DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY SERVICES PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR GAS SERVICE(By authority conferred on the public service commission by section 6 ofAct No. 3 of the Public Acts of 1939, as amended, and section 2 of ActNo. 165 of the Public Acts of 1969, being SS460.6 and 483.152 of theMichigan Compiled Laws) PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONSR 460.2301 Definitions. Rule 1. As used in these rules: (a) "Acceptable to the commission" or "approved by the commission" or"authorized by the commission" means that a commission order has beenobtained. (b) "British thermal unit" means the quantity of heat that must be addedto 1 avoirdupois pound of pure water to raise its temperature from 58.5degrees Fahrenheit to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit under standard pressure.Standard pressure is 30 inches mercury at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 14.73pounds per square inch absolute and with acceleration due to gravity equalto 32.174 feet per second per second. (c) "Commission" means the Michigan public service commission. (d) "Cubic foot of gas" means the following: (i) For billing purposes, a standard cubic foot of gas is that quantityof dry gas which, at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and anabsolute pressure of 14.65 pounds per square inch, occupies 1 cubic foot.The commission may, however, approve a different absolute pressure base. (ii) For testing purposes, such as testing for heating value, a standardcubic foot of gas is that quantity of gas which, when saturated with watervapor at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and an absolute pressureof 14.73 pounds per square inch, occupies 1 cubic foot. (e) "Customer" means an individual or business, excluding other gasutilities, that purchases gas or transportation services, or both, on theutility's system. (f) "Hazardous condition" means any condition which the utilitydetermines poses an immediate and serious threat to the health, safety, orwelfare of a customer or the general public and which requires immediateaction. (g) "Liquefied petroleum gas-air mixture" means a gas that is producedby mixing an appropriate quantity of air with propane vapor, butane vapor,or a mixture of such vapors. (h) "Meter" means, unless otherwise qualified, a device of a utilitythat is used in measuring a quantity of gas. (i) "Meter accuracy" means the volume that is measured by a meter as apercent of the actual volume that flowed through the meter as measured bya working standard. (j) "Mixed gas" means a gas that is produced by mixing natural gas withany of the following: (i) Air. (ii) Inert gas. (iii) Liquefied petroleum gas. (iv) Liquefied petroleum gas-air mixture. (v) Other flammable gas. (vi) Substitute natural gas. (k) "Premises" means land or real estate, including buildings and otherappurtenances thereon. (l) "Potentially hazardous condition" means any condition which theutility determines has the potential to become a hazardous condition, butwhich does not require immediate action. All of the following are examplesof potentially hazardous conditions: (i) Customer failure to permit the utility to perform inspections andmaintenance on the utility's facilities in or on the customer's premises. (ii) Customer alterations or modifications of the utility's facilitieslocated in or on the customer's premises. (iii) Customer construction of a structure or appurtenance near or overthe main, service line piping, or meter set assembly so that the utility'sfacilities are not in compliance with the provisions of R 460.14001 etseq. of the Michigan Administrative Code or the utility's standards. (iv) Customer failure to correct or replace gas utilization equipment orgas fuel line piping that has been previously identified and classified aspotentially hazardous by the utility. (m) "Rate book" means the assembled rate schedules, rules, regulations,and standard forms of the utility as filed with the commission. (n) "Required access" means access that is necessary to conduct any ofthe following: (i) Routine inspections and maintenance. (ii) Meter readings of gas usage. (iii) Scheduled replacement, repairs, relocation, or disconnection ofbranch service lines or other changes with respect to service lines andmeter assembly piping. (o) "Substitute natural gas" means gas which is interchangeable andcompatible with natural gas and which is manufactured from carbon andhydrogen-bearing materials. (p) "Utility" means a person, firm, corporation, cooperative,association, or agency which is subject to the jurisdiction of thecommission and which delivers or distributes and sells gas to the publicfor heating, power, or other residential, commercial, or industrialpurposes. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2302 Application, intention, and interpretation of rules; utilityrules and regulations. Rule 2. (1) These rules apply to a gas utility which operates within thestate of Michigan and which is subject to the jurisdiction of thecommission. (2) These rules are intended to promote safe and adequate gas service tothe public, to provide technical standards for uniform and reasonablepractices by gas utilities, to encourage efficiency and economy, and toestablish a basis for determining the reasonableness of such demands asmay be made by the public upon gas utilities. (3) Questions that concern the application or interpretation of theserules and disagreements with respect to any service rules and regulationsthat are promulgated by a gas utility shall be referred to the commissionfor a ruling. (4) A utility shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations, subject tocommission approval, governing its relations with customers. The rules andregulations shall not be inconsistent with these rules and any other rulesof the commission as may be promulgated from time to time. A utility'srules and regulations shall constitute an integral part of the utility'srate book. