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 STATE PUBLIC 
 
 UTILITIES COMMISSION 
 
 OF 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 RULES 
 
 Establishing Standards of Service for Gas and 
 Electric Utilities. 
 
 Adopted by the Commission and Effective November 1, 1914.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 STATE PtS^ElC 
 
 UTILITIES COMMISSION 
 
 OF 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 RULES 
 
 Establishing Standards of Service for Gas and 
 F^lectric Utilities. 
 
 Adopted by the Commission and F^ffective November 1, 1914.
 
 Springi-ield. III. 
 
 ScHNEpp & Barnes, State Printers 
 
 1914
 
 J. RULES ESTABLISHING STANDARDS OF SERVICE 
 ^ FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN 
 
 3 THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 PRELIMINARY. 
 
 I. Statutory. 
 
 The Illinois Public Utilities Law, Act of 1913, contains the 
 followinf^ I »i'o visions : 
 
 § 10. Definitions. — The term "service," when used in this Act, 
 is used in its broadest and most inclusive sense, and includes not 
 only the use or accommodation afforded consumers or patnuis. but 
 also any prorhict <ir commodity furnished by any public utilit> and 
 the plant, e<iuii)ment, apparatus, appliances, property and fa<'ilities 
 employed by, or in connection with, any public utility in perform- 
 ing any service or in furnishiu}]: any product or commodity and 
 devoted to the purposes in which such public utility is engaired jind 
 to the use and accommodation of the public. 
 
 § 54. Stand.\rds of Service. — The commission shall have power 
 to ascertain, determine and fix for each kind of public utility suit- 
 able and convenient standanl commercial units of service, piotluct 
 or commodity, whieh units shall be lawful units for the purposes 
 of this Act; to ascertain, determine and fix adequate and service- 
 able standards for the measurement of (piantity. quality, pn-ssure, 
 initial voltage or other condition pertaining to the performinf of 
 its service or to the furnishing of its product or commodity by any 
 public utility, and to j^rescribe reasonable regulations for examin- 
 ing, measuring and testing such service, product or commodity, and 
 to establish reasonable rules, regulations, specifications and stand- 
 ►— ards to .secure the accuracy of all metei"s and appliances for exam- 
 — ining, measuring, or testing such service, product or commodity. 
 
 II. Authorization of Rules. 
 
 ^ In a'X'ordance with ihe >i,iiiiLiM_\ jn > i\ im' 'ii> m ^ ■> ■. .iii<i\.-, 
 
 oc the attached rules establishing standards for gas and electric 
 O ser\ ice have been prei)ared, ajjjintved by the cnmmissi<>'i and l)e- 
 conie efiFecti\e on N'ovember 1, 1914. 
 
 ^ III. Application of Rules. * 
 
 ^ These lilies shall appl>' to any public utility' defined as such 
 
 by ihe Illinois Publie Utilities Commission Law, which is now or 
 liert-aftei- n)ay be engaged in the production, sale or distribution 
 
 2 VCR
 
 of gas ov electricity and wliicli coDies uiidci- tlic jiiiisdiction of tlie 
 comtnissiuii. 
 
 IV. Saving Clause. 
 
 The aduption of these rules shall in nu way iireclude the com- 
 mission from altering or amending the same, in whole or iu part, 
 or from requiring any other oi- additional service, equipment, 
 facility or standard, either upon complaint or upon its own motion, 
 or upon the application of any utility: and, furthermore, tlu'se 
 rules shall iu uo way relieve any utility from any of its duties 
 under the laws of this State. 
 
 If any utility has been supplying or is under contract to sui)i)ly 
 a quality of service of greater value to the consumer than that 
 which these rules require, no reduction in such quality of service 
 shall be made by the utility before a determination by the commis- 
 sion of the proper rate to be charged the consumer for the lower 
 grade of service. Such a rate shall, in general, be based upon the 
 cost of furnishing the grade of service i-eipni-ed by these rules. 
 
 V. Definitions . 
 
 The word "utilitj^" used in these rules, shall be construed to 
 mean public utility. 
 
 The word ' ' commission, ' ' used in these rules, shall be construed 
 to mean the State Public Utilities Commission of Illinois. 
 
 The word "consumer," used in these rules, shall be construed 
 to mean any person, firm or corporation supplied by any utility 
 with gas or electricity.
 
 GENERAL SERVICE RULES. 
 
