Revenue Metering Standards for

Distribution Utilities

ENGR. DANVIR V. MICLAT

I. Power Metering
A. History of Power Metering
B. Familiarity with Metering terms
C. Types of Meters
D. Classification of Meters
E. Blondell Theorem
F. Instrument Transformers
G. Single Phase Metering
H. Poly – Phase Metering
I. Actual Metering Wiring Connections and
Specific Application
II. Distribution Transformers
A. History of Distribution Transformer
Application.
B. Overview of Transformers
C. Understanding Distribution Transformer´s
Nameplate.
D. Different Distribution Transformer Connection

III. New Technology on Power Metering and

Distribution Transformers
IV. Refferences
History of Power Metering

• 1872:Samuel Gardiner takes out the first

known patent on an electric meter. This was
a DC lamp-hour meter that was a clock
with an electromagnet that started and
stopped the mechanism.
• 1878:J.B. Fuller takes out a patent on an AC
lamp-hour meter that was a clock operated
by an armature that vibrated between two
coils
• 1885:Galileo Ferraris of Turin, Italy makes
a key discovery that two out of phase AC
fields can make a solid armature rotate.
This discovery spurred development of
induction-type motors as well as paving the
way for the development of the induction-
type watthour meter.
• 1889: Elihu Thomson introduced his
recording wattmeter. This was the first true
watthour meter
• 1948:GE opened a new meter plant in
Somersworth, NH. Also, the magnetic
bearing GE had been working on was
finally introduced on the I-50 singlephase
meter (which was billed "The first all-new
meter in 50 years").

• By the early 1990s, further advances in

electronics allowed the manufacturers to
start introducing meters that were fully
electronic and used no moving parts
Common Metering Term

• Current Coil - coil in meter that is

connected in the line and through which
current flows. 
• Potential Coil - coil in meter that is
connected across the line (sometimes line-
to-line and sometimes line-to-ground) and
has the circuit potential applied to it.
• Stator - the unit which provides the driving
torque in a watt-hour meter. It contains a
potential coil, one or more current coils and
the necessary steel to provide the required
magnetic path. Other names used for stator
are Element or driving element..
• Meter Class - denotes maximum current in
amperes for continuous meter operation without
excessive temperature rise and with acceptable
accuracy. Sometimes called Class Designation.
  Meter
Class Capacity

10 10 Amperes
20 20 Amperes
100 100 Amperes
200 200 Amperes
320 320 Amperes
480 480 Amperes
• Form Number (FM) - number conforming with the internal
connection diagram shown on EEI Publication No. MSJ-10 or
AEIC-EEI-NEMA standards for Watt-hour Meters. Meters with the
same Form number have identical internal connection regardless of
any brands or manufacturers.

• Bottom Connected - entire meter mechanism is enclosed within

the standard glass cover and leads are brought down from
current and potential coils to a connection block located within a
compartment that is an integral part of the base casting .
• Socket Type - current and potential terminals
extend as terminal blades or bayonets from the
meter rear and connected in made by plugging
the meter into a socket. Bayonets engages mating
terminal jaws which have been previously
connected to service lines.
• Test Amperes (TA) - current in amperes used as
a base for adjusting and determining the percent
registration at heavy and light loads (sometimes
called Rated Current).
• Watt-hour Constant (Kh / Ke) - the number of watt-
hour represented by one revolution of the meter disk /
one impulse of the LED indicator.
• Register Ratio (Rr) – is the ratio of the number of
revolution of the gear meshing with the worm or pinion
on the disk spindle to one revolution of the first KWH
pointer.
• First Gear Reduction (Rs) – is the ratio of the number
of revolution of the disk for one revolution of the gear
meshing with the worm or pinion on the disk spindle.
•
• Demand Meter – special meters for measuring
the kw (real power ) of the customer.
• Current Transformer ( CT) – Instrument
transformer utilize for metering loads above 320
amps.
• Voltage or Potential Transformer – instrument
transformer utilize for metering installations
above 400 volts.
Basic Parts of a kwh meter
1. Electro-Mechanical Meter

•The motor consist of

stator and rotor and
designed so that its
torque is proportional
to the power in the
metered circuit.
The stator is an electromagnet energized by the line
voltage and load current
• The potential coil is
connected line to line and
produces a horizontal flux
field proportional to the
voltage applied or Ef. 

