Truper Heavy Duty Lineman’s Pliers Review

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Lineman’s pliers are one of the most important hand tools in a meter tech’s arsenal of tools. A good set of lineman’s pliers allows you to cut and bend wire with ease. They also need to be durable enough to be used at times as a hammer. Now, trust me I know that they are not a hammer but can you honestly tell me that you have never used your pliers to beat on something? One of the things that meter techs use lineman’s pliers for is cutting meter seals. Most of these types of meter seals have a steel wire which is harder than copper. This means that the pliers must be up to the task of cutting the steel day in and day out.

Now, I know that the Klein Tools 9-Inch High Leverage Side Cutting Pliers are pretty much the standard in the electrical field. But what if you need a set of pliers that work just as well but are different than everyone else? Are there any options out there?

Truper Heavy Duty Lineman’s Pliers

Truper Heavy Duty Lineman's Pliers

Truper is not a new company but it is not as well known in the electrical field as names like Klein, Greenlee and Ideal. But, they do make a good set of lineman’s pliers. Their 9″ heavy duty pliers are made of forged chrome vanadium steel which is supposed to be two times stronger than carbon steel. They also feature a good comfortable grips. The finish on the pliers is a satin finish which helps with rust resistance.







My Review

Truper Heavy Duy Pliers LengthSo, what do I think about the Truper Heavy Duty Lineman’s Pliers? All in all I think that they are a good tool for any toolbox out there. I do not think that you would be disappointed if you made the purchase. Now, there are a couple of things that I would like to mention about these pliers. The overall length is about 9.5″. The distance from the pivot point to the end of the handle is about 7.5″. This means that you get good leverage when using these pliers.

The grips are comfortable and they offer a raised portion to help aid in holding on to the pliers. I also feel like this helps keep your hands from slipping if you need to use the pliers to push something as well. I also want to note that the grips are not for use on live circuits. So, keep that in mind when using these pliers. I have used Klein Pliers most of my career and one difference that I notice between these and the Klein are that the head of Truper pliers seems to be larger. That could be a good thing if you are using the pliers to bang on things because of the added mass. It could also be bad if you need to get into tight spaces.

My biggest complaint with the pliers is the jaw design. You can see in the picture below what I am talking about. Just below the cutters there is a gap when the jaw open. More than once while using these pliers to cut wire the wire has fallen into that gap. This prevents you from cutting the wire because the gap portion clamps down on wire. Once you get used to it, there is no problem. Just something I though I would point out.Truper heavy duty lineman's pliers jaw

Conclusion

Would I buy the Truper Heavy Duty Lineman’s Pliers? The answer is yes. Although they are not perfect they are perfectly capable of handling any task with ease. Whether it be cutting, bending, pulling wire or wiring up CT’s these pliers get the job done.









Increasing Revenue with High Accuracy CT’s

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Increasing revenue is something that we all want to do. High accuracy CT’s can help us achieve that goal. When it comes to instrument rated metering installations we have to remember that our meter is only as accurate as our CT’s. So, the first step in making sure we are accurately measuring our metering installations is making sure we have the most accurate CT’s installed.

Standard Vs. High Accuracy

This is where high accuracy CT’s come into play. Remember that standard current transformers are only guaranteed accurate to within 0.3% from the nameplate value to the rating factor. Also, standard CT’s are 0.6% accurate from 10% of the nameplate value up to the nameplate value. This means that for a common 600:5 CT that anything below 60 amps is not guaranteed to be measured accurately. So, what do you do?

You install a high accuracy CT that is 0.15% accurate from 5% of its nameplate rating through the rating factor. Now, using the same 600:5 ratio as an example, we are now able to measure down to 30 amps with 0.15% accuracy. This is high accuracy CT’s are used to help with increasing revenue.

Where can high accuracy CT’s help with increasing revenue?

One of the places where high accuracy CT’s can help with increasing revenues are department stores or industrial factories that have been converted to warehouse space. These types of customer changes can cause revenue losses because the infrastructure that was put in for these larger customers who have now left or have converted their spaces is no longer being utilized.








Let’s say that the customer was doing some small scale manufacturing and decided that the space was no longer big enough for its manufacturing needs. So, they decide to move into a larger space and convert this previous space into warehousing. Let’s keep with the standard 600:5 for this example. For this example let’s also assume that the rating factor of this standard CT was three. We are also going to assume that we were using this rating factor. Meaning that this was a 1200 amp service and we installed 600:5 CT’s with a rating factor of 3, to make sure that the CT’s were as saturated as possible.

The customer in this example typically pulls around 750-800 amps. This is well within the range of our standard accuracy 600:5 CT’s. Now when they leave, they take all of the manufacturing equipment with them and only leave a few lights. There new load is now only around 40 amps. They do not need to heat or cool the space because what they are storing does not require it. So now, the standard 600:5 CT is not guaranteed to measure the 40 amps accurately.

What if we had installed a high accuracy CT?

If we had installed a high accuracy CT to begin with then we would not be worried. The high accuracy 600:5 CT is able to measure down to 30 amps with 0.15% accuracy. This means we capture those 40 amps and we do so accurately. This is how high accuracy CT’s play a vital role in increasing revenue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are concerned with increasing revenue make sure that you are giving a look to high accuracy CT’s. They can be placed anywhere your standard accuracy CT’s are and can instantly start increasing revenue. High accuracy CT’s help mitigate low current situations such as when large customers move out or convert. If you are in the market for high accuracy CT’s check out Peak Demand.