 Rule 1. Records and Reports. 
 
 All iv<M»rds required by these rules shall be preserved for at 
 least t hrte > ears after they are made. Such records shall be kept 
 withiu thi' State, at an office or offices of the utility located in the 
 territory served by it. and shall be open for exaiiiinatiou by the 
 commission or its representative. Each utility shall notify the 
 commission <»f the office or offices at which the various cla.sses of 
 records ar*^- kept and shall file with the commission such reports as 
 the commission may from time to time require. 
 
 Rule 2, Testing Facilities. 
 
 til: Each ulilil\ .shall, unless specifically excused by the com- 
 mission, provide such laboratory, meter-test injr shop and other 
 equipment and facilities as may be necessary t(» nuike the tests 
 required by these rules or other orders of the eonimi.ssion. The 
 ap])aratus and equipment so provided shall be at all times avail- 
 able for the inspectittn or^y^v of any member or aulh'>ri/.cd repre- 
 sentative of tKe commissionr 
 
 (b) Each utility shall make such tests as are j)rescribed under 
 these rules with such frequency and in such manner and at such 
 places as may be approved by the commission. 
 
 Rule 3. Bequest Tests. 
 
 Each utility furnishing metered service shall make a test of 
 the accuracy of any meter, u|)on written request l»y a consumer: 
 Provided, first, that the meter in question has not been tested bv 
 the utility or by the eommissi(»n within six months previous to such 
 re<juest; aiid second, that the consumer will a^'ree to accept the 
 result of the test nmde by the utility as determining the basis for 
 settling the difference claimed. No charge shall be made to the 
 consumer for any such test. A report, giving the result of every 
 such te.st, shall l>e made to the consuniei-. 
 
 Rule 4. Adjustment of Bills for Meter Error. 
 
 If on any test of a service meter, either by the utility or by 
 the commission, such meter shall be found to have a percentage of 
 error greater than that allowed in Rule 11 (c) for gas meters, or 
 Rule 22 (e) for watt-hour meters, the following provisions for the 
 adjustment of bills .shall be observed : 
 
 (a) Fast Meters. — If the meter is faster than allowable, the 
 utility shall refund to the consumer a percentage of the amount 
 of his bills for the six months jtrevious to the test or for the time 
 the meter was installed, not exceeding six months, corresponding 
 to the percentage of error of the meter. No part of a minimum, 
 service or demand charge need be refunded. 
 
 (b) Slow Meters. — It the meter is found not to register or to 
 run slow, the utility may render a bill to the consumer for the
 
 6 
 
 estimated consumption during the preceding six months, not cov- 
 ered by bills previously rendered, but such action shall be taken 
 only in cases of substantial imi)ortanfe where the utility is not at 
 fault for allowinsf the incorrect meter to be in service. 
 
 Rule 5. Records of Tests and of Meters. 
 
 (aj Service Test Record. — A complete record of the quality 
 and condition of service shall be kept by each utility. The record 
 so kept shall contain complete information concernintr each test, 
 including the date and hour when and the place where the test 
 was made, the name of the inspector conducting the test, the result 
 of the test and such other information as may be required by these 
 rules, or as the commission may from time to time direct, or as the 
 utility making the test may deem desirable. 
 
 (b) Meter Test Record. — Whenever any service meter is 
 tested, the original test record shall be preserved containing the 
 information necessary for identifying the meter, the reason for 
 making the test, the reading of the meter upon removal from 
 service and the result of the test, together with all data taken at 
 the time of the test in sufficiently complete form to permit the con- 
 venient cheeking of the methods employed and the calculations. 
 
 (c) Meter Record. — A record shall also be kept, numerically 
 arranged, giving for each meter owned or used by any utility, the 
 date of purchase, its identification, and the repairs and tests to 
 which it has been subjected, with dates and general results of all 
 tests. 
 
 (d) Tabulation of Meter Tests. — Monthly and annual tabula- 
 tions of the results of all meter tests shall be made, arranged 
 according to types of meters and intervals of test. 
 
 Rule 6. Meter Readings on Bills. 
 
 Bills rendered periodically to consumers for metered service 
 shall show the readings of the meter at the beginning and end of 
 the period for which the bill is rendered, the number and kinds of 
 units of service supplied, the dates of the meter readings and the 
 price per unit of service. On all bills which are computed on any 
 other basis than a definite charge per unit of service, the other 
 factors used in computing the bill shall be clearly stated so that 
 the amount may be readily computed from the information appear- 
 ing upon the bill. 
 
