccuracy, if possible. In any case, the MSP shall apply the correction indicated by the certificate or calibration card accompanying the instrument (pursuant to subsection (d)).

c)         When in use for testing meters, all solid state working and portable standards  shall be compared to a reference standard at least once every six months. All other working and portable standards used regularly for testing meters shall be compared to a reference standard at least once every month. When working or portable standards are used for purposes other than testing meters, they shall be compared to a reference standard at least once each year. If found in error by more than 0.5%, the MSP shall adjust the instrument to read within the specified limits or shall apply the proper correction factor.

d)         Each working, portable or reference standard shall be accompanied at all times by a certificate or calibration card signed or initialed by the person responsible for the calibration giving the date and results of the last calibration of the instrument. The MSP shall keep any superseded certificates or calibration cards on file for at least three years.

e)         An authorized representative of the Commission may check or establish the accuracy of all testing equipment owned by each MSP that is used for testing metering equipment used or intended for use in this State, as well as the methods of operating such equipment. An authorized representative of the Commission shall perform an audit of each MSP's testing equipment and methods at least every three years. The MSP shall reimburse the Commission for all expenses related to audits of meter shops used or maintained by the MSP located outside this State.