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Reducing Inventory with High Accuracy CTs

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Reducing inventory is a big concern with utilities these days. This is primarily driven by the fact that reducing inventory means reduced costs. Reducing costs means that the profit margin can be higher. So, what does that have to do with high accuracy CT’s? How can high accuracy CT’s reduce inventory?

Use the Extended Range of High Accuracy CT’s

When placing new CT’s in service we traditionally had a variety of different CT ratios to choose from. Among the most popular are 200:5, 400:5 and 600:5 variants. This means that when a new service is built the meter tech or engineer will look at the service and size the CT’s according to the projected load. This is done because we want the amps on the service as close to the nameplate rating as possible. We do this because standard CT’s are most accurate at their nameplate rating up to their rating factor.

So, if we have a 400 amp service that is projected to normally run around half of that or less we may use 200:5 CT’s with a rating factor of at least two. This ensures that when the amperage is low we can measure it as accurately as possible.

Enter the new kid on the block. The high accuracy CT. With the high accuracy CT, with its extended range features we can now use one size CT for most of our installations. For instance a 600:5 high accuracy CT will allow us to measure down to 30 amps. But there is more. Many manufacturers are offering these high accuracy CT’s with extended ranges that can measure down even further.



How can High Accuracy CT’s be useful in Reducing Inventory?

High accuracy CT’s can reduce inventory by reducing the number of different ratios that you need. You can now purchase a 600:5 CT with a rating factor of 2 or more that can cover all your needs. This means that you no longer need to use 200:5 or 400:5 CT’s. You can stock one size. This allows you to purchase less. Even if you do not have a new job coming up, in the past you would have needed to keep a certain number of 200:5 and 400:5 CT’s on the shelf for emergencies.

So, instead of having a couple of sets of each size, you can have just a couple of sets of 600:5 CT’s that can be used for each service type. Instead of having purchased four sets of CT’s now you have only purchased two. This is beneficial to reducing inventory and cutting costs. Also, it leads to a reduction in storage space as well.

Conclusion

High accuracy CT’s can be a great way of reducing inventory in your meter shop or warehouse. Look at what you have stored in your warehouse and see if you could benefit from reducing the number of CT’s that are just sitting on the shelf as spares. If you are interested in high accuracy CT’s check out the offerings from Peak Demand.









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Extended Range CTs VS High Accuracy CTs

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Extended range CT’s are all the rage with CT sales people now. But what exactly is and extended range current transformer? Don’t we already have high accuracy CT options out there? Is there a difference in extended range current tranformers and high accuracy current tranformers? I will try and break these terms down and explain what the difference is between extended range CTs and high accuracy CTs.

What are Extended Range CTs?

To understand what extended range CTs are we need to understand what standard range CTs are. Standard range CTs have a measurement range from 0 amps through their rating factor. However, notice that I said measurement and not accuracy. That is because if we remember correctly that standard CTs are only certified as being accurate to 0.6% from 10% of their nameplate rating through the nameplate rating. Furthermore, at the nameplate rating up through the rating factor they are accurate to within 0.3%.

So, obviously an extended range CT would be better than that right? Well, yes. However, there is a caveat. That being that there is no standard when it comes to the term “extended range CT.” These extended ranges are noted in the literature that comes from the manufacturer of the CT. This means that the CT could be accurate down to 3% of the nameplate value or even down to 1%. This however all depends on the manufacturer. Which leads us to our next point.

Don’t we Already Have High Accuracy CTs?

The answer to that question is yes. But let’s remember that to be classified as a high accuracy CT that there are certain guidelines that must be adhered to. The IEEE is the body that defines that standard. If you want to learn more about high accuracy CTs follow the link. So the next question then is why do we have extended range CTs if high accuracy CTs already exist and is there a difference?



What is the difference between extended range CTs and high accuracy CTs?

The first difference is that high accuracy CTs actually have a standard that must be met to be called high accuracy. Extended range CTs however do not have this standard. However, most extended range CTs are high accuracy CTs. The reason for this is because manufacturers need a way to separate themselves from the competition. It is not good enough for them to just meet the standard. They need to go above and beyond the standard to attract more customers.

This is good for utilities because it means that in the end they have access to more choices and better products. Utilities who want high accuracy CTs will find that not only are they available but they are available with more extended ranges than the standard requires. Just remember also that an extended range CT is not always high accuracy. Check and make sure that the CT has a rating for high accuracy before believing the salesman. Extended range is something that the manufacturer decides.

Conclusion

Extended range CTs can be used anywhere standard CTs are used. They allow you the ability to meter lower levels of current than you would have before now. This also permits greater revenue over the life of the CT. However, make sure that the CT is high accuracy before you jump on the extended range bandwagon.









What are High Accuracy CT’s?

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High accuracy CT’s are becoming more and more popular with utilities these days. Because of new manufacturing processes and materials, manufacturers such as Peak Demand are now able to make their CT’s more accurate. But, more accurate than what? Just saying that a CT is high accuracy still does not tell us what it is. So, what is a high accuracy CT?

What is a Standard Accuracy CT?

To understand what makes a CT “high accuracy,” we first need to know what the standard accuracy of a revenue grade CT is. To be classified as a revenue grade CT the IEEE states that it must be a Class 0.3. Well, that really does not tell us much. Class 0.3 means that the CT must be accurate to within 0.3% of the nameplate rating up to the rating factor.

