Policy Overview Service Installations Meter Installations Construction Standards Back To Contractors Homepage

Meter Installations

• Self-contained socket metering is standard where the line-to-ground voltage does not exceed 150 volts and load-side capacity is not more than 400 amperes for single-phase services or 400 amperes 120/208 for polyphase services. For all other meter installations, the Meter Department will specify the type of metering.
• ALL METER LOCATIONS MUST BE PRE-APPROVED BY THE COMPANY: Outdoor locations are required unless an exception is granted by the Company. Each location shall be readily accessible to Company representatives for meter reading, testing, and maintenance. Service will not be provided if access to the meter requires company employees to use adjacent property, climb fences or other obstructions, or cause damage to the customer's shrubbery or flower beds. The meter shall not protrude over a sidewalk or driveway.
• In areas subject to vandalism or damage, meters shall be located within a suitable box furnished and installed by the customer. Hasps shall be provided on such boxes for the installation of Company padlocks. Relocation of meters and equipment because of tampering or vandalism will be at the customer's expense.
• In multiple occupancy buildings, meters may be installed in one common location with its own outside entrance.
• Outdoor meter sockets should be mounted so that the face of the meter is five feet above the ground or final grade. In no instance will any meter be installed with the top of the meter more than six feet nor the bottom of the meter less than three feet above the ground or final grade. A clear area of three feet is required in front of the meter.
• Any multiple meter socket must be pre-approved by the company. Multiple meter sockets with ringless sockets shall have separate covers for each meter position. Single covers for two or more meter positions are not acceptable.
• Meter sockets shall be mounted plumb and firmly secured to supports with ample space around meters to allow for testing, reading, and repairing.
• All meter sockets and customer disconnecting means must be plainly and permanently marked for proper apartment, floor, office, etc.(identical to 911 protocol).
• The Company will not combine two or more meter registrations at the same location for billing purposes. Load totalization of two electric services on the same premises, where permitted by the Company, will be at the expense of the customer.
• The customer shall equip all cabinets, switches, circuit breakers, and other enclosures giving access to unmetered wiring; for the application of sealing devices. The service switch or circuit breakers, when installed on the line side of the meter, shall be so designed that the unmetered wiring is inaccessible without breaking the seal, even during the replacing of fuses.
• Authority to cut meter seals or other sealing devices may be delegated to other than authorized Company employees by specific request. It is the responsibility of the electrical contractor to call the Metering Supervisor or Meter Department and request permission before removing or cutting any meter seal or sealing device of the Company.
• In General, sockets for self-contained meters shall have a UL label. Additional Company specifications are as follows:
  • Meter sockets with bypasses are required on all three phase self-contained commercial and 400 AMP residential installations. Meter sockets without bypasses are required on 200 AMP and smaller residential installations.
  • When an existing installation is changed to accommodate a different type of service, such as electric water heating, additional terminals must be furnished and installed by the customer at the time of change.
  • Special attention is needed to the metering details of four-wire 480 Wye/277 volt services. They must be discussed with the Meter Department Supervisor before any work is started.
  • Meter pedestals are free-standing units intended to be mounted outdoors in conjunction with underground wiring. If a free-standing meter pedestal is used, it must extend a minimum of 30 inches below the finished grade. The pedestal shall have a stabilizing means extending below the frost line to insure that the meter mounting stays in a plumb position.
• Meter pedestals must also incorporate circuit breakers, but these are not intended to replace the service disconnection means required at the building.
• For all installations requiring instrument transformers, the transformers will be furnished without charge by the Company. The customer will install all instrument transformers. Enclosures shall be approved by the Company but furnished and installed by the customer. Such enclosures shall conform to specifications in the National Electrical Code and all transformer enclosures shall have provisions for Company locks.
• Instrument transformers are to be installed by the customer in separate compartments of switchgear and must have both:
  • A barrier which physically isolates the instrument transformers from all other equipment, and
  • A separate door for the compartment with sealing facilities.
• Instrument transformer primary connectors and connections to service conductors will be supplied and made by the electrical contractor.
• Except for Company-owned metering equipment, no instruments, meters, or other equipment shall be placed in the instrument transformer compartments or connected to the secondaries of metering transformers.
• Please contact the Company to review all instrument transformer installations.