 Rule 7. Complaints. 
 
 Each utility shall make a Avritten acknowledgment to consum- 
 ers of the receipt of all complaints: shall make a full and prompt 
 investigation of all such complaints, and shall keep a record which 
 shall show the name and address of the complainant, the date and 
 nature of the complaint, and the adjustment or disposal thereof. 
 
 Rule 8. Interruptions of Service. 
 
 Each utility shall inakc all reasonable effoi-ts t(t diiMijiate in- 
 terruptions of service and when such interru]~)tious occur shall
 
 eiuieuvor to re-establish service with the shortest possil.h- dehiv . 
 Wlieuever the service is interrupted for the purpose of wcrkin^ on 
 the distril)uti(»u svstem or the station equipment, this sliall l>e done 
 at a time which will cause the least inconvenience to consumers and 
 those most seriously affected by such interruption shall, it possilile. 
 be notitled in advance.
 
 SPECIAL GAS SERVICE RULES. 
 
 Rule 9. Definition of a Cubic Foot of Gas. 
 
 For testing purposes, a cubic foot of gas shall be taken t<; be 
 the amount of gas in a volume of one cubic foot when saturated 
 with water vapor, at sixty degrees Fahrenheit, and at a pressure 
 of thirty inches of mercury. 
 
 For purpose of measurement to a consumer, a cubic toot oi 
 gas shall be the amount of gas in a volume of one cubic foot under 
 the conditions existing in such consumer's meter as and where 
 installed ; provided consumer's meter shall not be set so close 
 to any source of artificial heat as to subject them to a temperature 
 exceeding seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. 
 
 Rule 10. Meter Testing Equipment. 
 
 Each utility furnishing metered gas service shall own an 
 approved meter prover of not less than five cubic feet capacity, and 
 shall maintain the same in proper adjustment to register the accu- 
 racy of the meters to within one-half per cent (><7f''. The meter 
 prover shall be so placed as to be shielded from excessive tempera- 
 ture variations and shall be equipped with suitable thermometers 
 and other necessary accessories. 
 
 The accuracy of all pro vers and methods of operating same 
 may be established from time to time by a representative of the 
 commission. All alterations, accidents or repairs which might 
 affect the accuracy of a prover or the method of operating same 
 shall be promptly reported in writing to the commission. 
 
 Rule 11. Gas Meter Accuracy. 
 
 (a) Method of Testing. — All tests to determine the accuracy 
 of registration of a gas service meter shall be made Avith a suitable 
 meter prover. At least two test runs shall be made <>n each meter, 
 the results of which shall aeree with each other Avithin one-half 
 per cent (j^^f). 
 
 (b) Installation Test. — Every gas service meter, whether 
 new, repaired, or removed from service for any cause, when in- 
 stalled for the use of any consumer shall be in good order and shall 
 have been adjusted to be not more than one per cent (1%) in error 
 when passing gas at six (6) cubic feet per hour per rated light 
 capacity. Each such meter shall be marked by the utility testing 
 it with the date of the last test made on that meter. 
 
 (c) Allowable Error. — Whenever a meter is tested to deter- 
 mine the accuracy with which it has been registering in service, it 
 may be considered as correct if found not more than two per cent 
 (2%) in eiTor, and no adjustment of charges sliall be entailed 
 unless the error is greater than this amount. 
 
 (d) Prepayment Meters. — No utility shall use prepayment 
 meters geared or set so as to cause a rate or amount higher than
 
 9 
 
 woulil be paitl if a stau«lai-(l nu'ter wa.s in use, miU'Ss the eonstMit of 
 I Ik* coininissiou is lii'st <»l>tained iu wi-itin<r. 
 
 Rule 12. Periodic Tests of Gas Meters. 
 
 No gas service meter hereafter installed shall be alli.wcd to 
 remain in service more than five years from the time when last 
 testecl without bi*in<r re-tested, as specified iu Ixwle 10, and if neces- 
 sary readjusted to be correct within (tne ])er cent ( 1 '" i iK-torc 
 being set for use. 
 
 Ihirinj^ each i)eriud of twelve months after these rules take 
 effect, until all meters now in service shall have been tested, each 
 gas utilit.v shall remove and test not less than twenty i>er cent of 
 all meters now in service, those longest in service beint' remnved 
 first. 
 