• The current coil is connected

in series with one power leg
and produces a vertical flux
proportional to current flow
or If.
 The rotor is an electrical conductor in the form of a
disk which is placed between the pole faces of the
stator.
• The Rotor
An aluminum disk with a
shaft, worm gear,  
bearing surfaces, anti-
creep holes, and timing
mark
The register is a mechanism which records the number
of rotor shaft revolution

• Its dial and gearing are

so arranged that each
revolution of the shaft
increases the dial
registration by an
amount equal to the
watt-hour constant.
The damping / retarding magnet provides a retarding effect
to control the speed of the meter disk.

• Without a damping
magnet, a meter would
slowly coast to a stop after
a load was removed. A
more desirable response
would be for the meter
disk to stop immediately
when a load is
discontinued. The
damping magnet provides
the force to accomplish
this task.
Electronic KWh Meter
 WATT
ANALOG OUTPUT
KYZ Wh
INTEGRATOR
WATT PULSE RATE
(ANALOG TO PULSE
MULTIPLIER OUTPUT
RATE CONVERTER)
INPUT (2,21/2,3
VOLTAGE
TRANSFORMERS ELEMENT)
INPUTS
Q or VAR
ANALOG OUTPUT
CURRENT KYZ Qh or VARH
INPUTS Q or VAR INTEGRATOR PULSERAE
MULTIPLIER (ANALOG TO PULSE OUTPUT
(2,21/2.3 RATE CONVERTER)
ELEMENT)
VOLT
ANALOG OUTPUT
KYZ Vh
VOLT/VOLTHOUR PULSE RATE
CONVERTER OUTPUT
& INTEGRATOR

REGISTER
ELECTRONIC (L.E.D.)
(+DEMAND)
OR CYCLOMETER

Digital Meter Block Diagram

kWH meter Nameplates
Mechanical Meter Electronic Meter
Blondel’s Theorem
• Metering theory for alternating current
circuits was in its infancy in the early
1890’s. In 1893 an engineer by the name of
Andre E. Blondel set forth the basic rules
for metering all alternating current circuits.
• Count the number of wires in any circuit
(including the neutral). One less stator than
the total number of wires in the circuit is
required to correctly meter the energy
flowing in the circuit.
• "If energy be supplied to any system of
conductors through N wires, the total
power in the system is given by the
algebraic sum of the readings if N
wattmeter, so arranged that each of the N
wires contains one current oil, the
corresponding potential coil being
connected between that wire and some
common point. If this common point is on
one of the N wires, the measurement may
be made by the use of N-1 wattmeter"
Wattload = ea ia + eb ib + ec ic

Wattsload = W1 + W2 + W3
 
• If the common point is one line or at point C.
e'c becomes zero and the formula reduces to :
e'c = 0
Watts load = e'a ia + e'b ib

Watts load = W1 + W2
Instrument Transformer
• Current Transformer - usually rated on a
basis of 5 amperes and 1 amperes secondary
current and used to reduce primary current to
usable levels for transformer-rated meters and
to insulate and isolate meters from high
voltage circuits.
• Current transformers are applied in two very
different functions, metering and/or protection.
Types of Current Transformers

• Bushing type, Window or Donut

• Wound type
• Bar type
Equivalent Circuit of Instrument
Transformers
• The voltage transformers are carefully designed
to keep this impedance as low as possible.

• The loss of current in transformation is due to

current by-passed by the exciting branches, Zo
and Zi.