We can use a common Class 0.3,  600:5 CT with a rating factor of 2 to create an example. From the nameplate value of 600 amps all the way up to 1200 amps when using the rating factor, the CT has to be accurate to within 0.3%. However, below 600 amps, more specifically from 10% of 600, which is 60 amps, all the way to 600 amps the CT only has to be 0.6% accurate. Below 60 amps the accuracy is not guaranteed. Thus the need for a higher accuracy solution.

What is a High Accuracy CT?

A high accuracy CT is a Class 0.15S. This means that the CT must be accurate to within 0.15%, but there is more. Not only does the Class 0.15S have a closer accuracy tolerance range, the ampere range is greater as well. Now, instead of only being accurate from the nameplate rating up to the rating factor, the CT must be accurate all the way down to 5% of the nameplate value.




We can use a Class 0.15S, 600:5 CT with rating factor of 4 to create another example. In the previous example the CT was accurate to within 0.3% from 600 amps all the way to 1200 amps. From 60 amps to 600 amps the CT was accurate to 0.6%. And below 60 amps there was no guaranteed accuracy. Now with the Class 0.15S 600:5 CT the accuracy is guaranteed from 5% of the nameplate value all the way to the rating factor. So, from 30 amps all the way to 1200 amps the CT is 0.15% accurate. What a difference. This offers a very big advantage to utilities.

Conclusion

A high accuracy CT can be a great solution for any utility that is looking to increase their revenue. Manufacturers like Peak Demand have high accuracy solutions available such as their Alta Series™ of High Accuracy 600V Metering Current Transformers line. The next time you are in the market for CT’s think about using high accuracy CT’s instead of the standard Class 0.3 CT’s you have been using all these years.









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Socket Type Meters

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Socket type meters, also known as S base meters, are the most common electric meters out there today. What are the characteristics of a socket type meter? Where can they be used? What types of socket type meters are there?

What are the characteristics of a socket type meter?

Socket type meters are characterized most notably by the blades on the back of the meter. The meter baseplate holds all of the metering components. It has blades that come out of the the back of it. These blades plug into a meter socket. Hence the name socket type meter. What must be noted is the fact that the number of blades on the back of the meter varies based on the type of meter it is. This means that there are different meter sockets as well to accommodate the different types of meters.

Socket type meters are easy to install and remove. They just “plug in,” so to speak, just like plugging a cord into a receptacle. Because socket type meters can be plugged in, this means that they can make and break the load. Or, in easier terms, they can be used to turn the power on or off simply by pulling and reinstalling the meter.

Since socket type meters are so easy to install and remove they make it easy to perform maintenance. Many utilities have testing programs where all of the meters are changed-out on a cyclical basis to perform testing.




A socket type meter is usually denoted with an “S” after the form number. For example, a form 2s meter is a socket type meter because of the “S”. This is in contrast to A base meters that require a physical connection to the meter.

Where can socket type meters be used?

They can be used in all sorts of situations. They can be used to meter residential, commercial and industrial customer. In fact, most homes, at least in the U.S. are utilizing socket type meters today. These types of meters are the go to meter. Socket type meters are also often used as sub meters. They are cheap and easy to install which is what makes them so popular.

What types of socket type meters are there?

The short answer is all of them. There are form 2s meters all the way to form 9s meters with every thing in between. This allows the socket type meter to be used to meter every type of service out there. These meters are also often times fitted with demand registers to allow them to meter demand. And with the electronic registers, these meters are now more capable than ever.









All about A Base Meters

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A base meter

A base meters are one type of meter that has been used for many years. What are the typical characteristics of an A base meter? What are A base meters used for? How many different types of A base meters are there?

What are the typical characteristics of an A base meter?

Older A base meters typically had a baseplate that was flat on the back. This held all of the components of the meter and gave them a base to mount to. The base was flat because the meter was mounted to the wall inside a meter base enclosure. The older A base meters were characterized by a rectangular bottom where the terminals were and a rounded top. This is also where the globe and disc assembly were mounted.

The connections to an A base meter are on the bottom. This is also where the power is brought in. It is also where the power is sent to the customer in the case of a self-contained meter. These meters can be used, depending on the type of meter it is, with single phase or three phase power. A base meters are also used in transformer rated installations as well. In this case they are used with CTs and PTs.

What are A base meters used for?

A base meters are used for metering residential, commercial and industrial customers. Although they are not as widely used as they once were, A base meters are still in use today. There are also even models that are available with AMR and AMI modules installed. This allows easier reading and communications than were once possible. When used with most residential customers an A base meter will normally have four terminals. Two of the terminals are line in terminals and the other two are line out terminals.








So, to figure out which are which you can do a simple test with a voltmeter. Note that this only works if the meter is energized and the power is on to the service. To figure out which terminals are which check the voltage between each terminal. So, start with the far left terminal and check it against the one beside it. If you get a voltage then those two are different phases. If you get zero then those two are the same phase.

A base meters are also used for commercial and industrial customers. However, in this capacity they are normally used as transformer rated meters. If this is the case they will normally be enclosed in a large meter base with a glass window on them so the meter can be read without opening the meter base.

How many different types of A base meters are there?

Well, this can be sort of a loaded question. The way that I look at this question is how many different service types can be measured by an A base meter. And the answer to that is, all of them. There are A base meters that can meter the entire scale of service types. Whether it be 120/240v, 240v delta, 120/208v etc. So, there are just as many meter types in the A base world as there are in the S base world. This means that for whatever need you may have an A base will cover you.

Conclusion

A base meters were once a mainstay in the electric meterman’s arsenal.

