Section 501.280  Meter Tests Requested by Natural Gas Suppliers

a)         Upon a natural gas supplier's request, provided that the utility or manufacturer has not tested the meter in question within 12 months prior to the request, a utility providing metering service shall test the meter in question within 45 days after receiving the request, unless the natural gas supplier agrees to a later time. The utility shall perform the meter test between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, unless the utility and the natural gas supplier agree to a different day or time. The utility shall inform the customer of the natural gas supplier's request and the date and time of the test at least five business days prior to the agreed-upon test date. The utility shall perform the test in the presence of a representative of the natural gas supplier, unless the natural gas supplier waives the right to have a representative present. The utility shall allow the customer or its representative to observe the meter test. The utility shall provide a written summary of the results of the meter test to the natural gas supplier and the customer within five business days.

b)         If a utility or manufacturer has tested a meter within the last 12 months, the utility is not obligated to retest the meter in response to the latest request. Instead, the utility may offer the results of the last test in response to the latest request.

c)         If a requested meter test will not interrupt a customer's gas service, a utility may perform a meter test requested by a natural gas supplier at any time agreeable to the utility and the natural gas supplier. If a requested meter test will interrupt the customer's gas service, then a utility shall obtain permission from a customer to interrupt the customer's service to perform a requested test.

d)         A utility may require a natural gas supplier to pay up to $10,000 ($25,000 if performed at a non-affiliated third-party location) for the actual costs of the meter test. A utility performing a meter test at the request of a natural gas supplier shall refund the natural gas supplier's payment if the meter test shows that the meter is under-registering by more than 2.0%. A utility shall provide to a natural gas supplier an itemized written statement of the cost of a requested meter test, obtain the natural gas supplier's agreement to pay the stated cost, and receive payment from the natural gas supplier for the requested meter test before taking any action to remove the meter or begin the requested meter test.

e)         A natural gas supplier may request a meter test only for a current customer or for a prior customer if, at the time of the request, the supplier had provided gas supply to that customer within the prior three months.

f)         A natural gas supplier may request a Commission referee test of a meter under the provisions of subsection (c) and Section 501.270, and shall be responsible for the fee prescribed by Section 501.270(e) and the actual cost, not to exceed $10,000, of the test. The utility shall inform the customer of the natural gas supplier's request and the date and time of the referee test at least five business days prior to the agreed upon test date. The utility shall perform the referee test in the presence of a representative of the natural gas supplier, unless the natural gas supplier waives the right to have a representative present. The utility shall allow the customer or its representative to observe the meter test. If the meter over-registers by more than 2.0%, the utility shall refund all fees it charged to the natural gas supplier and make any necessary meter data adjustment.

g)         A utility shall conduct a referee test of a meter within 45 days after receiving notice from a Commission representative of a natural gas supplier's request if the meter testing facility that the utility uses to conduct the test is located in-state, unless the supplier agrees to a later time. The utility shall conduct the meter test between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, unless the utility, the third party supplier, and Commission representative agree to a different day or time.

h)         A utility shall conduct a referee test of a meter within 90 days after receiving notice from a Commission representative of a natural gas supplier's request if the meter testing facility that the utility uses to conduct the test is located out of state, unless the supplier agrees to a later time. The utility shall conduct the meter test between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, unless the utility, the third party supplier, and Commission representative agree to a different day or time.

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 351, effective December 29, 2016)