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993. PART 2. RECORDS, REPORTS, AND OTHER INFORMATIONR 460.2321 Retention of records. Rule 21. All records that are required to be made or maintained pursuantto these rules shall be preserved by the utility for a period of timespecified in R 460.2501 et seq. of the Michigan Administrative Code. If atime period is not specified in these rules or in R 460.2501 et seq.,records shall be preserved by the utility for not less than 1 year afterthe records are completed. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2323 Reports and records generally. Rule 23. (1) Volumetric data that is contained in any report which isfiled with the commission shall define the pressure, temperature, andwater saturation upon which the data is based. (2) In addition to reports or records that are required to be filed withthe commission pursuant to these rules, a utility shall provide thecommission with a current list of the name, title, address, and telephonenumber of the person who should be contacted in connection with all of thefollowing: (a) General management duties. (b) Customer complaints that relate to operations. (c) Construction, maintenance, operations, and emergencies during officeand nonoffice hours for each major operating headquarters. (d) Meter tests and repairs. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993. PART 3. SERVICE REQUIREMENTSR 460.2331 Sale of gas. Rule 31. (1) All gas that is sold by a utility shall be on the basis ofmeter measurement, unless otherwise authorized by the commission. (2) The utility shall provide the characteristics of service available to prospective customers upon request. (3) If gas is supplied and metered to a customer at a nominal delivery pressure of 0.25 pounds per square inch gauge, then, for billing purposes, both of the following provisions apply: (a) The gas volume that is registered by the meter is assumed to be measured at standard billing conditions as defined in R 460.2301(d)(i), regardless of the actual temperature of the gas or actual atmospheric pressure. However, all meters which are to operate at ambient outdoor conditions and which are installed after the effective date of this subrule shall be installed with a temperature-compensating device. (b) If the billing pressure base is 14.65 pounds per square inch absolute, then the atmospheric pressure is assumed to be 14.4 pounds per square inch absolute. If the commission has approved a different billing pressure base, then the assumed atmospheric pressure is equal to the difference between such absolute billing pressure base and 0.25 pounds per square inch. (4) If gas is supplied to a customer through a low-pressure distribution system such that a service regulator is not used before metering, then, for billing purposes, the gas shall be assumed to be supplied and metered at 0.25 pounds per square inch gauge. The low-pressure system shall be operated so that the gauge pressure at the outlet of the meter shall be maintained within a range of 3 inches water column minimum to a maximum of 14 inches water column. However, delivery to the customer may be as high as 18 inches water column if the pressure to the appliances is regulated to not more than 14 inches water column. A utility may implement different standards for operating its low-pressure system if those standards are approved by the commission. (5) If gas is supplied and metered to a customer at a nominal delivery pressure of more than 0.25 pounds per square inch gauge, then, for billing purposes, all of the following provisions apply: (a) The gas volume that is measured by the meter shall be corrected to standard billing conditions as defined in R 460.2301(d)(i). (b) Gas volume corrections for temperature shall be made in accordance with Charles' law. Gas volume corrections for pressure shall be made in accordance with Boyle's law. Gas volume corrections for supercompressibility shall be made in accordance with either of the following publications of the American gas association (AGA), both of which are adopted by reference in these rules and may be purchased at the cost specified as of the time of adoption of these rules (which is subject to change) from the American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209, (703) 841-8558, or from the Michigan Public Service Commission, 6545 Mercantile Way, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909: (i) "Manual for the Determination of Supercompressibility Factors for Natural Gas, Project NX-19," (1962) (A.G.A. Catalog No. L00340). . $35.00. (ii) "Compressibility and Supercompressibility for Natural Gas and Other Hydrocarbon Gases, Transmission Measurement Committee Report No. 8," (1992) (A.G.A. Catalog No. . . . . . . . .$80.00 ($40.00 for AGA members). (c) If the pressure at which the gas is metered is established on a gauge basis rather than an absolute basis, then the absolute pressure at which the gas is metered shall be inferred by summing the gauge pressure and either the actual atmospheric pressure or a reasonable estimate thereof or an atmospheric pressure that is filed with, and approved by, the commission. (d) If a pressure-compensating device is used with the meter, the device shall be calibrated using the actual atmospheric pressure or a reasonable estimate thereof. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July 10, 1993. R 460.2332 Permanent service line rules. Rule 32. Within 30 days after a company commences operating as a gas utility, the utility shall file its service line installation rules forcommission approval. Such rules and regulations shall constitute anintegral part of the utility's rate book. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2333 Main extension rules. Rule 33. Within 30 days after a company commences operating as a gasutility, the utility shall file its main extension rules for commissionapproval. Such rules and regulations shall constitute an integral part ofthe utility's rate book. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2335 Interruptions of service. Rule 35. (1) This rule does not apply to service interruptions thatresult from a utility's implementation of the provisions of R 460.2101 etseq. of the Michigan Administrative Code or a utility's shutoff of servicepursuant to the provisions of R 460.2371 to R 460.2374. (2) A utility shall make a reasonable effort to prevent interruptions ofservice and, when such interruptions occur, shall endeavor to reestablishservice with the shortest possible delay consistent with the safety of itscustomers, its employees and others engaged in work for the utility, andthe general public. If service is necessarily interrupted for the purposeof working on the distribution system or plant equipment, it shall be doneat a time that causes the least inconvenience to customers, and thosecustomers who may be seriously affected shall be notified in advance. (3) If the supply of gas diminishes to the point where continuousservice to customers is threatened, the utility may limit or shut offservice to its customers pursuant to curtailment procedures approved bythe commission. (4) A utility shall keep records of major interruptions of service onits entire system or in major divisions or operating districts thereof.The records shall include a statement of the time, duration, and cause ofthe interruption. A utility shall report interruptions of service, asrequired by R 460.14001 et seq. of the Michigan Administrative Code, andshall periodically make an analysis of the records for the purpose ofdetermining steps to be taken to prevent the recurrence of suchinterruptions. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993. PART 4. ENGINEERINGR 460.2342 Standards of accepted engineering practice. Rule 42. Unless otherwise specified by the commission, a utility shalluse the publications listed below as standards of accepted practice: (a) The current edition of the Michigan gas safety code, R 460.14001 etseq. of the Michigan Administrative Code, which may be ordered from theMichigan Public Service Commission, 6545 Mercantile Way, P.O. Box 30221,Lansing, MI 48909. (b) The following American national standards institute (ANSI)publications, which are adopted by reference in these rules and which maybe purchased at the specified cost as of the time of adoption of theserules (which is subject to change) from the American National StandardsInstitute, 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018, (212) 642-4900, orfrom the American Gas Association (AGA), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington,VA 22209, (703) 841-8558, or from the Michigan Public Service Commission,6545 Mercantile Way, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909: (i) ANSI/API 2530, "Orifice Metering of Natural Gas and Other RelatedHydrocarbon, A.G.A. Report No. 3," as follows: (A) Part I, "General Equations and Uncertainty Guidelines,"(1990)(A.G.A. Catalog No. XQ9017) $55.00 from ANSI or $50.00 from AGA($40.00 for AGA members). (B) Part II, "Specification and Installation Requirements," (1991)(A.G.A. Catalog No. XQ9104) $55.00 from ANSI or $50.00 from AGA ($40.00for AGA members). (C) Part III, "Natural Gas Applications," (1992) (A.G.A. Catalog No.XQ9210) $65.00 from ANSI or $50.00 from AGA ($40.00 for AGA members). (D) Part IV, "Background Development, Implementation Procedures, andSub-Routine Documentation for Emperical Flange-Tapped DischargedCoefficient Equation," (1992) (A.G.A. Catalog No. XQ9211) $50.00 from AGA($40.00 for AGA members). (ii) ANSI B109.1, "Diaphragm Type - Gas Displacement Meters, Under 500Cubic Feet per Hour Capacity," (1992) (A.G.A. Catalog No. X69218) $20.00from ANSI or $20.00 from AGA ($10.00 for AGA members). (iii) ANSI B109.2, "Diaphragm Type - Gas Displacement Meters, 500 CubicFeet per Hour Capacity and Over," (1992) (A.G.A. Catalog No. X69219)$20.00 from ANSI or $20.00 from AGA ($10.00 for AGA members). (iv) ANSI B109.3, "Gas Displacement Meters, Rotary Type," (1992) (A.G.A.Catalog No. X69220) $20.00 from ANSI or $20.00 from AGA ($10.00 for AGAmembers). (v) ANSI Z223.1 National Fuel Gas Code-1992 edition, which may also bepurchased from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 East 47thStreet, New York, NY 10017, (212) 705-7722, or from the National FireProtection Association (NFPA), P.O. Box 9146, Quincy, MA 02269, (800)344-3555 $24.50 ($22.00 for NPFA members). (c) The following national fire protection association standards, whichare adopted by reference in these rules and which may be purchased at thespecified cost as of the time of adoption of these rules (which is subjectto change) from the National