They are not used nearly as widely as they once were since socket type meters have taken over, but they can still be a viable option for those older installations where an upgrade may be difficult or too expensive. Furthermore, A base meters are characterized by flat baseplates and terminals on the bottom. They are also used in many different types of installations. This also means that there are many different types of A base meters still out there in use today.







Primary Metering vs Secondary Metering

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Primary metering and secondary metering are two different ways of metering the usage of different customers. Though the way they are installed differs, there are some similarities as well. There are also reasons why you choose primary metering over secondary metering and vice versa.

What is the Difference Between Primary Metering and Secondary Metering?

The biggest difference between primary metering and secondary metering are the voltages. In primary metering, the metering is installed on the high voltage lines. Many times when referring to primary metering we are talking about distribution lines. Some common voltages for distribution lines are 12,470v and 24 kv.

Since primary metering installs its equipment on the primary, the metering equipment is rated for this higher voltage. This means that the instrument transformers, CTs and PTs, are bigger than what you would find in a secondary metering installation. Primary metering installations are typically found in three places. They are found overhead on a pole, underground in an enclosure, and they are found in substations.

Whether on a pole, in an enclosure or in a substation, a primary metering installation uses basically the same things. Depending on the type of service, from one to three CT’s and PTs are used.

In secondary metering installations the voltage is lower than in primary installations. Secondary metering is installed on the secondary outputs of both overhead and underground transformers. It can also be installed in CT cabinets or at the riser of an overhead installation.

Depending on the utility PTs may be optional on voltages over 120v. Other utilities require PTs on anything over 240v. This is my recommendation.








What are the Similarities Between Primary Metering and Secondary Metering?

Actually, they are quite similar. The secondary sides of the CTs and PTs wire the same. They are both marked with H1 H2 and X1 X2. This lets you know where to put your wires. Believe it or not, you actually use the same meter form numbers for both. Obviously this depends on the service being metered of course. If you have a single phase tap line that you want to meter with primary metering you have one CT and one PT. You can meter this with a form 3s meter. Just like if you were to have a two wire secondary service. You can use a form 3s meter.

The meter multipliers are calculated the same way. Use the CT ratio times the PT ratio and you have your multiplier.

Why Choose Primary Metering Over Secondary Metering?

This is best described with an example. Lets say that you own an apartment complex and the utilities are included with the rent. The tenants do not pay electric bills to the power company. Instead of having an hundred power bills in the mail every month you have one bill with the total usage.

The same works if you are large factory with several buildings all feeding off of the same primary. You can get one bill from just one meter. This may actually save you money as well in demand charges as well as facilities fees. Check with your utility on this though.

Another scenario may include metering a cryptocurrency operation.

Why Choose Secondary Metering Over Primary Metering?

The biggest reason to choose secondary metering over primary metering is the ability to monitor the usage of each transformer. This alerts you to problems early on that can be fixed before they get too big. This can also help if you are a landlord over an apartment complex. You can make sure that everyone is paying their fair share of the electricity by having them pay their own bills.

Conclusion

Primary metering and secondary metering are both good ways to meter a customer’s service. They are two different approaches to the same problem. You can meter a large industrial customer with primary metering equipment even though they may have ten different transformers on their site. You could also meter those ten transformers with secondary meter and come out the same. Another option for combining readings is totalizing. If you want to learn more about CT meters, our readers have found CT Meters: Understanding Current Transformer Meters and Their Applications to be helpful.








CT Meters: Understanding Current Transformer Meters and Their Applications

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CT meters, or current transformer meters, are essential for measuring electrical consumption in large-scale systems where direct metering is impractical. Typically used in commercial and industrial settings, CT meters work in conjunction with current transformers (CTs) to provide accurate measurements. Understanding how to calculate CT ratios and multipliers is crucial for ensuring accurate billing and system monitoring.

What is a CT meter?

A CT meter is simply a meter that is used in conjunction with instrument transformers known as current transformers. These are also known as CTs. In electrical metering, meters are divided into two types. There are self-contained meters. In addition there are transformer-rated meters. Transformer-rated meters are also known as CT meters.

What are the characteristics of a CT meter?

The characteristics of a CT meter include its ratings. CT meters now are generally rated at 20 amps. This means that the current coils of the meter are capable of handling 20 amps. You may think that this is low. But, remember that CT meters are used with CTs. Also remember that CTs have outputs determined by their ratios. They are rated with an output on the secondary side of 5 amps. If you remember, when using the rating factor of a CT it is possible for the CT to put out 20 amps.

CT meters also have voltage ratings. Many of the meters now are multi-range. This means that the meter can sense the incoming voltage and adjust its calculations based on the incoming voltage. Most meters now show the voltage on the display. Before digital meters, one had to be careful to make sure that the meter with the correct voltage rating was chosen.

What types of CT meters are there?

When talking about meter types what we are really referring to are the meter forms. Meter form numbers are used to designate what type of meter we have. These meter form numbers help us to decide which meter to use in which installation based on Blondel’s Theorem.

The normal transformer-rated meter forms are as follows:

Form 3s

Form 4s

Form 5s

Form 9s

Now remember that these are the most common. There are more.








Where will you find CT meters?

CT meters are installed on services that are too large for self-contained services. This normally means services that are larger than 200 amps. Although there are now self-contained 320 amp meters as well as 400 amp bolt in meters. CT meters are also used whenever PTs, potential transformers, are used to step down the voltage.

