Watthour Meters

Historical Background Preface to the First Edition (1910) In undertaking 2 years ago to formulate a meter code, it was the ambition of the Meter Committee of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) to produce a reliable and up-to-date manual covering the many phases of electric meter practice as encountered by all companies, both large and small. It was the Committee's belief that such a Code, if intelligently prepared, would prove of great value not just to those actually engaged in operating meters, but also to those interested in the practices of metering from other standpoints, namely, official, legal, etc. There was also felt an urgent need of a closer agreement between the manufacturers and the operating companies as to reasonable and satisfactory specifications covering both operation and design. The development of such a Code with the collecting of the very large amount of necessary data was placed in the hands of the Electrical Testing Laboratories of New York, and at the Briarcliff Convention of 1909 there was presented the first issue of the Code, covering four sections and representing the first year's work. As a means of increasing the strength and support of the work, and at the same time avoiding duplication of effort along similar lines, it was arranged with the consent of the Executive Committee of both Associations to join hands with the Meter Committee of the National Electric Light Association (NELA) for the further development of the Code. The second year's work, therefore, represents the combined efforts of the Meter Committees of the two Associations. The Code to date as here presented includes with minor revisions and corrections those sections which have been presented in the reports at the 1909 Edison Convention and the 1910 NELA Convention, and also two entirely new sections. It is hoped that it may find its place among reliable books of reference in the hands of those responsible for, and interested in, the purchase, installation, and operation of electric meters. A considerable amount of ground still remains to be covered, and it is only to be expected that, with changes and improvements in the art, revisions must from time to time become necessary, but it is the  intention of the Committees to continue the work to its logical conclusion. While the Code is naturally based upon scientific and technical principles, the commercial side of metering has been constantly kept in mind as of very great importance, and it is believed that due consideration has been given to this phase of the problem. Although the work has been directed very closely by the two Committees, the burden of the undertaking has been carried by the Electrical Testing Laboratories, to which full credit should be given. The Committees are indebted to Clayton H. Sharp for his personal interest and cooperation in the conduct of the work and to W.W. Crawford, also of the Laboratories, for the zeal and discrimination which he has displayed in preparing the drafts of the Code for the Committee's consideration. The Committees would also acknowledge most gratefully the hearty and valuable cooperation of the manufacturing companies and particularly that of F.P. Cox and L.T. Robinson of the General Electric Company, and William Bradshaw of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. It is the earnest desire of the Committees that the Code may prove its value to all of those interested in the precise commercial measurement of electrical energy and may contribute to the advancement of the art.ANSI C12.1-2008 Committee Personnel J. W. Cowles, Chairman O. J. Bushnell G.R. Green J. T. Hutchings S. G. Rhodes G. A. Sawing, Chairman W. H. Fellows W.E. McCoy