an electronic energy meter senses input voltage and current signals and processes the input voltage and current signals to generate measurements of multiple types of power . the meter comprises a processing system for selecting one of the multiple types of power and defining the same as the selected type of power . the processing system also generates a pulsed test signal representative of a magnitude of a measurement of the selected type of power for testing the operation of the meter . the meter further comprises a communications interface coupled to the processing system for transmitting the pulsed test signal from the meter and for receiving signals from sources external to the meter . selection of one of the multiple types of power can be achieved by the meter receiving , via the communications interface and from a source external to the meter , a communications command identifying a selected one of the various types of power . the communications interface may comprise an optical communications port .