(1) Periodical Testing of meters by the Licensee:-
(i) It shall be the responsibility of the Licensee to satisfy itself regarding the accuracy of the meter before it is installed and, if he feels so necessary, shall get them tested in an accredited laboratory.
(ii) Wherever the consumer opts to procure the meter, the Licensee shall receive it and, if he so desires, get it tested in an accredited laboratory notified by the Commission:
Provided that in the absence of an accredited laboratory notified by the Commission, the meter shall be tested in any accredited laboratory other than that of the Licensee:
Provided further that, subject to fulfillment of conditions and completion of procedural requirements under Regulation 11, in all such cases the meter shall be installed and service connection be given within a maximum of 15 (fifteen) days from the date of receipt of meter.
(iii) The Licensee shall, at no cost to the consumer, conduct periodical inspection or testing or both and calibration of the meters, as notified in the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, as amended from time to time, at site, and as per the following schedule:
Railways, DMRC At-least once in every six months HT or EHT meters At-least once in every year LT 3-phase meters At-least once in every five years single phase meters At-least once in every five years as per IS 15707:
2006- Testing, Evaluation, Installation and Maintenance of ac electricity meters-code of practice based on sampling plan as specified in IS 2500(Part-I)
(iv) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub clause (iii), the Licensee shall arrange the periodical testing of meters in the institutions of public importance such as hospitals, airports, or in the premises of continuous process industries or in the premises where life support systems are installed, only on a mutually agreed date and time and with the minimum interruption of supply.
[PART III DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY 85
(v) Wherever applicable, Current Transformer (CT) and Potential Transformer (PT) and the associated wiring connections shall also be tested along with meters.
(2) Testing of the meter in case of dispute or on the request of consumer:-
(i) If a consumer either disputes the result of periodical testing by the Licensee or requests the Licensee for testing of meter, the Licensee shall, arrange testing of the meter, within 15 (fifteen) days of receiving the request:
Provided that the meter shall be tested at site by an accredited laboratory notified by the Commission:
Provided further that in the absence of an accredited laboratory notified by the Commission, the meter shall be tested in any accredited laboratory other than that of the Licensee.
(ii) If the meter is found to be recording incorrectly or defective or damaged due to technical reasons such as voltage fluctuation or transients or component failure etc., attributable to the Licensee, the testing fee shall not be charged to the consumer:
Provided that, if during such testing, the meter is found to be recording correctly or defective or damaged due to reasons attributable to the consumer, the testing fee as notified in the Commission’s Orders shall be charged to the consumer by the Licensee in the subsequent bill:
(iii) The decision of the accredited laboratory notified by the Commission or accredited laboratory other than that of the Licensee as the case may be, shall be final and binding on the Licensee and the consumer.
(3) The Licensee shall, give at-least 3 (three) days prior notice to the consumer, intimating the date, time of testing of the meter so that the consumer or his authorized representative, if so desires, can be present during such testing of meter.
(4) The consumer or his authorized representative, if so present during testing and the representative of the Licensee shall affix signature on the test report issued by the accredited laboratory notified by the Commission or the Licensee’s laboratory, as the case may be, as a token of having witnessed the testing.
(5) The Licensee shall give, a copy of the meter test report, duly signed by the Licensee and the consumer or their authorized representatives, and retain one such copy as acknowledgment.
(6) The Licensee or accredited laboratory, as the case may be, shall keep record of all such meter tests and submit a report to the Commission whenever required.
(7) In case, during testing, the meter is found to be inaccurate, revision of bill on the basis of percentage error from the limits of accuracy, at applicable tariff rates, shall be done for a maximum period of 6 (six) months or 50% of the period from the date of installation of the meter prior to date of testing or 50% of the period from date of last testing, whichever is shorter and the excess or deficit charges on account of such revision shall be adjusted in the subsequent bill(s).
(8) Testing of tampered meter:-
(i) If the Licensee suspects a case of unauthorised use of electricity and theft of electricity through a tampered meter, the meter shall be tested in an accredited laboratory notified by the Commission for that purpose:
Provided further that in the absence of an accredited laboratory notified by the Commission, the meter shall be tested in any accredited laboratory other than that of the Licensee.
86 DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY PART III]
(ii) The Licensee shall remove the meter from site/consumer’s premises and seal it in the presence of the consumer or his representative in a container affixing thereon paper seals which shall be signed by both the parties. In case the consumer refuses to sign the paper seal, the same shall be photographed and videographed.
(iii) The Licensee shall schedule a date and time for the testing of meters with the accredited laboratory notified by the Commission and shall give at-least 3 (three) days prior notice to the consumer, intimating the date and time of testing so that the consumer or his authorized representative, if so desires, can be present during such testing.
(iv) The Licensee shall keep the sealed container with the meter under safe and secure custody, and hand over the same to the accredited laboratory notified by the Commission for testing on the scheduled date.
(v) f at the time of handing over the sealed container with the meter for testing to the accredited laboratory notified by the Commission, it is found that the seal of the container is damaged or tampered or missing, in all such cases the licensee shall replace the meter at its own cost and shall not carry out any further proceedings or actions against the consumer on account of tampering or suspected tampering of the meter.
(vi) The accredited laboratory notified by the Commission shall test the meter on the scheduled date.
(vii) If as a result of testing, it is established that:
a. the meter was not tampered, the licensee shall replace the meter free of charge, and it shall neither charge any fee for testing, nor initiate any action against the consumer.
b. the meter was tampered, the licensee shall initiate action against the consumer, as per the provisions of the Act and applicable regulations for theft of electricity or unauthorized use of electricity, as the case may be, and shall also recover the cost of meter and the testing fee as notified in the Commission’s Orders from the consumer.