I. 	MSP/METER WORKER QUALIFICATIONS

I.B.	CERTIFICATION OF METER SERVICE PROVIDER (MSP)

An entity may be certified as an MSP and obtain a permanent certification number by following a modified version of the CPUC-approved process described in the CPUC Decision 97-12-048 dated December 3, 1997.  In brief, this process is as follows: 
(1)	In accordance with this decision the UDCs are declared to be a Certified Meter Service Provider. 
(2)	MSP’s already permanently certified by the CPUC will remain certified to conduct metering business in accordance with the conditions described below.
(3)	 Other entities wishing to be certified shall submit a written request including the requested documents to the CPUC in accordance with the decision (See Appendix MI-3: MSP Registration Packet).  
(4)	 After CPUC review, meter service providers submitting applications that are approved by the CPUC will be granted Permanent Certification in accordance with their application and registration packet.  
(5)	 UDCs and MSPs will assign only qualified and certified metering workers under their control to perform DA metering work, as defined in the CPUC Decision D97-10-087, Appendix A, Section (H) of Metering Services and pursuant to this decision on the PSWG permanent standards. 
(6)	The 50 joint meet process will no longer be used for the MSP certification, but MSPs will provide a detailed work schedule to the UDC for the first 20 installations to provide the opportunity for the UDC to join the MSP at these initial installations to ensure the smooth transition of these services  and to  verify that essential work procedures, hand-offs and processes are clearly understood and in place.  
(7)	Provisionally certified MSP that have successfully completed 20 or more joint meets as of [INSERT DATE OF ADOPTION] will be granted permanent certification. Those provisionally certified MSPs that have not completed 20 successful joint meets as of [	INSERT DATE OF ADOPTION] must follow the process described in three (3) through six (6) above.
(8)	If the permanent rules adopted by the CPUC require any information not previously submitted, permanently certified MSPs shall submit those documents to the CPUC within 90 days of [INSERT DATE OF ADOPTION]. Prior to this supplemental submittal or pending the CPUC’s review of the submitted documentation, the MSP shall remain certified until the CPUC reconfirms the MSP’s certification.
(9)	Subsequently, joint meets are required for special types of meter installations, testing and maintenance as defined by a UDC’s or MSP’s notification published in advance.

I.B.1.	Implementation
UDCs and MSPs (or ESPs as MSPs) shall implement the CPUC-approved MSP entity certification process as specified in CPUC Decision D97-12-048 or other CPUC Decisions thereafter.  Since the worker certification process is changing, the joint meeting process between UDCs and MSPs will  also change.  Joint meets will no longer be a requirement of MSP certification or will they represent the UDCs’ evaluations of the MSPs workers’ technical qualifications.  Instead, a schedule for initial installations in each UDC’s area will be provided by the new MSP to facilitate UDC and MSP job site meetings during a short, defined start up period (defined as the first 20 installations).  Coordinated job site visits, if utilized, may be requested by either the UDC or MSP as a means to confirm clarity and ensure a smooth transition on issues such as: DA process awareness, verification of the processes used by UDCs and MSPs to install or return meters and documentation, and requirements for effectively communicating essential meter related data.. As is possible today where joint meets can be waived, these mutual job site visits are not mandatory. Joint meet forms and logs will no longer be required.

I.C	CERTIFICATION OF METER WORKERS

I.C.1. 	CLASSES 1, 2 AND 3: 
MSPs and UDCs may develop and implement a training program to train and certify their individual meter workers in these three meter worker classes.  MSPs and UDCs must ensure that all appropriate meter worker prerequisites are met before a meter worker is certified.  Only MSPs and UDCs that have certified training programs may self-certify Class 1, 2 or 3 meter workers based on each respectively certified training program.  Prior to receiving approval to self-certify their workers in these classes, each MSP or UDC shall submit with its application to the CPUC the training programs for each of meter worker Classes 1, 2 and 3 that they are not already qualified to perform and for which an MSP or UDC wishes to self-certify its workers. The [CPUC or designated entity]]shall review and either provide recommendations for changes needed prior to program certification for each class of certification sought or notification of the certification granted.  Upon certification of each worker class training program, the [CPUC or designated entity] will provide either a written letter or numbered certificate of such approval to the requesting MSP or UDC.  If at a later date, a Permanently Certified MSP wishes to self certify meter workers at a skill level (1, 2  or 3) not included and approved as part of the original application, the MSP shall submit the training materials for the new desired meter worker class(es) to the CPUC.  Once approved, the MSP or UDC shall be qualified to self-certify these worker classes.  The CPUC will also post to the web site a listing of the meter worker classes each MSP and UDC are approved to self-certify. 