Fire Protection Association, P.O. Box 9146,Quincy, MA 02269, (800) 344-3555, or from the Michigan Public ServiceCommission, 6545 Mercantile Way, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909: (i) "NFPA Standard 58, Storage and Handling of Liquefied PetroleumGases," (1992) $24.50 ($22.00 for NFPA members). (ii) "NFPA Standard 59, Storage and Handling of Liquefied PetroleumGases at Utility Gas Plants," (1992) $18.75 ($17.00 for NFPA members). (iii) "NFPA Standard 59A, Production, Storage and Handling of LiquefiedNatural Gas (LNG)," (1990) $18.75 ($17.00 for NFPA members). (d) The following American society for testing and materials (ASTM)publications, which are adopted by reference in these rules and which maybe purchased at the specified cost as of the time of adoption of theserules (which is subject to change) from ASTM, 1916 Race Street,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-1187, (215) 299-5585, or from theMichigan Public Service Commission, 6545 Mercantile Way, P.O. Box 30221,Lansing, MI 48909: (i) ASTM specification D-1826 "Calorific Value of Gases in Natural GasRange by Continuous Recording Calorimeter," (D1826-88) $15.00. (ii) ASTM specification D-1945 "Method for Analysis of Natural Gas byGas Chromatography," (D1945-91) $18.00. (iii) ASTM specification D-3588 "Method for Calculating Calorific Valueand Specific Gravity (Relative Density of Gaseous Fuels)," (D3588-91)$15.00. Many of ASTM's publications are now stored at University MicrofilmInternational, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106, (313)761-4700. (e) General rules of the construction code commission, which may beordered from the Construction Code Commission, Michigan Department ofLabor, State Secondary Complex, 7150 Harris Drive, Lansing, MI 48926,(517) 322-1701. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2343 Rescinded. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; rescinded 1993 MR 6,Eff. July 10, 1993. PART 5. INSPECTION OF METERSR 460.2351 Meters and associated metering devices; inspections andtests. Rule 51. Inspections and tests of meters and associated metering devicesshall be made by, or on behalf of, each utility as follows: (a) A meter or an associated metering device that is not included as apart of the meter, or both, shall be inspected and tested before beingplaced in service, and the error shall be not more than 1.0%. In place ofthis requirement, methods of sample testing that are acceptable to thecommission may be used. (b) A meter or an associated metering device, or both, shall be testedafter it is removed from service. Such tests shall be made before themeter or associated metering device is adjusted, repaired, or retired. (c) A repaired meter or a meter that is removed from service shall beleak-tested before being returned to service, subject to the followingrequirements: (i) If tested in the field, a meter shall be tested at the actual meteroperating pressure of the system. (ii) If tested in the shop, a meter shall be subjected to an internalpressure test of not less than 3.0 pounds per square inch gauge pressureand, in addition, any meter that will operate above 3.0 pounds per squareinch gauge pressure shall be so marked on the meter and shall be subjectedto 1 of the following tests: (A) An internal pressure test of not less than the manufacturer's ratedoperating pressure. (B) An internal pressure test at 10% above the maximum operatingpressure to which the meter could be subjected. (C) Any suitable test that is acceptable to the commission. (iii) During the pressure test, the meter shall be checked for leaks by1 of the following tests: (A) Immersion test. (B) Soap test. (C) Pressure drop test of a type that is acceptable to the commission. (d) As part of its rate book, a utility shall file, for commissionapproval, a statement of its policy with regard to testing meter accuracyupon a customer's request. In the absence of a filed policy approved bythe commission, the utility shall adhere to both of the followingprovisions: (i) A utility shall test meter accuracy upon the request of a customerif the customer does not request a test more than once every 2 years andif the customer agrees to accept the results of the test as the basis fordetermining the difference claimed. A charge shall not be made to thecustomer for the first test in any 5-year period, but if subsequent testsduring the same period, for the same customer, show the meter to be withinthe allowable limits of accuracy, the utility may charge the customer anamount for subsequent tests which is uniform and which does not exceed theutility's direct cost thereof, plus a reasonable charge for administrativeoverhead. The customer may be present at the test if he or she makes arequest before the test. (ii) A written report shall be made to the customer by the utility. Thereport shall state the results of the test. A record of the test shall bekept by the utility. (e) A utility shall make periodic tests of meters, associated devices,and instruments to ensure their accuracy. The tests shall be conductedaccording to the following schedule, unless otherwise authorized by thecommission: (i) Positive displacement diaphragm-type meters that have capacities of500 cubic feet per hour and under 10 years. (ii) Positive displacement diaphragm-type meters that have capacitiesover 500 cubic feet per hour 7 years. (iii) Other meter types, such as proportional, rotary, and turbine, maybe tested in place when possible 2 years. (iv) Orifice meters 6 months. (v) Gas instruments, such as base volume, base