D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 15, r. 15-301

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 52, December 27, 2024

Rule 15-301 - LOCATION OF ENERGY SERVICE METERS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT

301.1

Electric Meters and Equipment

(a) Electric Meters shall be located outdoors whenever possible unless the relocation of the Meter will result in an unsafe condition.

(b) When an indoor electric Meter installation is replaced due to modifications in electric service equipment by the Electric Utility, the electric Meter shall be relocated outdoors at no expense to the Customer. If the electric Meter relocation is for the convenience of the Customer, it shall be at the Customer's expense and calculated in accordance with the Electric Utility's approved Tariff for this service. The cost of connecting the Meter to the Customer's electric service panel shall remain with the Customer.

(c) Customers must grant access to the electric Meter for maintenance or service Disconnection within the provisions of Subsection 310.1. If a Customer refuses to grant access, the utility may relocate the electric Meter to an accessible location and the Customer shall bear the relocation cost.

(d) The Electric Utility shall provide Customers with a fifteen (15) day notice prior to replacing or relocating electric Meters located on the Customer's premises or property. No such notice is required in emergencies and for routine meter exchanges that result in a momentary interruption of electric service of five (5) minutes or less.

(e) The notice required by Subsection 301.1(d) shall inform the Customer that the Electric Utility proposes to relocate or replace the electric Meter, the planned new location, and how to contact the Electric Utility to provide supplemental information, such as the building's historic status or any private property line limitations. The notice shall include contact information for the Commission and OPC.

(f) The Electric Utility shall develop and implement detailed protocols for determining the location of electric Meters, consistent with these rules, and shall inform Customers of these protocols.

301.2

Gas Meters and Natural Gas Equipment

(a) Gas Meters, Natural Gas Service Regulators, and Natural Gas Equipment shall be located outdoors whenever possible unless the relocation will result in an unsafe condition or as otherwise authorized by Subsection 301.2.

(b) When new Natural Gas Service Lines are installed, or existing ones are replaced, gas Meters shall be placed outdoors at no expense to the Customer. If the gas Meter relocation is for the convenience of the Customer, it shall be at the Customer's expense and calculated in accordance with the Natural Gas Utility's approved Tariff for this service.

(c) Customers must grant access to the gas Meter for maintenance or service Disconnection within the provisions of Subsection 310.1. If a Customer refuses to grant access, the utility may relocate the gas Meter to an accessible location and the Customer shall bear the relocation cost.

(d) The Natural Gas Utility shall provide Customers with a fifteen (15)day notice prior to replacing or relocating Natural Gas Equipment located on the Customer's premise or property. No such notice is required in emergencies.

(e) The notice required by Subsection 301.2(d) shall inform the Customer of the Natural Gas Equipment that the Natural Gas Utility proposes to replace or relocate, the planned new location, and how to contact the Natural Gas Utility to provide supplemental information, such as the building's historic status or any private property line limitations. The notice shall include contact information for the Commission and OPC.

(f) The Natural Gas Utility shall determine the location of indoor or outdoor Natural Gas Equipment, subject to the provisions of this Section, all applicable pipeline safety industry practices, federal and District of Columbia laws and regulations, including the Design Guideline for Utility Meters issued by the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board, and any applicable District laws and regulations.

(g) Where exterior gas Meters, Natural Gas Service Regulators, Shut-Off Valves or other Natural Gas Equipment cannot be installed in front of the Customer's premises, the Natural Gas Utility, after consultation with the Customer, shall employ best efforts to avoid installing Natural Gas Equipment on the principal street façades (of building/dwelling) and to place the Natural Gas Equipment to the rear and secondary façades (side of building/dwelling) of the Customer's premises. If it is necessary and safe to place a gas Meter on a rear or secondary façade (side of building/dwelling) wall, the Natural Gas Utility shall select a location that provides reasonable access to the gas Meter. The Natural Gas Utility shall employ best efforts to preserve the integrity and appearance of the building and its façades.