I.C.2. CLASSES 4(A), 4(B) AND 5: 
Meter workers seeking Class 4(A), (B), or 5 certification shall be required to take and pass a test, composed of both written and practical components, to qualify for performing Class 4(A), 4(B), or 5 of meter work, respectively.  Although individual workers may individually prepare and seek certification in these classes, MSPs, UDCs, or other entities may also, at their option, develop and offer classes or training to prepare workers for the tests and for Class 4(A), 4(B) or 5 certification.  Individual workers, MSPs or UDCs may schedule certification tests with the[CPUC designated entity(ies)].  Work experience or other qualifications demanded by the requirements of each worker class (in addition to the test itself) must be verified by the MSP or UDC prior to scheduling the test and shall be provided to the [CPUC designated entity(ies)]  at the time of the workers test.  This will ensure that the [CPUC designated entity(ies)]  has the information necessary to issue a Class 4(A), 4(B) or 5 certification.  After a meter worker has taken and passed the certification test, the [CPUC designated entity(ies)] will issue a permanent and numbered certification card to the worker as evidence of certification.    

I.C.3.	REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARING PRACTICAL AND WRITTEN TESTS:
The [CPUC designated entity]  shall develop and prepare a number of different tests for each worker classification.  The tests will be periodically revised and updated to remain up to date with market needs and to ensure testing integrity.  The initial set of test questions shall be developed based on examples described in Appendix MI-2.  Additionally, prior to use as well as periodically thereafter, questions also must be reviewed by various MSP/UDC entities and knowledgeable metering employees to verify the questions are technically appropriate and valid.   

I.C.4.	IMPLEMENTATION OF METER WORKER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
These California Direct Access (DA) meter worker certification requirements will apply to all workers who are either hired or trained by any entity to perform DA meter services after [insert the date adopted].

I.D. 	Administration of qualification process
A new organization will be created to manage the qualification process for higher skill level, Class 4(A), Class 4(B), and Class 5 DA meter workers.  This organization will be the Meter Worker Certification Organization (MWCO).  This is a type of organization independent of the existing role of UDCs and MSPs.  There may be as many MWCO companies as determined by the market.  Because these organizations do not presently exist, and because it will take a period of time for such organizations to emerge and develop, an interim MWCO process will be used,  as authorized by the CPUC,  and will  function for 6 months, or until a MWCO is CPUC-approved and ready to operate, whichever is earlier.  Below is  a chart describing .an overview of the process.  Also below is a more detailed description of the process. 

I.D.1.  	CERTIFICATION OF METER WORKER CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION
A new entity shall carry out the function of certifying individual high skill meter workers.  This entity will be known as a Meter Worker Certification Organization (MWCO).  Specifically, aMWCO will be used by the market to develop and offer practical and written tests to certify meter workers in Classes 4(A), 4(B) and 5.  The MWCO will establish reasonable fees for its work.  This organization shall be knowledgeable about the metering services they will certify.  If the MWCO is also a UDC or MSP, it shall not certify its own Class 4(A), 4(B), or 5 meter workers.  An entity wishing to be an MWCO shall apply with the CPUC, and the CPUC shall review that application and assign a certification number to all approved MWCOs.  MWCO certification shall be accomplished by an entity submitting a written application to the CPUC along with the following information: name of the person or entity; business address and telephone number; name of the person or entity in which a business license is issued, the business license number and expiration date; a description of meter work training experience, materials and facilities that it has or uses to train or qualify meter workers.  In addition to the written application, the MWCO shall arrange a bond in favor of the State of California in the amount of $100,000, or provide the Energy Division with proof of a general liability insurance policy that meets the specifications described below:
If a bond is used, it shall be submitted with the written application.  The bond shall be for the benefit of anyone who may be damaged as a result of the MWCO’s actions in connection with the certification of Classes 4(A), 4(B) and 5 meter workers.  Should a complaint for damages arising from the MWCO’s actions be filed in civil court, and a claim is made against the bond, a copy of the complaint shall be served by registered or certified mail upon the Commission’s Executive Director.  The bond requirement will ensure that the MWCOs adhere to all applicable provisions governing the testing and certification of Classes 4(A), 4(B) and 5 meter workers.  Should an end-use customer suffer damages as a result of the MWCO’s actions, the bond will provide a source of compensation.

If the MWCO elects to provide proof of liability insurance, the insurance shall meet the following specifications: (1) the insurance policy shall be commercial general liability insurance with coverage that, at a minimum, is the same as what is provided for in the Insurance Services Office Commercial General Liability Coverage occurrence form; (2) the policy shall not be less than $1 million for each occurrence for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury, and if the coverage is subject to a general aggregate limit, the aggregate limit shall not be less than $2 million; (3) the policy shall include, as an additional insured, the UDCs and MSPs whose training programs and meter workers the MWCO is certifying; and (4) the liability insurance policy shall include a statement that thirty days’ written notice shall be provided to the Commission, the UDCs and the MSPs before the policy is canceled.  Proof of liability insurance will ensure that the MSP has sufficient insurance coverage to cover any claims that might be brought against the MWCO for metering-certification-related activities. 