 Rule 13. Referee Tests. 
 
 L'pou written api)licatiou to the commission by a consumer a 
 test will be nuide of said consumer's meter, as soon as practicable, 
 by an inspector employed by the commission. The appli'-ation for 
 such test shall be accompanied by a remittance of the amnunt fixed 
 below as the fee for such test. If the meter is found t*> be more 
 than two per cent (v% ) fast, this fee shall be paid to the consumer 
 by the utility. 
 
 The fees for referee meter tests are: 
 
 Not exceeding ten lights capacity, each -t-.W 
 
 Exceeding ten lights, but not exceeding forty- 
 five liglils capacity, each 4.(X) 
 
 Exceedinjr f<>ity-flve litrhts capacity, each 8.(X) 
 
 This rule shall not interfere with the practice of a utility in 
 its tests of gas .service meters, except that in the event of a written 
 apj>lication to the commi.ssion by a consumer for a referee test the 
 utility shall not remove or interfere with said meter Avithout the 
 consent previously given in writintr of the consumer. 
 
 Rule 14. Calorimeter Equipment. 
 
 Each utilit.N whose tras output exceeds twent\ million cid>ic feet 
 per year shall ('<|uip itself with a complete standard calorimeter 
 outfit of a type approved by the commission and shall test ti'.c 
 heating val.ue of gas supplied, using methods of test in acc<»rdance 
 with the best practice. The heating value of manufactured gas 
 shall be determined on at least three days eacli week and of natural 
 gas at least three times a year. 
 
 Rule 15. Heating Value. 
 
 Each utilit.N furnishing manufactured gas shall supply gas 
 which at any point at least one mile from the plant, and tested in 
 the place where it is consumed, shall have a monthly average total 
 heating value of not less than 5G.") Briti.sh thermal units i)er cubic 
 foot, and at no time shall the total heating value of the gas at such 
 point be le.ss than 530 British thermal units per cuhic foot. 
 
 To arrive at the monthly average total heating value, the re- 
 sults of all tests made on anv one dav shall be averagfed and the
 
 10 
 
 average of all such daily averages shall be taken as the monthly 
 average. 
 
 Provided, further, that in ease gas is carried by mains at five 
 pounds pressure or over per square inch, there shall be an allow- 
 ance in the service of such high pressure district of 35 British ther 
 mal units per cubic foot in the monthly average, and the minimum 
 heating value shall not fall below 520 British thermal units per 
 cubic foot. No utility shall lower its present standard heating 
 value without first obtaining in writing the consent of the commis- 
 sion. 
 
 Rule 16. Purity of Gas. 
 
 (a) Hydrodgen Sulphide. — Manufactured gas distributed in 
 this State shall not contain more than one grain of hydrogen sul- 
 phide per hundred cubic feet. Any test approved by the commission 
 may be used for the determination of hydrogen sulphide. This 
 puritj^ requirement will be considered as satisfied if a strip of white 
 filter paper, recently moistened Avith a solution of 100 grains of 
 lead acetate in 100 cubic centimeters of water, be exposed to the 
 gas for one and one-half minutes in an apparatus previously purged 
 through which the gas is floAving at the rate of approximately tive 
 cubic feet per hour, the gas not impinging directly from a jet upon 
 the test paper, and after this exposure the test paper be found not 
 distinctly darker than a second paper freshly moistened with the 
 solution and not exposed to the gas. Test papers shall be kept for 
 one year by a safe and secure method, and shall be available to the 
 commission if and when desired in that period. 
 
 (h) Total Sulphur. — Manufactured gas distributed in this 
 State shall not contain more than thirty grains of total sulphur per 
 hundred cubic feet. 
 
 (c) Tests of Gas Purity. — Each utility supplying manufac- 
 tured gas shall, for the purposes of record, daily test the gas leav- 
 ing its holders for the presence of hydrogen sulphide in the manner 
 specified. 
 
 Each utility supplying manufactured gas Avhose sales exceed 
 fifty million cubic feet of gas per year shall provide and maintain 
 such approved apparatus and facilities as are necessa.r.y for the 
 determination of total sulphur; and each such utility shall at least 
 once a week determine and put on record the amount of total sul- 
 I)hur in the gas distributed by it. 
 
 Rule 17. Pressure of Gas. 
 