pressure, and basetemperature-correcting devices, shall be removed and checked forcalibration at intervals that correspond to the schedule for theirassociated meters and shall be checked for calibration in place atintervals of not more than 2 years. (vi) Test bottles, 1 cubic foot 10 years. (vii) Deadweight testers 10 years. (viii) Certified test meters 10 years. (ix) Meter testing systems shall be calibrated when first installed andafter alterations, damages, or repairs that might affect accuracy. Toassure that the accuracy of a meter testing system is maintained on acontinuous basis, a daily leakage test shall be made and a weekly accuracytest with a comparison meter of known accuracy shall be made. If the testresults differ by more than plus or minus 0.5% from the comparison meter,the cause of the error shall be determined and necessary corrections shallbe made before the system is reused. The comparison meter shall be checkedat an interval of 1 month. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2352 Diaphragm-type meters; meter tests; reports. Rule 52. (1) A utility shall comply with the provisions of R 460.2351,except that a utility that receives approval from the commission may adoptthe requirements of this rule. (2) This rule applies only to diaphragm-type meter categories that havea rated capacity as follows: (a) Category 1 - 500 cubic feet per hour or less. (b) Category 2 - 501 cubic feet per hour to 1000 cubic feet per hour. (c) Category 3 - 1001 cubic feet per hour or more. (3) As used in this rule: (a) "Meter class" means a group or groups of meters as assigned by theutility according to specified meter characteristics, such as TMS (type,make, size), set year, year of manufacture, or other similarcharacteristics. (b) "Norm" means the acceptable meter accuracy range between 98% and102%. (c) "Test point," for a meter, means the numerical equivalent of theaccuracy variance from norm, with 1 test point equal to a 1% variance. Forexample, a meter that is between 104.1% and 105.0% or between 95.0% and95.9% accurate on test would have 3 test points. (4) The overall annual test rate criteria shall be determined pursuantto all of the following provisions: (a) Determine the average test points per meter for each meter class(Pmc). (b) Multiply the total number of installed meters at year-end in eachclass by the respective Pmc to determine the total test points for eachmeter class. The test points for each meter class shall be added to arriveat total overall test points (Pt) for all installed meters specified insubrule (2) of this rule. (c) Divide Pt by the total number of installed meters at year-end todetermine the overall average test points per meter. (d) Using the overall average test points per meter determined insubdivision (c) of this subrule, determine the required percentage oftotal overall test points to be corrected the following year based uponthe following table: Percentage of total Overall average test overall test points points per meter (Pt) to be corrected .060 or less 2 .061 - .09 3 .091 - .12 4 .121 - .15 5 .151 - .18 6 .181 - .21 7 .211 - .24 8 .241 - .27 9 .271 - .30 10 .301 - .33 11 .331 - .35 12 .351 or more 15 (e) Multiply Pt by the applicable percentage of the points to becorrected as specified in subdivision (d) of this subrule to determine thetotal minimum test points to be corrected for the following year. (f) The sum of Pmc times the number of meters tested for each meterclass for the following year shall meet or exceed the total minimum testpoints to be corrected as determined in subdivision (e) of this subrule.The mix of meters to be tested shall be at the utility's discretion, ifthe requirements of subrules (5) and (6) of this rule are met. (g) With commission approval, a utility may modify the requirements setforth in subdivisions (b) to (f) of this subrule so as to make therequired computations based not on the utility's test data from the prioryear, but on the utility's test data from a calendar year 1 year earlier. (5) Except for the nonregistering meters, all meters that are removedfrom customers' premises shall be tested and shall form the basis ofdetermining the total minimum test points to be corrected for thefollowing calendar year in accordance with the provisions of subrule (4)of this rule. If a utility has knowledge that a particular class of metersis not maintaining satisfactory accuracy and cannot be repaired tomaintain satisfactory accuracy, the class of meters shall be removed fromservice and retired. (6) Not less than 2% of the total meters that are originally set in eachset year and not less than 2% of the total meters in service in each meterclass shall be tested annually, except that a meter need not be removedfor testing within the first 4 years after it is set. (7) Not later than March 1 of each year, utilities shall file a reportof the meters that have been tested during the preceding calendar year.The report shall detail all of the following information: (a) All of the following meter characteristics: (i) Set year. (ii) Type of case. (iii) Manufacturer. (iv) Type of diaphragm. (v) Revenue classification, either commercial and industrial orresidential. (b) The number of meters in each meter class tested and found within thenorm and within each 1% variance from norm between 94% accuracy and 106%accuracy. Meters that are slower than 94% and faster than 106% shall eachbe grouped separately. For a utility that has more than 500,000 customers,the commission may approve a further 1% variance for meters that areslower than 94% and faster than 106%. (c) A comparison of the total test meters that were tested in thepreceding year with the standard required pursuant to the provisions ofsubrule (4) of this rule. (d) Information and data that are needed to compute the total minimumtest points to be corrected for the subsequent year in accordance with theprovisions of subrule (4)(a) to (e) of this rule. (e) The identity of the meter classes to be used for the subsequentyear, including an explanation for any meter class changes. (f) A separate section on meters that were retired during the precedingyear that details the information identified in subdivision (a) of thissubrule and the reasons for the retirement of the meters. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1984 MR 6, Eff. June28, 1984; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July 10, 1993.R 460.2354 Accuracy of metering equipment; tests; standards. Rule 54. (1) The utility shall use the applicable provisions of thestandards listed in R 460.2342 as criteria of accepted practice in testingmeters. (2) Metering equipment shall be tested by comparison with the standardsthat are referenced in R 460.2342. (3) A gas service meter that is repaired or removed from service for anycause shall, before installation, be tested and adjusted to be correctwithin 1% fast or 1% slow. (4) Every diaphragm-type gas meter shall be tested before installationand adjusted, if required, to a meter accuracy of 100% plus or minus 1% ata low flow rate and at a high flow rate so that the numerical differencebetween the meter accuracy at these 2 flow rates is not more than 1percentage point. A low flow rate is a flow at 20% to 50% of the ratedcapacity of the meter. A high flow rate is a flow at 80% to 120% of therated capacity of the meter. The average meter accuracy of adiaphragm-type meter shall be defined as 1/2 the sum of the meter accuracyat the low flow test and at the high flow test. (5) All recording-type meters or associated instruments that have atiming element that serves to record the time at which the measurementoccurs for billing purposes shall be adjusted at intervals of not morethan 2 years so that the timing element is not in error by more than plusor minus 4 minutes in 24 hours, under laboratory conditions, as set forthin ANSI B109.1 (which is adopted by reference in R 460.2342(b)(ii)), or bymore than plus or minus 10 minutes in 24 hours under field conditions. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2355 Meter shop; design; meter testing system; standards;handling; calibration cards; calibrated orifices. Rule 55. (1) A utility shall maintain or designate a meter shop withinMichigan for the purpose of inspecting, testing, and repairing meters. Theshop shall be open for inspection by authorized representatives of thecommission at all reasonable times. A utility may secure authority fromthe commission to have its meters tested outside of Michigan upon showing,to the satisfaction of the commission, that the meter test facilities soutilized are in compliance with these rules. Records of test results shallbe maintained in Michigan or the administrative headquarters of theutility. (2) The area within the meter shop that is used for the testing ofmeters shall be designed so that the meters and meter-testing equipmentare protected from drafts and excessive changes in temperature. The metersto be tested shall be stored in such a manner that the temperature of themeters is substantially the same as the temperature of the prover. (3) A utility shall own and maintain, or have access to, a meter-testingsystem (working standard) of an approved type, subject to all of thefollowing provisions: (a) Means shall be provided to maintain the temperature of the liquid ina meter-testing system at substantially the same level as the ambienttemperature in the prover area. (b) The meter-testing system shall be maintained in good condition andin correct adjustment so that it shall be capable of determining theaccuracy of any service meter to plus or minus 0.5%. (c) A utility may use a properly calibrated test meter or transferprover or may use a properly designed flow prover for testing meters. (4) Meter-testing systems (working standards) shall be checked bycomparison with a secondary standard. Both of the following provisionsshall be complied with: (a) At least once every 5 years, bell and flow provers shall be checkedwith a 1-cubic foot bottle or shall be calibrated by dimensionalmeasurement or any other test that is approved by the commission. Theaccuracy of the secondary standard that is used shall be traceable to thenational institute of standards and technology. (b) At least once every 10 years, rotary displacement transfer proversshall be checked with a standard that has its calibration traceable to thenational institute of standards and technology or shall be checked by anyother suitable test that is approved by the commission. (5) Extreme care shall be exercised in the use and handling of standardsto assure that their accuracy is maintained. (6) Each standard shall have a certificate or calibration card whichshall be duly signed and dated and which shall record the corrections thatwere required to compensate for errors found on the last test. (7) A utility shall have properly calibrated orifices to achieve therates of flow required to test the meters on its system. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2356 Pressure measurement standards. Rule 56. (1) For its working pressure measurement standards, a utilityshall have manometers, laboratory-quality indicating pressure gauges,field-type deadweight pressure gauges, or any other instruments that havean accuracy error of not more than 1/2 of 1% of full scale, which shall beused to test the indicating and recording pressure gauges that are used indetermining the pressure on the utility's system. (2) For its secondary pressure measurement standards, a utility shallown, or have access to, a pressure-testing instrument that has an accuracyerror of not more than 1/10 of 1% of full scale, which shall be used toverify the accuracy of its working pressure measurement standards. Aninstrument that is used as a secondary pressure measurement standard shallbe maintained in an accurate condition. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2357 Records; meter tests. Rule 57. (1) A utility shall maintain records of the last 2 tests madeon any meter. The record of the meter test made at the time of the meter'sretirement shall be maintained for a minimum of 3 years. (2) Test records shall include the following information: (a) The date and reason for the test. (b) The index reading of the meter at the time of removal from thecustomer's premises. (c) The meter accuracy "as found." (3) If the test of the meter is made by using a test meter, transferprover, or flow prover, the utility shall retain, as test records, alldata taken at the time of the test in complete form to permit the checkingof the test methods and the calculations. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993. PART 6. BILL ADJUSTMENT; METER ACCURACYR 460.2361 Bill adjustment; meter accuracy. Rule 61. If a meter is found to be nonregistering or to have an averagemeter accuracy less than 98% or greater than 102%, an adjustment of billsfor the inaccuracy may be made in the case of nonregistration orunderregistration and shall be made in the case of overregistration. Theadjustment shall be calculated on the basis that the meter is 100%accurate with respect to the testing equipment that is used to make thetest. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2362 Determination of adjustment. Rule 62. (1) If the date that the period of inaccurate meterregistration began can be determined, that date shall be the startingpoint for calculating an adjustment pursuant to the provisions of R460.2361. (2) If the date that the period of inaccurate meter registration begancannot be determined, it shall be assumed that the inaccuracy existed fora period equal to 1/2 of the time elapsed since the meter was lastinstalled on the present premises. (3) The adjustment shall be made on the basis of actual monthlyconsumption, if possible. Otherwise, the average monthly consumption thatis determined from the most recent 36 months' consumption data shall beused. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2363 Refunds. Rule 63. (1) Refunds shall be made to the 2 most recent customers whoreceived service through the meter found to be registering inaccurately.If the utility has not adopted the requirements of R 460.2352, the periodthat is used for determining the amount to be refunded shall not be morethan 12 months. If the utility has adopted the requirements of R 460.2352,the period that is used for determining the amount to be refunded shall bethe period of inaccurate meter registration that is determined pursuant tothe provisions of R 460.2362(1) to (2). In the case of a previous customerwho is no longer a customer of the utility, a notice of the amount of therefund shall be mailed to his or her last known address and the utilityshall, upon demand made within 3 months, refund the amount. (2) If the amount of the refund due an existing or previous customer asthe result of meter overregistration is equal to, or more than, an averageof 10 cents per month for the period that is used for determining theamount to be refunded, the full amount of the refund shall be made, exceptthat a refund that is less than $1.00 need not be made to an existingcustomer and a refund that is less than $2.00 need not be made to aprevious customer who is no longer a customer of the utility. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2364 Rebilling. Rule 64. If the amount due the utility as the result of meternonregistration or underregistration is equal to, or more than, amountsset forth in R 460.2363(2) as minimum refunds, the utility may bill thecustomer for the amount due, but the period covered by the billing shallnot be more than 12 months unless otherwise ordered by the commission. Theutility shall offer the customer reasonable payment arrangements for theamount of the billing, taking into account the period covered by thebilling. A rebilling policy that is adopted by a utility based on minimumamounts that are more than those set forth in R 460.2363(2) shall beuniformly applied to all customers. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993. PART 7. SHUTOFF OF SERVICER 460.2371 Conditions for establishing gas service; liability; noticeand record of inability to establish service; refusal of service tocustomer using other gaseous fuel; exception. Rule 71. (1) A utility shall not establish gas service to a customer'spremises until the utility has done both of the following: (a) Performed a leakage test using gas at utilization pressure to ensurethat the customer's fuel line is gastight. (b) Made a determination that the gas odor is detectable. (2) This test shall not be construed to make the utility liable for theinstallation, maintenance, or use of piping or appliances that are ownedby the customer, nor shall the utility be held liable for any continuingduty of inspection of piping or appliances. (3) If the condition of the customer's fuel line is such that servicecannot be established, the utility shall notify the customer, in writing,of the reason or reasons that service was not established. (4) A record shall be kept by the utility of all cases where refusal toestablish service is made. The record shall provide all of the followinginformation: (a) The name of the customer. (b) The address or location of the premises. (c) The date of the test. (d) The name of the service person. (e) All changes or rearrangements recommended. (5) Except in certain commercial and industrial applications thatrequire a standby fuel that is authorized by the utility, the utilityshall have the authority to refuse gas service to a customer that usesanother gaseous fuel, such as liquefied petroleum gas, in the samebuilding. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2372 Gas facilities hazard. Rule 72. When a utility acquires knowledge that a customer's action hascaused a hazardous condition to exist with respect to a gas facility, theutility shall initiate the following action depending on the facility thatis involved: (a) For a utility's facilities, the utility shall correct the conditionat the expense of the customer or shut off service to the customer. (b) For a customer's facilities, the utility shall correct the conditionat the expense of the customer, if such action is authorized by theutility's service policy and if the customer consents. Otherwise, theutility shall shut off service to the customer until the condition hasbeen corrected. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2373 Shutoff of service. Rule 73. Under any of the following conditions, gas service may be shutoff by the utility: (a) A hazardous condition exists. In this instance gas service may beshut off without prior notification. (b) A potentially hazardous condition exists. In this instance gasservice may be shut off upon implementing the customer notificationprocedures set forth in R 460.2071 et seq. and R 460.2101 et seq. of theMichigan Administrative Code and in the utility's rate book. (c) Refusal of required access. In this instance gas service may be shutoff upon implementing the customer notification procedures set forth in R460.2071 et seq. and R 460.2101 et seq. of the Michigan AdministrativeCode and in the utility's rate book. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2374 Customer notification of shutoff of service. Rule 74. A utility shall include, in its rate book, notificationprocedures to be utilized in dealing with potentially hazardous conditionsand refusal of required access conditions. History: 1993 MR 6, Eff. July 10, 1993. PART 8. GAS QUALITYR 460.2381 Gas purity. Rule 81. (1) Gas that is distributed by a utility to a customer shallnot contain more than 0.3 grains of hydrogen sulfide or more than 20grains of total sulfur per 100 cubic feet, including the sulfur in anyhydrogen sulfide. (2) Gas that is distributed by a utility to a customer shall not containflammable liquids in quantities that interfere with the normal operationof the customer's equipment. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2382 Heating value; authorized variations. Rule 82. (1) The heating value of substitute natural gas and mixed gasshall be considered as being under the control of the utility. The averageheating value on 1 day shall not be more than or less than the standardtotal heating value range set forth in the utility's rules. A utilityshall not add air to a gas stream if this results in a heating value thatis below 1,000 British thermal units per standard cubic foot. (2) The average monthly heating value of gas that is supplied by autility shall be 1,025 British thermal units per standard cubic foot, plusor minus 75 British thermal units. A greater variation may be authorizedby the commission upon a showing by the utility that the variation willnot adversely affect the efficient and satisfactory operation of itscustomers' appliances. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2383 Heating value records; location and accuracy of measuringequipment; frequency of heating value determination. Rule 83. (1) A utility shall maintain records of the heating value ofgas it distributes. Heating value test records shall be preserved for notless than 6 years. A utility shall utilize either the industry standardsthat are adopted by reference in R 460.2342(d) or other standards that areapproved by the commission for heating value determination methods. (2) Heating value measuring equipment shall be installed in suitablylocated testing stations. (3) The accuracy of all heating value measuring equipment and the methodof making heating value tests shall meet the industry standards that areadopted by reference in R 460.2342(d) or shall otherwise be approved bythe commission. Recording equipment shall be tested not less thanannually. (4) The utility shall determine the heating value of substitute naturalgas and mixed gas not less than twice a day and shall make the testsduring the periods of the a.m. and p.m. peak demands. (5) The utility shall determine the heating value of gas at least once amonth. A utility that sells gas subject to a thermal adjustment shalldetermine the heating value at least once a day. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; 1993 MR 6, Eff. July10, 1993.R 460.2384 Rescinded. History: 1954 ACS 96, Eff. July 21, 1978; 1979 AC; rescinded 1993 MR 6,Eff. July 10, 1993.