MWCOs do not exist today, and it will take a period of time for such organizations to be ready to administer the qualification process.  Therefore, an interim MWCO process shall be established.  A small group will establish the interim MWCO process and will consist of one volunteer representative from each of the UDCs and permanently-certified MSPs.  This small volunteer group will be formed within 7 calendar days pursuant to this decision and will: 1) Finalize the test contents which will be used to test and certify the Classes 4(A), 4(B) and 5 meter workers; 2) Establish pass/fail criteria for the Classes 4(A), 4(B) and 5 meter workers testing; 3) Identify and assign an entity to administer this testing and certification; 4) Publish the information on how to apply for meter worker Classes 4(A), 4(B) and 5 testing.  

Within 90 days following this decision, these five tasks assigned must be completed and a brief report of what was implemented will be filed with the CPUC and posted on the PSWG web site.   

Appendix MI-2: Class 4(A), 4(B) and 5 Meter Workers Certification Tests

Part 1: Written Exam

The written test includes questions which are combination of multiple choices, description and problem solution.  Below is the summary list that can be developed into one or several specific questions for each item:

SAFETY:
•	Given a specific condition at a metering site, describe safety procedures that metering personnel need to perform.
•	Describe the conditions or procedures, if any, when opening the secondary of CT’s and PT’s.  Why?
•	Given customer’s operating load conditions and six voltage reads on both phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground during a field test of a meter, ask for the following:
a)	Provide preliminary diagnosis of the metering.
b)	If OK, describe what will happen if an accuracy test is conducted.
c)	If not OK, what troubleshooting steps & customer information are needed prior to leaving the site.
•	Describe safety procedures when disconnecting a meter from CT’s secondary while CT’s primary is carrying load or energized.
•	When performing work on or around the meter site, what dictates the safety protection equipment that must be used and when it should be used.

TECHNICAL METERING:
•	List the phase voltages to ground conductors of some specific services.
•	Provide a gear ratio of a typical residential meter given stamped register ratio and Kh.
•	Define Kh of a watt-hour meter. 
•	Describe the driving torque component in an induction meter.
•	Describe the phase shifting transformer component for reactive metering.
•	What are the functions, purpose and procedures for using a phase angle meter.
•	How to safely connect voltmeters, ammeters and wattmeters in electrical circuits.
•	Relationship between current and voltage in some specific meters at unity PF load.
•	Describe various aspects of the 3 wire network service.
•	Given a circuit diagram of a meter and service connection and load in amperes, provide one or more of the following types of values: the total load registered by the meter, the voltage drop across the potential coil, the form and number of elements of the meter, etc.
•	Using the given base values of Kh, current and voltage, calculate new Kh based on different current and voltage.
•	Calculate the light load accuracy or correction factor on a specific self-contained meter, given its Kh and disk revolutions in a specific time period.
•	Calculate the kW load and dial multiplier for a specific transformer-rated meter given its current transformer ratio, Kh and disk revolutions in a specific time period.
•	
Describe if a test result is right or wrong given specific test conditions and result (i.e., in a 2 element meter test, a rotating standard register 2 times the number of revolutions it should, and the meter is properly connected for the test with the potential coils in parallel and current coil in series).
•	Calculate disk revolutions given a demand reading on a specific interval and a Kh value.
•	Complete a meter jaw configuration for a specific meter and label expected terminal-to-ground voltage reads on each line terminal (jaw).  Will be given a blank circle representing meter base along with meter form, class, voltage, wires, phase and connection.
•	Understand detent, describe when it should and should not be used.
•	Given a specific meter diagram (connected to a socket with 4,5, or 8 jaws) answer questions on its metering performance and ask for explanations.
•	Given customer’s operating load condition and six voltage reads on both phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground during a field test of a meter, ask for the following:
d)	Provide preliminary diagnosis of the metering.
e)	If OK, describe what will happen if an accuracy test is conducted.
f)	If not OK, what troubleshooting steps & customer information are needed prior to leaving the site.
•	Given a specific meter and a service, question its metering accuracy on a certain portion of the service load and ask for why it is so (i.e. 3-wire single phase meter on a 3 wire network load: what is the error (if any) and why there is an error on 1) a single phase load, and 2) line to line load.)
•	Given a service (phase, wires, voltage and connection) and customer’s kW load demand and phase angle, calculate the load current and show the calculations.
•	Calculate power factors of element tests on a 3-wire 3-phase meter, given a meter Kh and disk revolutions in a certain time interval.
•	Given a picture of the transformer winding diagram, meter socket diagram and internal wiring between the meter and transformer, provide the meter information: class, volt(s), wire(s), phase(s).
•	Given a picture of a complete wiring diagram for a complicated metering installation which includes a service connection diagram, CT’s, 10-pole test switch and 13-jaw meter diagram; also given a specific meter, customer service main ampacity, color-coded wires and all detailed information on service (i.e. volt, wire, connection, phase, etc.); questions on the following: 1) CT’s primary/secondary rating, 2) billing constant, 3) which wires are connected to what (switch, transformers, hot legs, power legs, etc.), 4) phase to neutral voltage readings, 5) phase to phase voltage readings, 6) which wire(s) should be connected to ground, and 7) Describe if anything is wrong with the installation.
•	Given a specific service connection along with CT’s, a specific meter diagram, the option of either a 6-pole test switch or a 10-pole test switch, each of which has numbered and connected wires, complete the following: 1) select the test switch, 2) identify potential and current wires, and common wires for CT’s, 3) provide billing constant, and 4) identify ground wire(s).
•	Given an internal diagram of a single phase meter with the meter jaws numbered, perform a single phase test the meter, describe step-by-step how to place the current coils in series and potential coils in parallel, and accordingly label the input and output of each jumper placed in the circuit diagram (Assume that test switch is not needed and meter is not energized). 