 ( aj I'kessuke \'ariatiox. — The pressure of gas supplied by any 
 utility, as measured at the outlet of any consumer's meter, shall 
 not be less than two inches nor more than eight inches of water 
 pressure except where greater pressure is specified and provided 
 for in the contract between the utility and the consumer, and pro- 
 vided there be no unfair and unreasonable discrimination or prefer- 
 ences. Within said limits the daily variation of pressure at the 
 outlet of any one meter on the system shall never be greater than 
 one hundred per cent of the minimum pressure at that outlet, pro- 
 vided that variations in pressure entirely beyond the control of 
 the ulilitv shall not be considered as a violation of this rule.
 
 11 
 
 (b) Pressure Slrvevs. — Each gas utility shall provide itself 
 with oue or more portable graphic recording pressure gauges aii<i 
 shall make frequent measurements of the gas pressure and of th'^ 
 pressnn' vjiri.ition thi-ouL'hout the system. 
 
 Rule 18. Record of Interruptions. 
 
 Each utility shall keep a record of all interruptions to service 
 '>n its entire system ^r on any portion thereof, which record >hn]\ 
 contain the time, cause if known, extent and duration of the in- 
 terruption. 
 
 Rule 19. Extension of Mains. 
 
 {HI i>£i-iMnuNs. — lor the purpose of this rule, a high pres- 
 sure system shall be taken to mean one in which the gas is carried 
 at a pressure of two pounds or over per square inch to the consum- 
 er's premises where a service gON'ernor is installed to obtain a 
 reduced pressure on such f»remis«*s. A low pressure system shiiil 
 mean <i system in which the crmsumer's service is connoct'-d directly 
 to a Miuin cjirrying less than two pounds per square ineh watei- 
 pressure. 
 
 (b) F"ree Kxte.xsidxs. — Each utility shall up«:)n written request 
 for service by a prospective consumer, or a group of prospective 
 consumers located in the same neighborhood, make free of charge 
 a street main extension necessary to give service, provided that 
 the leuL'th of the entire extension is not greater than that obtaiued 
 by allowinir 100 feet per consum<'i- for a low pressure .system and 
 200 feet ]H'V consumer for a high pressure system. 
 
 (c> Extensions Above Free Limit. — If the main extension 
 requireil in order to furni.sh service at any point within the cor- 
 porate limits of any city or village, or for any adjacent suburb of 
 a city or village, is greater than the free extension specified above, 
 such an extension shall be made under the following conditions: 
 The utility may require a deposit of the cost <»f the extension above 
 the free limit and shall, in such a ea.se, refund an amount t^pial to 
 the cost of the free main extension for each adtlitional consumer 
 whose service shall be taken off <»f the entire extension within a 
 period of t»*n years from the making of such an extension, but at 
 no time shall the rebate made exceed the original deposit. If the 
 extension is of such length and the prospective business which may 
 be developed by it is so meager as to make it doubtful whether 
 the business from the extension would ever pay a fair return on 
 the investment, the facts shall be reported to the commission for 
 investigation and determination as to the reasonableness of .such 
 extension. 
 
 This lule shall not be eonstrued as prohibiting any utility from 
 making free extensions of lengths greater than above specified, or 
 from providing a method of return of de|)Osits for extensions more 
 favorable to c«)nsumers. so long as no di.scrimination is practiced 
 between eonsumers whose service requirements are similar. 
 
 (d) Contr.\ct For Service. — l^tilities will not be required to 
 make street main extensions as deseri])ed in this rule imless those 
 served by such extensions shall contract to use the service for at 
 least one vear.
 
 13 
 
 SPECIAL ELECTRIC SERVICE RULES. 
 
 Rule 20. Meter Testing Equipment. 
 
 (a) Working Standards. — Each utility furnishing metered 
 electric service shall provide for and have available, suitable aud 
 adequate facilities for testing its service watt-hour meters. These 
 facilities shall be satisfactory to and approved by the commission 
 and shall, in general, include a test bench fitted with the necessary 
 apparatus and such working standards as are needed. Such work- 
 ing standards will consist of portable indicating instruments and 
 watt-hour meters known as "rotating standards." \\'orking stand- 
 ards shall be calibrated periodically by reference to secondary 
 standards of known accuracy and shall either be maintained accu- 
 rate to within one-half per cent (j^%) or the proper correction be 
 applied to their readings. 
 
