LPU Auditing

LPU Audit for Municipalities

With the advent of the new regulations for metering standards with regard to municipalities, Power Measurement & Distribution cc (PMD) have expanded its operations with the investment in specialist people, as well as investing in technology by setting up a calibration facility based in George . This will enable PMD to help municipalities fulfil these commitments. Services offered by PMD include, but are not limited to the following:

Services

• We offer meter installations for LPU (Large Power User) customers. As we are a specialist measurement company, and with our investment into resource and technology, we are able to ensure total confidence in these installations.
• We offer total on and offsite support for pre-payment systems, which can include total management of these systems.
• We offer onsite audits of meter installations from commercial through to LPU clients.

On Site Meter Audits for LPU Installations.

Correct meter installations are the single most important factor for revenue protection for any municipality but, are usually the most neglected. In most cases the only people to visit these points after installation are the meter readers. There is normally no verification of the installation, using equipment purposely designed for this function, at commissioning and usually no national standards for the installation are adhered to. PMD are able to do full onsite meter audits to ensure the integrity of the installation. We use portable sub-standard equipment that is calibrated at NLA laboratories with all our audits and give complete reports per site with signed off checklists. We are also able to change installations to comply with national standards thus ensuring uniformity throughout the municipality’s installed base. This service will ensure the installation complies with the required accuracy.

Offer for Audit.

All installations should comprise the following:

• 1 x Meter
• 1 x GPRS/GSM Modem
• 1 x Test Block/CT shorting block
• 3 x Fuse holders with 1 or 2 amp fuses.
• 1 x Check meter for the larger LPU if required (normally above 10MVA)
• 3 x Current transformers (class 0,5 or class 1,0)
• 1 x Commissioning report
• 1 x Meter test report (off site calibration)
• 1 x Current transformer test report (off site calibration)
• The total installation sealed and locked and, if necessary, controlled access for the client.

Basic Offer

A visual inspection of the installation comparing it to national standards and completing a written checklist. Performing a verification test using a sub-standard portable tester with a NLA calibration certificate, ensuring the installation’s integrity. This includes the following:

• Class accuracy of meter, current transformers, voltage transformer.
• Direction of current transformers.
• Phase rotation.
• Secondary connections between current transformers and meter.
• Fuse ratings, blown or not.
• Correct multiplying factors and customer details on municipal billing system.
• Full test using the Metval portable standard or the SM3050 portable standard on active and reactive energies. For CYLP electomechaniclal meters a dial test is carried out. For full verification of these meters they have to be removed from site
• Full report including the meter scheme, test reports, verification of points 1 to 6 but excludes meter and CT calibration reports.

Incorrect wiring connections have to be rectified before the meter can be accurately verified. Incorrect voltage connections will be rectified but alterations will not take place to ensure metering national standards are complied to. If the site is unsafe for ‘live’ work the system will have to be isolated for the installation to be rectified.