UNBS cries foul over power meters
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) are in a bitter row over the interpretation of the law governing meter testing.
By John Eremu
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) are in a bitter row over the interpretation of the law governing meter testing.
UNBS wants to test all UEDCL meters before installation at sh17,000 per meter. But the power company says this is not necessary. The two bodies are arguing over section 2.5 of the Electricity (Primary Grid Code) Regulations 2003.
The section states that: “All installations, equipment, plant or apparatus shall comply with UNBS codes of practice or in their absence the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers New York or British and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Switzerland.â€
UNBS argues that the new law requires that all meters be gauged and tested using the UNBS bench marks before installation to customers, allegations the power distribution company has disputed.
UNBS boss Dr. Terry Kahuma, said they could not authenticate the accuracy of the latest consignment of 13,000 meters now being installed because UEDCL refused to have them approved by UNBS.
The power company instead gauged the meters at its workshop at Lugogo.
“We communicated to UEDCL and even sent them quotations.
However, for one reason or another, UEDCL refused to bring the meters here. So UNBS cannot authoritatively pronounce itself on the integrity of those meters,†Kahuma said.
However, UEDCL officials denied that the law required their meters to be tested by UNBS.
“What we know is that UNBS is supposed to come and test our bench testing equipment at Lugogo and not the meters. They are a regulatory authority and above the level of testing the meters,†Robert Kisubi, a UEDCL official said.
But Kahuma insisted all the meters should have been tested by UNBS.
“Even if they have done the gauging themselves, all those meters should have come here for testing and approval in order to protect consumers.
“It is unfair to the consumers for the power supplier to do the metering at the same time. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation has already complied with the law and all their meters come here before they are installed,†Kahuma said.
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) are in a bitter row over the interpretation of the law governing meter testing.
UNBS wants to test all UEDCL meters before installation at sh17,000 per meter. But the power company says this is not necessary. The two bodies are arguing over section 2.5 of the Electricity (Primary Grid Code) Regulations 2003.
The section states that: “All installations, equipment, plant or apparatus shall comply with UNBS codes of practice or in their absence the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers New York or British and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Switzerland.â€
UNBS argues that the new law requires that all meters be gauged and tested using the UNBS bench marks before installation to customers, allegations the power distribution company has disputed.
UNBS boss Dr. Terry Kahuma, said they could not authenticate the accuracy of the latest consignment of 13,000 meters now being installed because UEDCL refused to have them approved by UNBS.
The power company instead gauged the meters at its workshop at Lugogo.
“We communicated to UEDCL and even sent them quotations.
However, for one reason or another, UEDCL refused to bring the meters here. So UNBS cannot authoritatively pronounce itself on the integrity of those meters,†Kahuma said.
However, UEDCL officials denied that the law required their meters to be tested by UNBS.
“What we know is that UNBS is supposed to come and test our bench testing equipment at Lugogo and not the meters. They are a regulatory authority and above the level of testing the meters,†Robert Kisubi, a UEDCL official said.
But Kahuma insisted all the meters should have been tested by UNBS.
“Even if they have done the gauging themselves, all those meters should have come here for testing and approval in order to protect consumers.
“It is unfair to the consumers for the power supplier to do the metering at the same time. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation has already complied with the law and all their meters come here before they are installed,†Kahuma said.