1. (1) Each utility shall make inspections and tests of meters and associated metering devices as follows:

   1. (a) Pre-installation Inspections and Tests Every meter and/or associated metering devices shall be inspected, tested, and sealed before being placed in service, and the accuracy of each meter shall be within the tolerances permitted by Rule 1220-04-05-.27.
   2. (b) As Found Tests All meters and/or associated metering devices shall be tested after they are removed from service. Such tests shall be made before the meters and/or associated metering devices are adjusted, repaired, or retired.

   3. (c) Leak Tests Repaired meters, and meters that have been removed from service, shall be leak tested prior to installation. New meters shall be leak tested in accordance with a sampling method acceptable to the Commission. Each meter tested shall be subjected to an internal pressure of at least twenty (20) inches W.C. and checked for the presence of leaks by one of the following tests:

      1. 1. Immersion test.
      2. 2. Soap test.
      3. 3. Pressure drop test of a type acceptable to the Commission.

   4. (d) Request Tests Upon request by a customer and accompanied by a payment of five dollars ($5), the utility shall make a test of the meter serving him, provided that such tests need not be made more frequently than once in eighteen (18) months.

      1. 1. The customer, or his/her representative, may be present when his/her meter is tested.
      2. 2. A report of the results of the test shall be made to the customer within a reasonable time after the completion of the test, and a record of the report, together with a complete record of each test, shall be kept on file at the office of the utility.

   5. (e) Periodic Tests Unless otherwise authorized by the Commission each utility shall make periodic tests of meters, associated devices and instruments, to assure their accuracy. Such tests shall be scheduled within the calendar year, or earlier, when the interval shall not be longer than provided for in the following schedule where applicable. (Note: Maintenance programs suggested by manufacturers of the following meters and devices should be carefully followed.)

      1. 1. Positive displacement meters
   6. (i) Up to 250 c.f. / hr………………………………………………….…..10 years

   7. (ii) 250 c.f. / hr. ………………………………………..……………………7 years

      1. 2. Orifice meters …………………….……………………………………..…...6 months

   8. (i) Plates and Tubes ………………………………………………….……2 years

      1. 3. Base pressure correcting devices ………………………………………..… 2 years
      2. 4. Base volume correcting devices ……………………………………………....2 years
      3. 5. Secondary standards
   9. (i) Test bottles, one cubic foot …………………………………...………10 years

   10. (ii) Dead weight testers ……………………………………..6 months–minimum

       1. 6. Working standards
   11. (i) Bell provers……………………………………………………….…..…..3 years
   12. (ii) Rotary displacement test meters …………………………….…..…..5 years
   13. (iii) Flow provers ………………………………………………………..……5 years
   14. (iv) Laboratory quality indicating pressure gauges ………………..….6 months
   15. (v) Temperature recorders …………………………………………..…..6 months
   16. (vi) Gravitometers ………………………………………………….………6 months

Authority: T.C.A. § 65-2-102. Administrative History: Original rule certified May 9, 1974. Editorial changes made by the Secretary of State pursuant to Public Chapter 305 of 1995; “Commission” and references to the “Commission” were changed to “Authority” and references to the “Authority”; effective March 28, 2003. Administrative changes made to this chapter on April 27, 2018 pursuant to Public Chapter 94 of 2017; “Tennessee Regulatory Authority” references were changed to “Tennessee Public Utility Commission,” “Authority” references were changed to “Commission,” “Authority Director” references were changed to “Commissioner,” and “Chief” references were changed to “Director.”