April 22, 2022

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published Electrical Submeter—Current Sensor Accuracy ANSI/NEMA SM 31000-7-2021, a new standard that covers metrological requirements and associated testing for current sensors used with electrical energy submeters to assess accuracy. It applies to multiple sensor technologies with a variety of outputs. These sensors enable current measurement for AC and DC electrical submetering. 

The entire SM 31000 standards series assists policymakers and facility managers as they expand the usage of electrical submeters in energy management applications by giving them confidence in quality measurement.  

“SM 31000-7 provides a much-needed benchmark for both current and voltage output current sensors,” said Aaron Parker, Chairman of the Building Systems–Submeters Technical Committee.  

“This is a companion standard to be integrated with previously released standards Electrical Submeter—General Requirements SM 31000-1 and Electrical Submeter—Active Energy Accuracy SM 31000-2. It is the first current sensor standard written to work with an electric energy metering standard (SM 31000-2) to certify interchangeable sensors and specify the system accuracy over the full operating range,” he said.  

This standard series is intended to help increase confidence in the certified submeters’ performance in energy management applications. Targeted audiences include Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL), the U.S. Department of Energy, state and local energy departments, facility managers, and electrical engineering firms. 

ANSI/NEMA SM 31000-7-2021 is available on the NEMA website as an electronic download for $67.