(h) When installing gas Meters, Natural Gas Service Regulators, Shut-Off Valves or other Natural Gas Equipment outdoors, the Natural Gas Utility shall:

(1) Locate all Shut-Off Valves outdoors in a readily accessible location;

(2) Consider the potential damage to the Natural Gas Equipment ;

(3) Select a location that accommodates access to gas Meter reading, inspection, repairs, testing, and safe changing and operation of the natural gas Shut-Off Valves, and service Disconnections ;

(4) Consider an outdoor location consistent with the adjoining buildings and Natural Gas Equipment locations;

(5) Consider, to the extent feasible and safe, locating the Natural Gas Equipment behind existing landscaping to make it least visible from the street;

(6) Consult with Customers prior to conducting outdoor gas Meter relocation or replacement on the potential impact of the building's aesthetics;

(7) When safe to do so, install outdoor gas Meters and Natural Gas Service Regulators above ground in a protected location adjacent to the building served, and as close as possible to the point where the Natural Gas Service Line connects to the Natural Gas Main Line ;

(8) Determine the location of Natural Gas Service Regulators outdoors, when safe to do so. Otherwise, Natural Gas Service Regulators shall be located indoors as near as practicable to the point where the Natural Gas Service Line enters the building and shall be vented to the outside;

(9) Avoid placing Natural Gas Equipment in front of windows or other building openings that may directly obstruct emergency fire exits and building entryways; and

(10) Place Natural Gas Equipment under exterior stairways only when deemed safe by the Natural Gas Utility and when no other safe location is available.

(i) At the Customer's request and only when deemed safe to do so, the Natural Gas Utility may locate the gas Meter and associated gas piping up to five (5) feet in length from the Natural Gas Utility's preferred installation location at no cost to the Customer. If a Customer requests an installation location that is safe to complete but is further than five (5) feet in length from the Natural Gas Utility's preferred installation location, then the Customer shall be responsible for the costs associated with the additional piping beyond five (5) feet from the Natural Gas Utility's preferred location to the location selected by the Customer. The cost shall be calculated in accordance with the Commission-approved Tariff for this service.

(j) The placement of gas Meters indoors shall be considered only when one or more of these circumstances are present:

(1) The Natural Gas Service Line pressure is less than ten (10) pounds per square inch gauge;

(2) The gas Meter could not be installed safely on the private property surrounding the building and would have to be placed in an area that would violate traffic laws or interfere with the public right-of-way;

(3) A Natural Gas Utility determines that a gas Meter and associated Natural Gas equipment is subject to a high risk of damage based on the Natural Gas Utility's prior experience; and

(4) Protection from ambient temperatures is necessary to avoid gas Meter freeze- ups, flooding or icing, or other extreme weather conditions that could impact the safe and accurate operation of the gas Meter.

(k) If gas Meters are placed indoors, the Natural Gas Utility shall ensure:

(1) Indoor gas Meters shall be supported in such a manner as to be as free as possible from damage that will render them unsafe or inaccurate;

(2) Gas Meters are located in a ventilated place not less than three (3) feet away from a source of ignition or source of heat which may damage the gas Meter; and

(3) The Customer is informed in writing of any safety measures that the Customer needs to adhere to, including but not limited to, ventilation requirements and proximity of ignition source or heat to the gas Meter and Natural Gas Equipment.

(l) All gas Meters, Natural Gas Service Regulators, Shut-Off Valves, and Natural Gas Equipment installed indoors at multi- family buildings, commercial buildings, or multiple connected residential dwellings shall be inspected by the Natural Gas Utility at intervals not exceeding twenty-seven (27) months, but at least once every two (2) calendar years, beginning July 1, 2020.

(m) The Natural Gas Utility shall develop and implement detailed protocols for determining the location of Natural Gas Equipment, consistent with these rules, and shall inform Customers of these protocols.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 15, r. 15-301

Final Rulemaking published at 25 DCR 10381, 10389 (June 1, 1979); Final Rulemaking published at 27 DCR 1834 (April 24, 1981); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 10014 (September 26, 2008); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 12494 (December 12, 2008); Amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 6833 (6/5/2020); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 12436 (10/23/2020)

Formerly 15 DCMR § 301, "Discrimination."

Authority: The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia ("Commission") pursuant to D.C. Official Code, 2001 Ed. § 2 -505 and § 34 -802.