Large residences, commercial and industrial buildings, hospitals and schools are all examples of where you will find a CT meter installed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with CT Meters

Troubleshooting CT meters often begins with identifying discrepancies in meter readings compared to expected values or other monitoring equipment. One common issue is incorrect readings caused by improper installation of current transformers (CTs). For example, if the CT polarity is reversed—where the primary and secondary markings (H1, H2) or (X1, X2) are incorrectly aligned—the meter may display negative power readings or incorrect energy consumption values. Verifying that the CT orientation matches the system’s design is crucial during the installation or inspection process.

Another frequent issue arises from incorrect CT ratios being programmed into the meter. A mismatch between the actual CT ratio (e.g., 400:5) and the ratio configured in the meter will result in inaccurate multipliers and billing errors. This can be resolved by cross-checking the physical CT labels with the meter’s programmed settings and making adjustments as needed. Additionally, loose or corroded wiring connections between the CTs and the meter can disrupt signal integrity, leading to inconsistent readings. Inspecting and securing connections regularly is essential for maintaining accuracy.

In high-load environments, overloaded CTs can also pose a problem. While CTs are designed to operate within specific ranges, exceeding their rating factor can result in saturation, where the CT no longer accurately reproduces the primary current on the secondary side. This typically manifests as distorted or limited readings at higher loads. To address this, ensure that the selected CTs are appropriately rated for the system’s maximum load, considering any potential surges. Regular testing and calibration of both CTs and meters are recommended to prevent and address these issues, ensuring reliable system performance. Learn about the effects of burden here.

Conclusion

CT meters play a vital role in accurately measuring electrical consumption in large-scale systems where direct metering is impractical. Their use in conjunction with current transformers allows for safe and precise monitoring of high-voltage and high-current environments, making them indispensable in commercial, industrial, and utility applications. Understanding the basics of CT ratios, meter forms, and installation practices is essential for ensuring accurate billing and reliable system operation.

By addressing common issues such as improper installation, incorrect ratio programming, and wiring faults, users can maintain the integrity of their metering systems. Regular testing, maintenance, and an awareness of advancements in metering technology can further enhance the reliability and efficiency of CT meters. As the electrical industry continues to evolve, CT meters remain a cornerstone of accurate energy measurement and system monitoring, ensuring the seamless operation of modern power systems.








Prepaid Metering

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Prepaid metering is a way that both customers and utilities can benefit from the technological advances in metering that have been made in recent years. When it comes to paying for electricity it seems that the electric industry has fallen behind the rest of the retail world. Electric utilities allow customers to use their service and then at the end of the month calculate how much each customer used and then sends them a bill. This has worked well almost since the first electric bills were sent out. However, with post-pay when customers cannot afford to pay their bills they end up working out arrangements with the utility to pay at a later date. Also, some customers decide that they need to move and they do not think that they need to pay their final bills.

If only there were a way to change some of this. But there is. Prepaid metering is a way that utilities can collect the money from their services up front.

Prepaid Metering Is Good For Customers

There are several advantages that prepaid metering has to the traditional way of billing. One being that payments are collected before the customer uses the power. Just like a prepaid phone service, when the purchased time runs out, the service stops. With smart meters now including remote disconnect devices the utility can monitor the usage from the office. This allows the utility to turn the power off to customers when their purchased kwh time runs out.

Some people will cry foul here and say that it is unfair to the customer to be turned off without notice. But, the companies who offer this service provide customers with text an email alerts notifying them that they need to pay or be turned off. Many of these services offer the ability to pay from the customer’s smartphone.








In addition to being able to pay their bills from their smartphones, customer can purchase blocks of power. Customers can purchase what they can afford at the time to keep the lights on. This is beneficial to many customers who may not have the money to pay a $300 light bill at the end of the month. They may only have $50 to get them through the next few days. This ensures that they do not lose service.

Customers also have the added benefit of an online portal where they can monitor their usage. They can keep up to date with the amount of power that they are using as well as the amount of power they have left. Many studies show that customers who are on prepaid rates are more conservative with their energy usage.

Prepaid Metering Is Good For The Utility

Prepaid metering allows the utility to reduce its bad debt expense. The bad debt is debt that is written off because it will never be collected. This can be due to customers leaving without paying or customers who cannot afford to pay and change the name on the account. What happens is the utility ends up being a lender of sorts. When a customer does not pay the utility often gives them a grace period. All the while the customer is using more and more power. Their bill is getting higher and higher.

The utility eliminates some of its bad debt by collecting up front. If the customer decides to leave the utility reimburses, depending on the rate, the customer. This can be good for utilities who have meters in high turnover areas such as college towns, and apartment complexes.

One way to implement this would be to offer it on a voluntary basis. This is where customers sign up voluntarily. Another way is to start with new customers. Still yet, using credit checks is another.

Conclusion

Prepaid metering is not for everyone. But there are instances in which it is perfect for some. Utilities should examine whether it is beneficial to both the bottom line and the customer. Customers should view prepaid metering with an open mind and look at the potential benefits it offers them.








Time of Use

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Time of use is a metering concept based around changing your usage behavior to not only lower your costs, but the costs of the utility as well. What is time of use? How can you take advantage and benefit from time of use? How does the utility benefit from time of use? These are three important questions that surround the time of use concept.

What is time of use?

Time of use is actually a very simple concept. Utilities use on peak periods and off peak periods. On peak periods are those periods during which the utility normally hits their peak. This is defined as a time period. For instance, the on peak period could be from 2pm – 5pm, Monday – Friday. In this example, the off peak periods would be everything outside 2pm – 5pm, Monday – Friday. Or, the periods of time in which the utility does not peak.