• Current transformers are specially designed to

keep these by-pass exciting impedances as high
as possible.
Accuracy of Current Transformer

• Accuracy Classification - accuracy of an

instrument transformer at specified burdens.
The number used to indicate accuracy is the
maximum allowable error of the
transformer for specified burdens. For
example, 0.3 accuracy class means the
maximum error will not exceed 0.3% at
stated burdens.
Burden – refers to the total impedance that may be
connected to its secondary without causing error
greater than its specified accuracy classification
STANDARD BURDENS FOR CURRENT TRANSFORMERS WITH 5A
SECONDARIES
Volt-
Burden Resistance Inductance Impedance Amperes Power
Designation (Ω) (mH) (Ω) (at 5 A) Factor
Metering Burdens
B-0.1 0.09 0.116 0.1 2.5 0.9
B-0.2 0.18 0.232 0.2 5.0 0.9
B-0.5 0.45 0.580 0.5 12.5 0.9
B-0.9 0.81 1.040 0.9 22.5 0.9
B-1.8 1.62 2.080 1.8 45.0 0.9
• Continuous Thermal Rating Factor (RF) -
normally designated for current transformers
and is the factor by which the rated primary
current is multiplied to obtain the maximum
allowable primary current without exceeding
temperature rise standards and accuracy
requirements.
• Rated Insulation Class - denotes the normal
(line-to-line) voltage of the circuit on which it
should be used. 
• Polarity - the relative polarity of the primary
and secondary windings of a current
transformer is indicated by polarity marks
(usually white circles), associated with one end
of each winding. When the current enters at the
polarity end of the primary winding, a current
in phase with it leaves the polarity end of the
secondary winding.
Current Transformer Nameplate
Low Voltage / Secondary High Voltage / Primary
Metering Metering
Voltage / Potential Transformer
• are used whenever the line voltage exceeds
480 volts or whatever lower voltage may be
established by the user as a safe voltage
limit. They are usually rated on a basis of
120 volts secondary voltage and used to
reduce primary voltage to usable levels for
transformer-rated meters.
• Consist of two separate windings on a
common magnetic steel core. One winding
consists of relatively large number of turns of
fine wire on steel core and is called primary
winding. The other winding consists of fewer
turns of heavier wire on steel core and is
called the secondary winding.
Potential Transformer Burdens - normally
expressed as volt-amperes at a designated power
factor. May be W, X, M, Y, Z or ZZ. The complete
expression for a voltage transformer accuracy
classification might be 0.3 at W, 0.3 at X or 0.3
@M.
Burden Volt-Ampere @ PF
W 12.5 0.10
X 25 0.70
M 35 0.20
Y 75 0.85
Z 200 0.85
ZZ 400 0.85
 Insulation Class for Potential Transformer
• The magnitude of voltage that the
instrument transformer can withstand between
its primary and secondary winding.

•It should be at least equal to the line to line

voltage at the point of connection.
Potential Transformer Nameplate
 Metering Connections and
Applications
FORM WIRES CIRCUIT ELEMENTS SC/TR CLASS
1S 2 Single Phase 1 SC 200 or 320
2S 3 Single Phase 1 SC 200 or 320
3S 2 Single Phase 1 TR 20
4S 3 Single Phase 1 TR 20
9S, 10A, 48A 4 Wye or Delta Three Phase 3 TR 20
12S 3 Network or Delta Three Phase 2 SC 200
13A 3 Network or Delta Three Phase 2 SC 150
16S 4 Wye or Delta Three Phase 3 SC 200
16A 4 Wye or Delta Three Phase 3 SC 150
36S1,3 4 Wye Three Phase 2½ TR 20
36A1,3,4
45S2,3 3,4,5 Wye or Delta Single Phase, 2 TR 20
56S5 or Network Two Phase,
45A2,3 Three Phase
Form 1 Form 2
Single Phase, Two-wire, Self Contained Meter installed at Single Single Phase, Three-wire, Self Contained Meter installed at Single
Phase, Two-wire System Phase, Three-wire System
Form 3
Form 4
Single Phase, Two-wire, Transformer Rated Meter installed at
Single Phase, Three-wire, Transformer Rated Meter installed at
Single Phase, Two-wire System
Single Phase, Three-wire System
 Form 16
Form 12
Three Phase, Three-wire Network, Self Contained Meter installed at Three Phase, Four Wire, WYE System
Three Phase, Three-wire Network System
 Form 48 A
Four Wire, Delta or WYE Connection
Form 16
Three Phase, Four Wire, DELTA System
Correct Phasor Diagram of Metering
Installations
Single Phase, 2 Wire Sinlge Phase, 3 wire
Three Phase, 3 Wire DELTA
Three Phase, 4 Wire, DELTA
Three Phase, 4 Wire, WYE
New Power Metering Technologies

