Electrical Metering (EM)

Self Study Unit 1

This course explores the components of an electric power system from production to consumption. It covers the fundamental principles of electricity (voltage, current, power, resistance, impedance) and introduces trigonometry and basic vectors that are used in calculating AC voltages and currents. Participants learn the basic math skills needed to perform calculations used in the industry. This course uses a TI-30 calculator and the text shows actual calculator strokes to work example problems. There are five chapter tests to complete for this unit. Students will be required to pass each chapter test with a 70 or above in order to continue to the next chapter.

Self Study Unit 2

Building on Unit 1, the student is taken through the principals of circuit calculations that include inductors and capacitors. It starts with single-phase circuits and then moves into three-phase circuit analysis. The material also covers items such as the relationships of voltages in currents across different transformer configurations, AC power calculations and metering fundamentals. Each section of this course has an exam that is graded by TVPPA. This unit is made up of 10 lessons covering the fundamentals of alternating currents. Students will be required to pass each chapter test with a 70 or above in order to continue to the next chapter. Completion of Substation Maintenance Unit 1 – Basic Math and Electricity is required for enrollment.

EM Self Study Unit 3

This is a detailed study of all aspects of metering AC circuits at the transmission, distribution and customer levels. Students use the EEI Metering Reference manual as the text. Topics such as the different types of meters, metering that is provided by protective relays, Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Smart Grid access to meters and communication fundamentals of network and wireless systems are included. Testing equipment and procedures will also be included in this module.

EM Metering Lab A

Lab A includes the basic concepts of electricity, and is heavily weighted in meter math and understanding formulas. Safety in metering is a focal point. Equipment used to meter loads is studied when small teams work through various metering situations. Lab A includes investigations into the equipment that provides measurements, including current transformers, potential transformers and the meters themselves. Lab A includes vector diagrams found on test equipment and in meter software, as well as meter site inspections and testing. At the conclusion, groups will pull from the skills they have learned to troubleshoot and diagnose metering issues.

EM Metering Lab B

Lab B starts includes a review of the basic concepts of electricity and a refresher of common math used in metering. High-bill investigations and techniques are covered. Topics include load estimation, common electrical equipment, usage costs, etc. Lab B typically uses a testing bench with single-phase and three-phase meters and sockets and advanced meter test sets. Instructors simulate problems such as wiring errors between the instrument transformers and the meter base, meter ratio errors and meter hardware problems. Advanced meter testing and troubleshooting is a large part of the Lab. Meter site inspections and procedures are also included. It is recommended to attend Lab A before Lab B.