Electrical Safety Authority Reports 5,109 Sensus 3.2 with Remote Disconnect Meters Removed from Service in Ontario

Exceptional effort undertaken by electrical utilities to eliminate potential safety risk

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 2, 2015 /CNW/ - The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) reports that Ontario's Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) have removed from service 5,109 iConA™ Generation 3.2 remote disconnect meters manufactured by Sensus as of the ESA-ordered deadline of March 31, 2015.    

This achievement required exceptional effort by the LDCs who responded with urgency to ESA's discovery of a potential safety risk and issuance of the removal order on January 22, 2015.  There is only one Sensus 3.2 with remote disconnect meter still in service in Ontario. Bluewater Power, which has already removed from service 3,492 meters, is scheduled to complete it in April when the property owner is able to provide access to the meter's indoor location.

"Even though the probability of a serious safety event was low, The Electrical Safety Authority took the prudent, preventative step to order the Sensus 3.2 with remote disconnect meters removed from service and Ontario's electrical utilities took immediate action to replace them in short order," said David Collie, President and CEO, The Electrical Safety Authority.  "Bluewater Power has made exceptional efforts to remove meters and The Electrical Safety Authority is satisfied that the remaining meter is an extraordinary case." 

On January 22, 2015, ESA ordered the Sensus 3.2 with remote disconnect meter be removed from service in Ontario.  At that time, there were 5,110 of the meters reported in use by 13 Ontario LDCs.  Although there had been no serious safety events reported in Ontario, ESA had concluded that the Sensus 3.2 with remote disconnect model was susceptible to a specific type of failure: arcing between components if water/moisture and other contaminants got into the meter.

When ESA learned of safety events in Saskatchewan involving meters it undertook a due diligence review to determine if there were any implications for Ontario.  In accordance with its powers and responsibilities under the Electricity Act and Ontario Regulation 22/04 Electrical Distribution Safety, ESA issued a Director's Order to the LDCs for the Sensus 3.2 with remote disconnect meter to be removed and discontinued from future use in the province.

About the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)

The Electrical Safety Authority's (ESA) role is to enhance public electrical safety in Ontario. As an administrative authority acting on behalf of the Government of Ontario, ESA is responsible for administering specific regulations related to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, the licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians, electricity distribution system safety, and electrical product safety. ESA works extensively with stakeholders throughout the province on education, training and promotion to foster electrical safety. 

More information on the Electrical Safety Authority can be found at www.esasafe.com, through Twitter @homeandsafety and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ElectricalSafetyAuthority.

SOURCE Electrical Safety Authority

Electrical Safety Authority Media Relations, 905-712-7819 or [email protected]