These time periods are typically have names with letters such as, period A or B. The electric meters are programmed with these time periods. Typically these meters have more than one register reading that is displayed. The readings that are displayed are for the different time periods.

In a time of use rate, on peak and off peak prices are different. On peak prices are more expensive than off peak prices. This is to encourage businesses and even some individuals to change their usage during these times. Which leads to the next point.








How can you take advantage and benefit from Time of Use?

To take advantage of time of use and reap all of the benefits you need to do a study of your usage. Some utilities will provide you with this service free of charge. They will install a load profile meter (often called a load survey meter). After a few months you can view the data. The data lets you know what times during the day you use the most power. Armed with this information you can make decisions about the available time of use rates offered by your utility.

It may be that you can come in an hour earlier to avoid hitting that peak. Or maybe completing some of your processes in the morning instead of the afternoon. The data lets you know.

Time of use offers a discount during off peak times. This is where the big advantage lies. New industries like crypto mining can benefit from TOU rates. Compare the prices of on peak versus off peak for the rates at your utility. You can save big. But beware, once your are on a time of use rate usage during the on peak time are higher.

How does the Utility benefit from Time of Use?

The utility benefits by being able to shift some load to off peak times. Looking at the utility’s consumption on a line graph shows when they peak. The normal line graph has peaks and valleys. They too are billed on the peak. Or if they generate their own power when the peaks are high they have to bump up their generation. Ideally, looking at a line graph, a utility wants their line to be straight. This means that the generation is constant. Moving some customers from on peak periods to off peak periods is one way of achieving this. The utility benefits from the lower cost of generation or price and passes that on to the customer.

In conclusion, time of use is a rate structure that is comprised of on peak and off peak time periods. It can be a great way for customers to lower their bill by shifting some of their normal routines. Utilities benefit by being able to shift some of their on peak load to off peak times thus reducing their overall demand costs as well.

Learn How Meters Calculate and Report Time of Use.









Totalizing Meter Readings

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Totalizing meter readings can be a very effective way to lower your demand and KWH costs. So, if you are a commercial or industrial customer and have multiple meters you may benefit from totalizing your meter readings. What is totalizing? How can you benefit from totalizing? What are the different methods of totalizing?

What is totalizing?

Totalizing, at its simplest form is nothing more than addition. You take the meter readings from all of the meters that you have and you add them together. This, in turn, gives you one meter reading. Furthermore, it is much easier many times for the customer as they only have to keep up with one bill. A more advanced definition of totalizing is that by combining your meter readings the peak demand can be effectively reduced.

To explain this we need an example. Look at the picture below. In it you see that there are three lines. In this example we have meter A, B and totalized meter C. Also note that the numbers on the bottom are hours of the day. Here we are assuming that the demand interval is hourly. Notice that meter A peaks at 3:00 PM. The peak demand for meter A is 24 KW. Notice that the peak demand for meter B is also 24 KW but it occurs at 9:00 AM. If you do not remember how demand works go over to my page on demand for a better understanding.

.totalizing chart




Now that you have seen where meters A and B peak, let’s look at the totalizing meter C. Meter C peaks at 12:00 PM with a peak of 19.5 KW. This is 4.5 KW less than both meter A and meter B. This is because the totalizer effectively averages out all of its inputs. With KWH totalizing simply adds all of the KWH readings of the meters.

How can you benefit from totalizing?

Well, using the example above I am sure that you can see that your demand is reduced. So, let’s put that into dollars. Assume that your per KW demand charge is $15.00. For each meter that you have, A and B you will pay $360 each (24 KW x 15). So, for both meters you pay $720 per month just in demand charges. In addition, if you totalize with meter C your demand charges would only be $292.50 (19.5 KW x 15). A savings of $427.50! This is huge! However, remember that this is just an example, it is exaggerated.

You also save with your KWH charges. The reason for this is that most rates are tiered. Meaning that the price changes as you use more KWH. Also, in most cases the price goes down. If meter A uses 10,000 KWH in a month and meter B uses 15,000 KWH in month then in total they use 25,000 KWH. However, if the price buckets are as follows:

  • $0.10 for the first 5,000 KWH
  • $0.08 for the next 10,000 KWH
  • $0.06 for all over 15,000 KWH

then if your meters are billed separately you will not be able to take advantage of the cheaper rate bucket. If you totalize however you will be able to take advantage and save on your KWH as well.

What are the different methods of totalizing?

There are two main methods of totalizing. Totalizing with software is the first. Using hardware, such as the meter is the second. To totalize with software the utility downloads readings from each of the meters that are to be totalized. The utility then uploads the readings to a totalizing program. This program looks at all of the readings adds them together and averages them out. Then it gives you the totalized readings.

Using hardware to totalize is a bit different. Wires are run from the meters that need to be totalized. Then to a central meter that totalizes the readings internally. The utility then reads this totalized meter to get the readings. Finally, the utility bills the customer with the totalized readings.

Final Thoughts

Although it sounds like totalizing is definitely worth it you need to be aware that your utility may charge a premium to totalize your readings. This can vary and also may not be worth it. Instead of paying facility charges for the meters that you already have, you may pay for those and the totalizer. In addition, totalizing meters are expensive.

It is best to talk with your utility to determine if you are a good candidate for totalizing.








Computers and the Meter Tech

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As a Meter Technicians a computer will be very useful in your job. Many tasks in the metering world are not possible without the use of a computer. You can use a computer to help you with troubleshooting and performing load checks. Because of the this meter techs will need to know how to use different programs. They will also need to know how to analyze data.