 (b) Secondary Standards. — Secondary standards of some 
 approved type shall be owned and maintained by each utility hav- 
 ing more than one thousand meters in service. Utilities not requii'ed 
 to possess such secondary standards shall have their working stand- 
 ards tested and calibrated in any properly equipped labi oratory of 
 recognized standing. 
 
 (c) Check Meters.— Utilities not required to possess secondary 
 standards shall make the following provision for checking their 
 rotating standards: For each kind (alternating or continuous cur- 
 rent) of rotating standard a check meter of suitable type and 
 capacity shall be provided and the rotating standards shall l)e 
 checked thereby at least once a week while in service. Such cheek 
 meter may be of the service type and shall be mounted permanently 
 on the test bench. These meters shall be adjusted and .sealed by 
 an inspector of the commission and shall be considered the refer- 
 ence standard for the utility. If this cheek shoAvs the standard to 
 be in error, it shall be calibrated in some laboratory of recognized 
 standing. 
 
 (d) Calibration Cards. — Each working or secondary standard 
 shall be at all times aecom[)anied by a certificate, signed by the 
 proper authority, giving the dat<^ it was last nnlibrjitod ;nid tho 
 corrections to be applied. 
 
 Rule 21. Meters — Method of Determining Average Error. 
 
 'I'he average error of a service watt-honr meter sliall be deter- 
 mined as follows: The error at light load — here defined as apjiroxi- 
 mately ten per cent (10%) of the rated capacity of the meter — shall 
 be determined ])y taking the average of at least two errors, deter- 
 mined from as many separate tests on the same light load, which 
 errors must agree within one-half per cent (^%). The test runs 
 .shall be at least thirty seconds long. 
 
 In the same manner the error at heavy load — here defined as a 
 load of a])pi'oximately seventy-five per cent (75%) of the rated 
 capacity of the meter — shall be determined.
 
 13 
 
 The average error of the meter shall then be determined by 
 taking the average of the error at light load and the error at heavy 
 load, proper account being taken of the sign of these two ci-rors: 
 Provided, that where tiie consumer's connected load does not equal 
 seventy-five per cent (75%) of the rated capacity of the metei-. the 
 full connected load may be considered as heavy load for the |)ur- 
 pose of test. 
 
 Rule 22. Meter Accuracy. 
 
 (a) Creeping. — No watt-hour meter which registers on "no 
 load" when the applied voltage is less than one hundred and ten 
 per cent (110%) of standard service voltage shall be placed in ser- 
 vice or allowed to remain in service. 
 
 (b) Inspection and Test Before Installation. — No watt-hour 
 meter shall be placed in service which is in any way mechanically 
 defective or which has inct)rrect constants or which has not hem 
 tested for accuracy of measurement an<l adjusted, if necessary, to 
 mfH't these requirements: 
 
 Average error not over 2 % . 
 Error at heavy load not over 1%. 
 Error at light load not over 4%. 
 
 (c) Test for Correct Lagging. — Alternating current service 
 watt-hour meters, which are to be used on circuits sujjplying in- 
 ductive load shall also be tested before installation at one hundred 
 per cent (100%) of rated current at fifty per cent (50'r ) lagging 
 power factor and, if necessary, adjusted s(» that the error will not 
 be more than two per cent (2%). 
 
 (d) Adjustment After Test. — Whenever a test made by the 
 utility or by the commission on a service watt-hour meter connected 
 in its permanent position in place of service shows that the average 
 error is greater than that specified above, the meter shall be ad- 
 justed to bring the average error within the specified limits. 
 
 (e) Allowari.i: Error. — .\ service watt-hour meter having an 
 average error of not more than four per cent (4%) may be consid- 
 ered as correct .-ind nii .•KliuNtnicnt I if cli.-irL'r'^ xlirill lit- tnt;ii1fil 1)^ 
 such an error 
 
 Rule 23. Meters — Installation Tests. 
 
 (a) Each watl-li<»ur meter shall be cheeked for ctnTeet con- 
 nection, proper moehanieal condition, suitability of location and 
 accuracy of measurement in its permanent position in jilaee of ser- 
 vice within sixty days after installation. 
 
 (b) Meters operating cm inductive circuits shall be tested on the 
 connected load under conditi<ms approximatincr as nearlx' as may 
 be to heavy and light loads, as defined in Rule 21. and shall be 
 adjnsted. if necessary, so that the average erroi* will not be nnu-e 
 than two per cent (2^', V. 
 