Part 2: Practical Exam

The practical exam is prepared to include two parts: 1) the description of the metering work that a test candidate needs to hands-on perform, and 2) the check list of all necessary steps (including safety) that the test observer needs to record for scoring.  All necessary test equipment, tools, meters and associated devices will be provided to the candidate for performing meter testing.  Below is the sample questions on some metering work:  

•	Set up the wiring for the test standards and phantom load box for a field meter test.
•	Perform test on a specific meter on a 200 ampere meter panel that has a test bypass facility.
•	Perform meter removal, installation and test of specific CT rated meters.  Describe any abnormalities, if observed, and corrections to be applied.

Appendix MI - 3: MSP Registration Packet
(Revised) APPLICATION  FOR  

METER  SERVICE  AND INSTALLATION  CERTIFICATION

MSP No.  ______________________

Date Granted  ________________  

Worker Levels Incl.________________

***PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE***

1.	Name of Person or Entity:

 	____________________________________________________

2.	Current Business Address: 

____________________________________________________________________________________
Street Address

____________________________________________________________________________________
                         City                                                State                                             Zip Code

3.	Current Business Telephone Number:   ___________________________________________

4.	CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE: (attach a copy to this Application)
Name of the person or entity in which the 
General Electrical Contractor’s License is issued: 						

License #					_____	Expiration Date:  				

5.	BOND OR GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENT:  the Applicant shall arrange a bond in favor of the State of California in the amount of $100,000 or provide the Energy Division with a proof that the Applicant has general liability insurance meeting the specifications described in the CPUC Decision D98-05-044.  The bond or proof of insurance shall be submitted with this application.
6.	Please attach a detailed description of  all of the applicant’s electric meter installation, maintenance, repair and removal experience, including Meter Worker Classes as specified in the CPUC Decision [insert the Decision No.]

7.	Please attach a detailed description of how the Applicant acquires qualified workers in each class of meter work you intend to perform .  If the Applicant intends to self-certify its meter workers in Classes 1, 2 and/or 3, please submit the training program materials commensurate with the classes of meter work the Applicant intends to self-certify. 
8.	Please attach a detailed description of the educational, training and experience requirements (or programs) in electrical work and electrical safety that have been certified according the CPUC-approved certification process and that the applicant will implement to certify and require of its employees before they are allowed to install, maintain, repair, or remove electrical meters or metering devices.  However, these educational and training requirements (or programs) will not be required if the Applicant employs only meter workers who have already been certified according to the CPUC-approved meter worker qualification process.
9.	By submitting this Application, the Applicant shall comply with any and all of the CPUC-approved requirements for Meter Service Provider including meter worker qualification, meter installation, testing, calibration and maintenance work, applications of the approved ANSI Standards on electric meters or metering devices, CAL OSHA, and applicable laws, rules and regulations in California.  Failure to comply with these requirements shall be grounds for the CPUC to revoke the Applicant’s certification to conduct business in California. 

DECLARATION

I, (print name and title)   ____________________________________________________ declare
under the penalty of perjury that the above statements are true and correct. 

Dated this ____________day of __________________ 19______ at ____________________________
                       (day)                          (month)                (year)              (place of execution)

         Signature:__________________________________________________________

Note:  if this Application is verified outside California, the verification must be made by an affidavit sworn or affirmed before a notary public. 

Return this Application with required attachments to:

MSP Certification Unit
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA  94102

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS
CANNOT BE PROCESSED

        FOR CPUC USE ONLY

       Application Processed

By:    ________________________

Date:  ________________________