Programming meters as a meter tech is an easy streamlined process. Many of the meter manufacturers have easy to use programming software. Once the program is built all you need to do is connect the probe to the meter. Then click the program and go through the prompt. Building the program can be tricky for those who do not know their way around a computer. If you need to change variables you need to know what the changes will do in the program.

Outside of programming meters, meter techs will need to be able to use Microsoft Word and Excel. Word is not used as much as Excel but is good to know. Many tasks can be completed with Excel. However, it will mostly be used to view data. At times data will also be exported to Excel. At other times data will need to be calculated in Excel. You can also use Excel as a small database for things such as test sites, or new installations. Meter techs also use Excel to view .CSV files and bill details.








One of the most important uses of the computer to the meter tech is billing system. Here the meter tech will look up the details of customer bills when talking to customers about their high bill complaints. It is important to know how to use this system and use it effectively. There are typically historical comments where other techs may have gone out before you. Also, you may find out that this is a problem customer. If that is the case you will know that you need to be on your game. This means meeting the customer with all of the facts.

In the billing system, meter techs will also assign multipliers to meters. This is very important. An incorrect multiplier in the billing system is one of the easiest mistakes to make. Especially if you have just completed a new installation. Billing systems are typically good at kicking out readings that appear to high or too low. And if a meter was just changed and the incorrect multiplier for that particular meter was put in the system it will generally get kicked out. However, with at new installation the computer has no history of that location to go on. Noticing this error could take years. Furthermore, this could be in the customer’s favor or in the favor of the utility.

In conclusion, being a meter tech is more that just going out in the field and swapping out meters. You need to have a good grasp on technology. Computers are essential to meter techs. The sooner you can master at least the basics the better.









PPE in Metering

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When it comes to working with meters as a meter tech you always have to remember that there will be times that you are working around energized equipment like transformers. And because of this you need to make sure that you protect yourself in the case of an accident. In order to protect yourself you need to make sure that you are always wearing your PPE. What is PPE you may ask? PPE stands for personal protective equipment. It is safety equipment that is designed to make sure that in case of an accident or in case of incidental contact with live conductors that we are not injured or even worse, killed. What I am going to detail here are the minimum requirements for Meter Technicians. Also listed are a few things that may not be required by your utility but are good idea. Be reminded however that these are minimums and that you should always wear the minimum that is required by your company. Also remember that anytime you are working near high voltage equipment, you need to keep High Voltage Safety in mind.

Minimum

Hard Hat

A hard hat is first on our list. The hard hat is generally made of a hard plastic material that has a webbed support system inside. The support system inside ensures that the hard hat is a cool as possible as well as provide a bit of a crush zone should something heavy fall. Your hard hat protects you from falling objects, but that is not all. The hard hat can also keep you from hitting your head if you are in an area with a low ceiling or if you are working in an enclosure or transformer it can keep you from hitting your head or having accidental contact with conductors. Another thing that a hard hat protects you from is the sun.

Your hard hat also keeps the sun off of your shiny head and keeps you from getting sun burned. Be sure that you inspect your hard hat on a regular basis for any cracks or sun damage. In addition, if you suspect any damage it is best to go ahead and replace your hard hat. It is easier to replace your hard hat than your head!

Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are essential as a part of your PPE arsenal. They protect your eyes from flying objects! Safety glasses also seem to be one of the most neglected pieces of PPE. People think that they just do not need them, especially if they are working at night. It is imperative that you wear your safety glasses to protect your eyes. There are even models now that are designed as sun glasses so that you look more stylish. Safety glasses do have ratings so make sure that you check with your company policy before wearing a pair of sunglasses to work.

Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves are essential if you are going to be working on or near anything energized. I know that many of the old timers used to work secondary with just leather gloves. I also know that there are those of you out there that think there is nothing wrong with changing meters or checking voltage with just your bare hands. Yes you make get away with it a few times, or you may never even have a problem. However, it only takes one time for electricity to kill your or to burn off a finger. Make sure that you are testing your rubber gloves before each use. Also, make sure that you know the rating of your rubber gloves. Many meter techs will have two different sets of rubber gloves. They may have a low voltage set that are rated for 1000v and they may have a high voltage set. The high voltage set will vary based on the primary that your utility uses. Do not try to use your secondary gloves on primary! They are not rated for that voltage and you will be hurt or killed! For this reason, many utilities do not give their lineman secondary gloves. The rubber gloves will have leather protectors with them. Always use them. And also do not forget to check your protectors for holes either.








Clothes

This will vary from utility to utility because of the different arc flash ratings. Make sure you are wearing whatever your utility mandates. This will keep you safe in the event of a flash. In addition, most utilities now require flame retardant clothing. Do not wear any jewelry or watches or even metal belt buckles. In the event of an electrocution these items will act as heat sinks and burn your skin.

Safety Toe Shoes

Shoes with a safety toe will keep falling objects from crushing your toes. Make sure also that your shoes, or boots, are rated for electrical hazards. This will ensure that they are not building up static electricity as you walk.

Recommended

Face Shields

Face shields are one of the controversial pieces of safety equipment right now. Some people hate them, mainly the people wearing them, and some love them, mainly management. If your utility requires face shields, wear them. If your utility does not require face shields but provides them, use them when you think they may be necessary. Face shields can protect you in the event of a flash.

Rubber Sleeves

Rubber sleeves are something that you typically see lineman wearing working out of a bucket. But, they have their place in the metering world as well. If you are working in an enclosure such as a transformer it can be a good idea to use rubber sleeves to protect you in case of accidental contact.