 (c) Meters installed with instrument transformers or shunts 
 must be tested jointly with the transformers or shunts: otherwise 
 the ratio of transfoi-mation of the transformers or the ealilu'ation 
 of the shiuils must be determined at least once everv five vears.
 
 u 
 
 Rule 24. Meters — Periodic Tests. 
 
 Each watt-liuur niL'ter .shall be tested aecordiug to the loUow- 
 ing schetlule while couueeted in its periuaueut position iu place of 
 service : 
 
 r (n) Two and three-wire cominutating type and mercury tyi)e 
 meters, up to aud including fift^' (50) amperes rated capacity of 
 meter elt'incut, shall be tested at lea.st once every eighteen (18 > 
 HKniths. 
 
 u {b I 'i\\(t and three-wire commutatiug type and iiieieui> i,\p^* 
 meters of over tifty (50) amperes rated capacity of meter element, 
 shall be tested at least once every twelve (12) mouths. 
 
 "^. (c; Two and three-wire single phase induction type meters, 
 up to and including tweuty-five (25) amperes rated capacity of 
 meter elrnicMt. slndl be t(^st(-(] rit least once evei-y thirt> ''30; 
 months. 
 
 1/ (d) Two and three-wire single phase induction type meters 
 of over twenty-five (25) amperes rated capacity' of meter element, 
 shall be tested at least once every tAventy-four (24) mouths. 
 
 .^ (e) Self-contained polyphase meters, up to and including 
 fifty (50) kw. rated capacity, shall be tested at least once every 
 eijyhteeu (18) months. 
 
 '" (f) Self-contained polyphase meters of over fifty (50) kw. 
 rated eapaeily shall be tested at least once every twelve (12) 
 months. 
 
 ,' (g) Polyphase meters, connected through current transform- 
 ers or current and potential transformers, to circuits up to and 
 including tifty (50) kw. rated capacity, shall be tested at least once 
 every twentj'-four (24) months. 
 
 (h) Polyphase meters, connected through current iransfuiin 
 ers, or current and potential transformers, to circuits of over fifty 
 (50) kw. rated capacity, shall be tested at least once every eighteen 
 (18) months. 
 
 Rule 25. Referee Test. 
 
 Any service watt-hour meter Avill be tested by an inspector 
 employed by the commission upon written application by the con- 
 sumer. For sncli a test a fee shall be forwarded to the eommissiou 
 by the consumei- when making application, which fee shall be 
 }-efunded to tlie consumer by the utility if tlie meter be found more 
 tlian four per cent (4%) fast, the average error in measurement 
 being calculated as specified in Rule 21. 
 
 The schedule of fees for i-eferee 1<'sls ol' watt-houi- meters is 
 as follows : 
 
 (a) For continuous current and single phase nu'ters oper- 
 ating on 600 volts or less, up to antl inclmiing 
 twenty-five (.25) amperes rated capacity of the 
 
 meter element, each ^2.00 
 
 (h) For each additional fifty (50) amperes or fraction 
 
 thereof 50
 
 (c) For single phase meters alxnt- (iOO volts, aud for poly- 
 phase meters, with or without instrmnent trans- 
 formers, up to and includinj^ twenty-five ( 25 ) kw. 
 rated capacity of the circuit S3.fX) 
 
 ( d; I'or each additional twenty-five {25) kw. rated 
 
 eaj)aeity, or tVa('ti«»n thereof 3.0U 
 
 Rule 26. Voltage Variation. 
 
 Each utility supplying electrical energy from a constant poten- 
 tial system shall adopt a standard service voltage for each locality 
 suj»j»lied from such .system, the snitahility and adecjuacy of which 
 volta«:e may he determined at any time by the commission, and 
 every rea.sonahle effort shall be made by the use of proper e<|uip- 
 ment and operation to maintain such voltage practically constant 
 at all times during w hich service is supplied. For service rendereii 
 under a lighting contract, or primarily for lighting purposes, the 
 variations of voltaj^e as measured at each consumers cutout shall 
 not exceed five per cent (5%), plus or minus, of the. standard ser- 
 vice voltage for that locality, for a hmger period than one minute 
 at each instance, at any time during' which service is supplied. For 
 service rendered undei- a power eontract, or primarily for power 
 pur])oses, voltage \ariations as measured at the service terminal^ 
 shall not exceed ten per cent flO'; ), phis or minus, of the standard 
 service voltage for that locality, fni- a li.nLrer porind tlufu <in<' miuulr 
 at each instance. 
 
