Detecting current measurement tampering by current transformer parallel impedance

An arrangement for use in a utility meter, comprising:

• a current transformer having a winding including first and second terminals;
• a burden resistor unit coupled across the first and second terminals;
• a resistive path having a first resistance coupled in parallel across the burden resistor unit;
• a switching element operably coupled to controllably and alternatively connected and disconnect the resistive path across the first and second terminals;
• a processing circuit configured to,
• obtain a first value representative of a voltage magnitude across the burden resistor unit when the resistive path is disconnected across the first and second terminals;
• obtain a second value representative of a voltage magnitude across the burden resistor unit when the resistive path is connected across the first and second terminals;
• obtain a third value representative of a voltage magnitude across the burden resistor unit when the resistive path is disconnected across the first and second terminals;
• determine whether a load change has occurred based on the first value, the third value, and a load change threshold;
• and,
• when there has been no load change, determine whether an error exists based on the first value, the second value, and at least one predetermined stored value.