GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 59.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Class A meter—A diaphragm displacement meter having a rated capacity of not more than 500 cubic feet per hour at 1/2 inch water column differential pressure and operating at a gauge pressure of not more than 15 pounds per square inch and not greater than the maximum pressure rating of the meter expressed in pounds per square inch.
Class B meter—A diaphragm displacement meter having a rated capacity of more than 500 cubic feet but not more than 1,500 cubic feet per hour at 1/2 inch water column differential pressure and operating at a gauge pressure of not more than 15 pounds per square inch and not greater than the maximum pressure rating of the meter expressed in pounds per square inch.
Class C meter—A diaphragm displacement meter having a rate capacity of more than 1,500 cubic feet per hour at 1/2 inch water column differential pressure or a displacement meter operating on a gauge pressure of more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge, regardless of rated capacity.
Combined percentage of error—The sum of the percentage of errors of a meter and its associated instrument or auxiliary device.
Cubic foot of gas—According to purpose, as follows:(i) Testing. For the purpose of testing gas, that amount of gas which, if saturated with water vapor at a temperature of 60° F and subjected to an absolute pressure equal to 30 inches of mercury at 32° F (14.73 pounds per square inch), occupies a volume of one cubic foot.
(ii) Measurement of low pressure. For the purpose of measurement of gas to a customer taking gas at standard service pressure, that amount of gas which occupies a volume of 1 cubic foot at the time metered and under the conditions existing at the meter of the customer; except that where a temperature compensating device is built into the meter and the utility has received Commission approval for its use, the term means that quantity of gas which, at the pressure existing at the meter and the temperature corrected to 60° F, occupies one cubic foot.
(iii) Measurement of high or medium pressure. If gas is supplied to customers through orifice or other type meters at pressures above standard service pressure, that amount of gas which at an absolute pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch occupies a volume of 1 cubic foot at the temperature base contracted for or established by the utility. Temperature correction, if made, shall be to 60° F.
Customer—A party supplied with gas service by a public utility.
Customer meter—A customer meter is the meter that measures the transfer of gas from an operator to a consumer.
Distribution line—A pipeline other than a gathering or transmission line.
Fast meter—A meter which upon test has an average error exceeding 2.0% fast.
Fast meter ratio—The ratio which the number of fast meters found upon test in a given year bears to the total number of meters tested in that year. Meters permanently retired from service shall be excluded from both the numerator and denominator of this ratio.
First immediately preceding year—The calendar year immediately preceding the testing year.
Gathering line—A pipeline that transports gas from a current production facility to a transmission line or main.
High pressure—The gas pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch gauge pressure (p.s.i.g.) in excess of 60 pounds.
Low pressure—Operating pressure, generally expressed in inches, which does not exceed 27.68 inches water column (one pound).
LNG—Liquefied natural gas—A natural gas or synthetic gas having methane (CH4) as its major constituent which has been changed to a liquid or semisolid.
LNG facility—A pipeline facility that is used for liquefying or solidifying natural gas or synthetic gas or transferring, storing or vaporizing liquefied natural gas.
Main—A distribution line that serves as a common source of supply for more than one service line.
Medium pressure—The gas pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch gauge pressure (p.s.i.g.) between one and 60 pounds, and normally reduced by one regulator.
P.S.I.G.—Pounds per square inch gauge.
Pipeline—All parts of those physical facilities through which gas moves in transportation, including pipe, valves and other appurtenance attached to pipe, compressor units, metering stations, regulator stations, delivery stations, holders and fabricated assemblies.
Pressure designations—‘‘Low pressure,’’ ‘‘medium pressure,’’ or ‘‘high pressure,’’ as defined in this section.
Public utility—Persons or corporations owning or operating in this Commonwealth equipment or facilities for producing, generating, transmitting, distributing, or furnishing gas for the production of light, heat, or power to or for the public for compensation. The term does not include a producer or manufacturer of gas not engaged in distributing the gas directly to the public for compensation.
Public utility service line—The pipe and appurtenances of the public utility which connect any main with either the point of connection of a service line of the customer if the line is provided by the customer in accordance with the rules and regulations of the public utility, or the meter of the public utility if the utility owns all the pipe and appurtenances between its main and meter.
SMYS—Specified minimum yield strength:(i) For steel pipe manufactured in accordance with a listed specification, the yield strength specified as a minimum in that specification.
(ii) For steel pipe manufactured in accordance with an unknown or unlisted specification, the yield strength determined in accordance with 49 CFR 192.107(b) (relating to yield strength).
Service line—A distribution line that transports gas from a common source of supply to a customer meter or the connection to a customer’s piping, whichever is further downstream, or the connection to a customer’s piping if there is no customer meter.
Slow meter—A meter which upon test has an average error exceeding 2.0% slow.
Slow meter ratio—The ratio which the number of slow meters found upon test in a given year bears to the total number of meters tested in that year. Meters permanently retired from service shall be excluded from both the numerator and denominator of this ratio.
Standard service pressure—The distribution pressure established by a public utility under the provisions of § 59.29 (relating to gas pressure requirements for low-pressure distribution systems).
Testing year—The calendar year for which a public utility seeks to apply an extended test schedule.
Test period—The maximum permitted time between the installation of a previously tested meter and the next test or between an in-place test and the next test.
Third immediately preceding year—The calendar year immediately preceding the second immediately preceding year.
Transmission line—A pipeline, other than a gathering line that does one of the following:(i) Transports gas from a gathering line or storage facility to a distribution center or storage facility.
(ii) Operates at a hoop stress of 20% or more of SMYS
(iii) Transports gas within a storage field.
Authority The provisions of this § 59.1 issued and amended under Public Utility Code,66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 1301, 1304, 1501, 1502, 1504, 1507 and 1508.
Source The provisions of this § 59.1 amended through May 30, 1986, effective May 31, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 1901; amended July 3, 1997, effective August 4, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 3215; amended July 2, 1998, effective August 3, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 3050. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (232248) to (232251).
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