 V^ariations of voltage in excess ol those sprtilu'd al)o\i-, caused 
 by the operations of the consumer in violation of his contract or 
 the rules <»f the utility, or from causes beyond the control of th«- 
 utility, shall not be considered a violation < f this rule. 
 
 Rule 27. Voltage Surveys and Records. 
 
 Each utility shall provide itself with one or more portable indi- 
 cating voltmeters, and each utility serving more than 2.^0 consip 
 shall have one or more portable graphic recording voltmeters, i; 
 instruments to be of an api)roved type and havint; a rauL'i' suilc«l 
 to the voltage .supplied. Each utility shall make a sutTieient number 
 of voltage surv»*ys to indicate the .service furnished from each trans- 
 f«»rmer and feeder and to satisfy the commission of its comi)liancc 
 with the voltage requirements, and those having gra|ihic volt- 
 meters shall kee|> at least one of these instruments in continuous 
 service at the plant, office or some consumer's premises. 
 
 Rule 28. Standard Frequency. 
 
 Each utility supplying alternating current shall adopt a stand- 
 ard frequency, the suitability of which may be determined by the 
 commission, and shall maintain this frequency within five per cent 
 (5%), plus or minus, of standard at all times during which service 
 is supplied: Provided, liowevcr. that momentarv variation> of fre- 
 quency of more than five per cent (.5^P. which are clearl> due to 
 no lack of proper equipment or reasonable care on the part of the 
 utility, shall not be considered a violation of this rule.
 
 16 
 
 Rule 29. Station Records. 
 
 Eaeli utility shall keep a station record, which shall show : The 
 time of starting and shutting down all generating units ; the time 
 of starting and disconnecting all street lighting circuits; the read- 
 ings of such instruments at each generating station and at such 
 intervals as are necessary to determine the character of the load; 
 all interruptions to service affecting the busbars or distribution 
 system, Avith the time, duration, extent and the cause, when known, 
 of the interruption. An interruption is here defined, for the pur- 
 pose of record only, as the interval of time during which the voltage 
 falls below fifty per cent (50%) of the standard voltage. 
 
 Rule 30. Grounding of Secondaries. 
 
 The rules contained in the current edition of the National 
 Electrical Code regarding the grounding of secondaries shall be 
 observed in all new construction. Each utility shall adopt a plan 
 whereby existing construction shall be made to conform to the 
 rules as expeditiously as possible. 
 
 Rule 31. Extension of Lines. 
 
 (a) Free Extensions. — Each utility shall upon written request 
 for service by a prospective consumer, or a group of prospective 
 consumers located in the same neighborhood, make free of charge 
 a line extension necessary to give service and furnish free service 
 connection ; provided, that such line extension does not require more 
 than twice as many poles at standard spacing as there are individual 
 api>licants. 
 
 (b) Extensions Above Free Limit. — If the line extension 
 required in order to furnish service at any point within the 
 corporate limits of any city or village, or for any adjacent suburb 
 of a city or village, is greater than the free extension specified 
 above, such an extension shall be made under the following condi- 
 tions: The utility may require a deposit of the cost of the exten- 
 sion above the free limit and shall, in such a case, refund an amount 
 equal to the cost of the free main extension for each additional 
 consumer whose service shall be taken off of the entire extension 
 within a period of ten years from the making of such an extension, 
 but at no time shall the rebate made exceed the original deposit. 
 If the extension is of such length and the prospective business Avhich 
 may be developed by it is so meager as to make it doubtful Avhether 
 the business from the extension would ever pay a fair return on 
 the investment, the facts shall be reported to the commission for 
 investigation and determination as to the I'easonableness of such 
 extension. 
 
 This rule shall not be construed as prohibiting any utility from 
 making free extensions of lengths greater than above specified, or 
 from providing a method of return of deposits for extensions more 
 favorable to consumers, so long as no discrimination is practiced 
 betAveen consumers Avhose service requirements are similar. 
 
 (c) Contract for Service. — Utilities will not be required to
 
 17 
 
 make line extensions us described in this rule unless those to be 
 served by such extensions shall contract to use the service for at 
 least one year. 
 
 By order of the Commission, this 24th day of September, 1914. 
 Dated at Springfield. Illinois. 
 
 R. V. Prather, 
 
 fSE.^L.l Acthii^ Srcrctarx

 
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