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Electrical Wiring

Meter questions.

16 years ago

I am moving into a half of a duplex. Before selling, one guy owned both sides. Seperate address's and seperate utility bills. However, it will now be split ownership.

The current gas meters (2) are connected together (again seperate bills, but connected meters). Also the 2 electric meters are in the same encloser... plus they have outside disconnect switches to cut power to each house outside. (also have inside main breakers).

I dont like that setup. Esp. the idea of the outside disconnects. Im supposed to be contacted by utility engineer in the next week but I am wondering...

Do you think the POCO/Util will seperate everything? At a cost? Or is this a common setup? Am I responsible for metering or is that POCO equipment?

The idea of someone able to toggle my electricity from the outside of the home in unacceptable.

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Comments (8)

Ron Natalie
16 years ago
The setup you have is not uncommon for multi-unit dwelling. You could probably get it changed but it would be 100% at your expense. Typically the power company specifies what they want for a meter base and the builder is responsible for putting it in to their specification. They provide the meter itself.

Actually, an external main disconnect is highly convenient. What issue do you have with it?
petey_racer
16 years ago
Agreed. VERY common installation.
In fact the outside main disconnect is almost certainly required by local or national codes. If it wasn't someone spent a lot of money for nothing.

Those enclosures do have a provision for a lock, but it is questionable whether locking it would be legal.

How far is your panel from this meter/main?
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cobraguy
16 years ago
Here in Phoenix, darn near every house in the valley has the main panel attached to the outside of the house where everyone and their dog has access to it. It's not the best situation in the world that's for sure. My son locks his. I don't. I don't want to be scrambling for a key if I have an emergency and need to access the box in a hurry.
rysox
Original Author
16 years ago
Im guessing the meter is about 40 feet from the panel.

So if your saying it would be 100% my cost, that would mean it would also be my finacial responsibilty to remedy the other side of the service/property?

Theres a main breaker inside the house, the only use I can see for the outside disconnect (and lock box) is in a tennant landord situation. I have never seen them in our area except in that situation. I guess im freaked somebody can switch me off from the outside.
davidandkasie
16 years ago
the other side is the other owner's problem. your side is yours. if you want to move your meter, then hire an electrician to do it. he can remove the outside disconnect at that time.
joed
16 years ago
A meter 40 feet from the panel would be the reason for the disconnect on the outside. The first disconnect needs to be a close as possible to the point where the power enters the house. Typically anything over 5 feet inside requires a fused disconnect on the outside. They don't want unfused wires inside the house.
rysox
Original Author
16 years ago
Joed makes a good point about distance. The reason I have probably never seen such an animal as an outside disconnect in other places I have lived is because the meters and the panels were pretty much on opposite sides of the wall. This place the panel is more centralized.

Im assuming the outside disconnect would be standard code complaint installation in such cases?
petey_racer
16 years ago
You got it.

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