• Demand Metering
• Automated Meter Reading ( AMR )
• Prepaid Metering
• Advance Metering Infrastructure ( AMI )
 Demand Metering
• An electric demand meter works on the principle that
customers who require a higher or more intensive level
of service during bursts of peak demand should pay
more for the availability of that service.
• ‐ An electrical load averaged over a specific period of
time.
• Units: kilowatts
• Current X Voltage (Averaged Over Time) = Demand
• Typically Metered for Commercial and Industrial
Customers
• Demand Intervals: 15 or 30 minutes
 Various Demand Types
• Maximum Demand (Peak Demand)
The highest demand measured over a selected period
of time ( typically one month).
•  Minimum Demand
> The lowest demand measured over a selected
period of time (used only for Power Factor).
•  Cumulative Demand
The sum of the previous billing period Max demands. At
the time of demand reset, the Maximum Demand of the
previous billing period is added to the previous
accumulated total of all Maximum Demands.
•  Continuously Cumulative Demand
The same as (Cumulative Demand) plus
the present period Max Demand.
•  Previous Demand
The Max Demand from the most
recently completed interval
•  Projected Demand
The estimated Max Demand the meter
will accumulate by the end of the
current
Demand Calculations

• Block Demand -
Maximum Demand
is based upon the
highest average
demand during any
one demand
interval.
• Rolling Demand –
similar to block
demand, but uses
subintervals to
determine the
Maximum or
Minimum interval.
• Thermal demand ‐
measures average load
with an inherent time
interval and a response
curve which is
based on the heating
effect of the load.
Automated Meter Reading

•  refers to the technology used for automating

collection of energy (electricity ) consumption
data for the purposes of real-time billing and
consumption analysis.
• At any given time, the AMR system gathers
real-time data and transfers the information
gathered to the central database through
networking technology.
AMR Operational Block Diagram
 Prepaid Metering

• For load side

demand
management.
• Allows the
customer to
manage electricity
consumption just
like on the
cellphone.
Advance Metering Insfrastructure
• Advanced metering systems are comprised of
state-of-the-art electronic/digital hardware and
software, which combine interval data
measurement with continuously available remote
communications. These systems enable
measurement of detailed, time-based information
and frequent collection and transmittal of such
information to various parties. AMI or Advanced
Metering Infrastructure.
• typically refers to the full measurement
and collection system that includes
meters at the customer site,
communication networks between the
customer and a service provider, such
as an electric, gas, or water utility, and
data reception and management
systems that make the information
available to the service provider.
AMI Operational Block Diagram
 PELCO II METERING STANDARDS

I. RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
- Form 1S
- Class 100
- Accuracy Class 0.3
- Voltage Rating 240 V
II. LOW VOLTAGE NON – RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS
-Form 1S
-Class 200
-Accuracy Class 0.3
-Voltage Rating 240 V
 III. HIGH VOLTAGE CUSTOMERS
-Form 1S, Form 3S, Form 16S, Form 48 A
-Self Contained / Instrument Transformer
Rated
-Class 20 / Class 200
-Voltage Rating 120 V – 480 V
-Demand Metering
-TOU ready
-Reactive Power Metering
-Load Profiling
Distribution Transformers
 Distribution Transformers
• The purpose of a distribution transformer is to
reduce the primary voltage of the electric
distribution system to the utilization voltage
serving the customer.
• A distribution transformer is a static device
constructed with two or more windings used
to transfer alternating current electric power
by electromagnetic induction from one circuit
to another at the same frequency but with
different values of voltage and current.
History of Distribution Transformers

• 1830s - Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday work

with electromagnets and discover the property of
induction independently on separate continents.
• 1880-1882 - Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti (English
born with an Italian parent) designs one of the
earliest AC power systems with William Thomson
(Lord Kelvin). He creates an early transformer.
• 1882 - Lucien Gaulard and John Dixon
Gibbs first built a "secondary generator" or
in today's terminology a step down
transformer which they designed with open
iron core, the invention was not very
efficient to produce.
• 1884 - In Hungary Ottó Bláthy had
suggested the use of closed-cores, Károly
Zipernowsky the use of shunt connections,
and Miksa Déri had performed the
experiments. There design was a toroidal
shape which made it expensive to make.
• 1885 - George Westinghouse orders a
Siemens alternator (AC generator) and a
Gaulard and Gibbs transformer. Stanley
begin experimenting with this system.

• 1885 - William Stanley makes the

transformer more practical due to some
design changes: "Stanley's first patented
design was for induction coils with single
cores of soft iron and adjustable gaps to
regulate the EMF present in the
secondary winding.
• 1889 - Russian-born engineer
Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky developed the
first three-phase transformer in Germany.
He had developed the first three phase
generator one year before.
• Dobrovolsky used his transformer in the
first powerful complete AC system
(Alternator + Transformer + Transmission +
Transformer + Electric Motors and Lamps)
in 1891.
Overview of Distribution
Transformer
 Distribution Transformer
Schematic Diagram
  TAP
  5 4 3 2 1 CHANGER
DUAL
VOLTAG PRIMARY
WINDING
E TAP
(SET AT
OUTER
120V 120V
TAP)
X1 X3 X2 X4
 Primary H2
Primary H1 Bushing
Bushing (At the Back)

Secondary
(X1, X2, X3)
KVA Bushings
Rating

Company Nameplate
Number (Hidden)
• Distribution Transformer Nameplate
Primary
Voltage Rating KVA Rating

Secondary
Voltage
Rating Polarity
(Additive)

Voltage
Rating
per tap Schematic
position Diagrams
 Symbols Used in Transformer Voltage Rating

NAME SYMBOL APPLICATION EXAMPLES

To separate the voltage

Dash - rating or ratings of 7620 V - 240/120 V
separate windings.

To separate voltage to be13200 GRDY / 7620 V -

Slant or
Slash
/ applied or to be obtained
from the same winding. 120 / 240 V

To designate separate
voltages which can be
X obtained by reconnecting13200 GRDY / 7620 V -
Cross the coils of a winding in 120/240 X 139/277 V
series or multiple
combinations
Difference Between 120 / 240 V & 240 / 120 V

120/240 2-section secondary winding

which can be connected in
parallel for output voltage 120V,
in series for output voltage 240V,
or in series for 3-wire service for (Available in
120/240V output voltage. 4- or 3-
(Memory Aid: 120-volt winding bushing
times 2)
transformers
)
240/120 Mid-tapped secondary suitable for
2-wire service at voltage 240V, or
for 3-wire service. Cannot be
connected for 2-wire service at
voltage 120V .
(Memory Aid: 240-volt winding
divided by 2)
Important Things to Remember for
Distribution Trnasformer

• Voltage Rating ( Primary and Secondary

Winding)
• KVA Rating
• Efficiency
• Polarity
• Transformer Losses ( Winding loss,
Coreloss)
• % Impedance
Polarity Testing of Transformer
APPLY VOLTAGE HERE
(240V or 120VAC ONLY)

HV SIDE

Temporary
Shorting Vm Voltmeter
Wire (Jumper)

LV SIDE

 If Vm reads more than the applied voltage - Additive

 If Vm reads less than the applied voltage - Subtractive
No – load / Open Circuit Test
• the secondary is kept open circuited and
nominal value of the input voltage is
applied to the primary winding and the
input current and power aremeasured.