Summary

PPE is important to you as a meter tech. Do not take it for granted. However, do not think that just because you are wearing all of the PPE your utility provides that you are working safely. There is no substitute for knowledge when it comes to safety. Learn the best practices for working safely from those around you. Just because you are wearing rubber gloves does not mean that you need to just go around touching all of the live conductors just be cause you can. Be cautious. Be safe. If it will be safer to turn something off to work on it, then plan an outage. And remember however, that safety is up to you not your company. You are the one who will go home to your family everyday not your company. Also remember that the list I provided above is just a basic list. Do what your company says. If I have left anything out let me know. Work at your own risk. I take no responsibility if you get hurt.








Testing a Form 9s transformer rated installation

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The form 9s meter is perhaps one of the most popular meter forms used in metering. It is a versatile meter that can be used to meter either a 120/208 three phase four wire wye service or a 277/480 three phase four wire wye service. Can the form 9s be used to meter other services? Yes but I am only going to cover these two here. When testing a form 9s transformer rated installation you will be looking at a few different things. You will check the meter, the wiring, the CT’s and/or PT’s, and the voltage as well as the transformer.

First a disclaimer. If you are not a meter tech or a qualified person then you do not need to attempt anything that is written below in regard to the form 9s. It can kill you if you do not know what you are doing.

When we perform a load check the form 9s meter in a transformer rated installation there are a couple of things that we will look at and take note of. First we want to check the meter number. I know this sounds simple but you want to make sure that you are in the right place. Now write down the readings of the meter. There should be a simple kwh reading as well as a kw reading. It is also possible that your utility uses more than these such as kva. You may also be required to download the information from the meter as well. If the meter is a solid state meter you want to make sure that there are no diagnostic codes in the meter. If there are you will need to check them and find out what the problem is.

Solid state meters have come a long way. If you do not have a piece of test equipment that is capable of showing you the vector diagram of your form 9s meter you can logon to the meter and view the vector diagram there. The vector diagram can alert you to things that you may not be able to see right away. Vector diagrams can also let you know if you have any wires crossed as well as the amplitude of the current and voltage on all three phases. Using vector diagrams you can also view all of your phase angles.

We are still talking about the meter here. If you have an electro-mechanical form 9s meter then the procedure is a little different. There is nothing to logon to. The meter may have lights for each voltage phase. If so, you want to make sure that they are all lit up. Next, you want to do what is know as an element check. You will also do this with the solid state meter but you will have to leave all of the voltage switches in as the display likely comes off of A or C phase. To do the element check you will open all of the switches with the exception of the neutral switch. Then you close the voltage switch and the current switches for the phase your will be working on. You are doing this to ensure that each element in the meter causes the disk to rotate in a forward direction. Remember that the disk rotates in a counter-clockwise rotation.








After checking the meter you will want to check the wiring of the form 9s. Give the wiring a good visual check. Look at all of the terminations that you can see and make sure that the color code is correct. If you suspect overheating and think the wire needs to be replaced do so as soon as possible. Wires that are out in the sun tend to crack after several years so you want to make note of this. If the wiring needs to be replaced make a work order to do so. Look at the wiring on the CT’s and PT’s. Does everything look good? Improper wiring is one of the biggest causes of lost revenue with a form 9s metering installation. Loose connections can introduce more burden into the circuit. Learn how about burden here. If the wiring looks good, let’s move on to the CT’s and PT’s.

I am not going to go in depth in this post about testing the CT’s and PT’s, that is for a later date. What I want to tell you here is to visually inspect the CT’s. If you can see the nameplate then that is great. Make sure that the multiplier on the meter matches whatever the CT ratio says that it should be. After that, make sure that the multiplier on the meter is what the multiplier is in the computer system.

This is one of the other big mistakes that you will find with the form 9s. It is so easy to input a multiplier incorrectly into the system. That is why you need to check it for every transformer rated meter that you test. After you verify the CT ratio on the nameplate use test equipment to test the CT. This may be a CT burden test or an admittance test. You can also do a ratio test.

After the CT’s you will want to check the PT’s. Verify the wiring and make sure that you do have voltage on all three phases. The PT’s are so much easier than the CT’s. On the subject of PT’s we always want to check the voltage and make sure that it is the correct voltage for the service.

Next we want to check the transformer. Look at the transformer and make sure that it is not leaking oil anywhere. Also, visually inspect all of the secondary connections that you can see and make sure there is no overheating. If you have an infrared camera now is a good time to use it and check the connections for hot spots. Be very careful when working around transformers as it is possible to have the primary connections very close to the secondary. Make sure that you are wearing all of your PPE before doing any of the aforementioned work.

You will want to check the KVA of the transformer and compare it against the KW reading of the meter which is called demand. If you cannot get the power factor from the meter either because it is a mechanical meter or you do not have a way with another piece of equipment you can use 80% for the power factor.

To convert KW to KVA you will divide the KW by the power factor. This will give you KVA. Let’s do the calculation. Let’s say that you have a form 9s meter that has a KW reading of 0.8 with a multiplier of 80. First, multiply 0.8 x 80 = 64 KW. Then if you cannot get a power factor reading assume 80%. 64/.80 = 80 KVA. Now that you have the KVA check to make sure that it is in the limits of the transformer. If it is you are good. If not get with engineering to make a change.

There it is. That is how to can check a form 9s metering installation. As always, be careful and always wear your PPE.