County agricultural office reports 889 commercial devices inspected, flags EV chargers and digital meters as emerging challenges

Catherine Vanderwall, Lake County agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and measures, told the Board of Supervisors on March 4 that the department inspected 889 commercial devices and investigated 17 consumer complaints in fiscal year 2023–24.

The report, presented as a fiscal-year overview, describes the department’s regular inspections of gas pumps, retail scales, livestock and truck scales, propane meters, submeters in multi-unit housing, and cannabis-related commercial scales. Vanderwall said the county’s device registration ordinance allows the office to track and test devices used in commercial transactions.

"In 23–24, there were 213 business locations inspected, 889 commercial devices inspected, and 17 consumer complaints," Vanderwall said. She told supervisors the county tests devices to determine whether they are suitable for commercial use and to verify accuracy so consumers receive the amount that they pay for.

Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Sam Upton described technical and regulatory challenges the office is encountering as newer meter technologies and electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations appear in the marketplace. "Manufacturers are coming up with new technology at a fast pace," Upton said, and county staff sometimes evaluate devices before the state has issued type approvals. He warned that some digitally enabled meters can be manipulated after installation: "We've checked it. We said, okay, it's accurate. It goes out in the field. It could still be digitally manipulated later."

Vanderwall outlined routine functions: testing petroleum pumps for dispensing accuracy and sampling fuel for quality, inspecting retail scales (including deli and produce scales), checking submetering setups commonly used in mobile home parks and apartment complexes, and responding to price and billing complaints. She said the office sends petroleum samples to the state laboratory when necessary and works with businesses to replace devices that are not approved for commercial use.

The presentation noted the county lacks a formal price-verification ordinance and currently responds to price complaints rather than conducting random price-verification sweeps; Vanderwall said other California counties use ordinances to require periodic price checks. The department also tested higher-precision weight kits needed to verify certain cannabis-related and jewelry scales.

On EV chargers, Vanderwall said identifying device ownership can be difficult because third-party vendors and property owners both may claim responsibility. She added that state loaner testing standards exist but purchasing and maintaining up-to-date standards is expensive for counties.

Board members asked procedural questions about submetered billing, time-of-use rates and recertification intervals for submeters. Vanderwall said submeters the office inspects follow a 10-year reinspection interval and that billing disputes involving submeters generally fall under the California Public Utilities Commission when utility regulation is involved.

The board took no formal vote on policy changes during the presentation; supervisors thanked staff and closed the item.

Vanderwall called attention to a new county weight-testing truck purchased with board support and to National Weights and Measures Week in March, which commemorates the long history of measurement laws.