• W0 = V1Ic = Pcore
Short Circuit Test

• in this test primary applied voltage, the

current and power input are measured
keeping the secondary terminals short
circuited.
• Wsc = I2sc(r1 + r′2) (winding losses)
Transformer Efficiency

• The efficiency of a transformer is defined as

the ratio of the output power to the input
power.
Core Loss

Winding Loss
Standard Distribution Transformer
Losses
• Transformer impedance determines the voltage
drop attributable to the transformer when carrying
load.
Excessive transformer impedance can cause low
voltage on secondary and service lines as well
 Common Distribution
Transformer Connections
SINGLE-PHASE 240V, LINE-TO-GROUND
SECONDARY SYSTEM

A 
N  

H1 H2

X3 X1

X2

a  
b 

INSULATED BARE GROUNDED

PHASE CONDUCTOR PHASE CONDUCTOR
OPEN-WYE, OPEN-DELTA CONNECTION FOR 3-PHASE,
CORNER-GROUNDED DELTA SECONDARY
A 
B 
N 
 
H1 H2 H1 H2

X1 X1
X3 X3

X2  X2
a  
b 
c 
INSULATED PHASE BARE GROUNDED
CONDUCTORS PHASE CONDUCTOR

B b
SECONDARY VOLTAGES
N c Vab = 240V
a Vbc = 240V
A C
Vca = 240V
PRIMARY VECTORS SECONDARY VECTORS
 WYE, DELTA CONNECTION FOR 3-PHASE,
CORNER-GROUNDED DELTA SECONDARY

A 
B 
C 
N

H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2

X1 X3 X1 X1
X3 X3

X2  X2  X2
a 
b 
c  
INSULATED PHASE BARE GROUNDED
CONDUCTORS PHASE CONDUCTOR

B b
SECONDARY VOLTAGES
N c Vab = 240V

a Vbc = 240V
A C
Vca = 240V
PRIMARY VECTORS SECONDARY VECTORS
DELTA , DELTA CONNECTION FOR 3-PHASE, DELTA
SECONDARY
DELTA , WYE CONNECTION FOR 3-PHASE, WYE
SECONDARY
WYE , WYE CONNECTION FOR 3-PHASE, WYE
SECONDARY
 New Technology on Distribution
Transformer

• DT´s using Amorphous Metal Core

– Amorphous metal core transformers improve
electrical power distribution efficiency by
reducing transformer core losses. The loss
reduction ranges from 65 to 90% compared
with typical silicon steelbased transformers
• Superconducting
transformersSuperconducting transformers.
– In a superconducting transformer the windings,
made of a high temperature superconducting
material (HTS), are cooled with liquid nitrogen
at about 77K so that the resistance is almost
negligible. Load losses, even after adding losses
from nitrogen processing, can be reduced by
50%
Refferences

• General Electric Metering Guide Handbook

• General Electric Instrument Transformer
Handbook
• National Electrification Administration,
Engineering Bulletin
• Itron Metering Presentation
• Electric Power Research Institute, AMI Technical
Paper.
• Electrical Machines, Prof. Krishna Vasudevan
• ABB Transformer Guide
• Power Loss Management, National Cooperative
Research Network
• www. Tech – faq. Com
• www. Xesi.com ( XESI prepaid metering
Presentation)
• www. Wire- geek. Com
• www. The meterman.com
• www. Leonardo energy.com
Thank you !!!