SERVICES (My latest stupid question in a series of stupid questions.)

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admiralporklung

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Front Royal
I've started my very own EC business. My experience is in large commercial/industrial where the service comes into a Switchgear and is distributed to transformers.

Anyway, now I'm bidding jobs that have meter sockets and and the like. My question: who is typically responsible for for providing Meter Sockets and the Service disconnect and all of the stuff on the line side of the meter?

The drawings stink on these smaller projects.

darn it flustered
 
Can I say that you need to get "A", or the, service landed at the service point, where you begin verses what is required per job can very greatly as to whom is responsible to get to that point can also vary greatly.

OK your POCO should define what they will give to you, period.

I most cases you need to account for the panel and meter, etc., even possibly a sub or vertical service feed.

All the structure's equipment needs to be properly accounted for via the NEC, your service conductors to the service point must be sized to the be adequate for the first point of disconnect.

Sorry, I've misplaced 2011 NEC to speak correctly of "service".

With smaller jobs, you'll need to more accounting and math to CYA.

Good Luck!
 
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Unfortunately you will find "who provides what" will vary by location and job.
To my knowledge, also all POCOs provide overhead drops to the POA with no charge unless added poles are needed, but even that is not carved in stone.
Underground varies more so. On 200 and 400 amp services many provided a limited length. Some require conduit, some don't. For some, you provide the ditch, for some they do.
Seldom does any POCO provide equipment other than some supply the meter bases and eye bolts for POA>
You really have to have a long chat with your POCOs.
Underground seems to vary.
 
Xcel energy provides us with a "Blue Book" that answers most of those questions. Check with your POCO and see if they have something similar.
 
Poor sod ... you think you're just entering the minefield, and you're already halfway across it!

Hate to break it to you, but you might ALSO be responsible for a lot of stuff BEFORE the meter. On a house, that might just be the mast and the wires up through the weatherhead. In commercial, that might include the pipe down the pole, the trench and pipe to the transformer, the transformer pad, the trench and pipe to the switchgear, and the switchgear. Please note that these will have to be done to POCO specs, and not the NEC. For example, the trenches will likely need to be five feet deep.

I've even had to set poles for them.

So ... do your homework. Talk to the PoCo.
 
A guy I knew who did work in a rural area told me once where he was the POCO puts the meter in on the pole out by the road and wires to it. Everything downstream is someone else's problem. The meter always faced the road so the meter reader could read it with binoculars from the road.

These days, maybe it is read electronically so who knows what the rule is today.
 
Dictators

Dictators

Around here we call to meet with an engineer. They explain what they will provide and what you will provide.

The conversation is short. They tell you there is a booklet or sight you can look up the configurations and approved equipement.

They wont supply anything for free. The days of Ill give you a transformer so we can sell you power is over.

In fact they will get you to over build so they can supply your neighbors new service with no recourse.

Go to the POCO and see what they are going to dictate.
 
Your location says Front Royal. If this is VA, AFAIK Dominion Virginia Power gives the meter bases and CT cabinets for free for small stuff. Overhead is usually free, lateral costs.

Field engineer will come to site and work out details. Good outfit IMO.

http://www.dom.com/dominion-virgini.../for-businesses/residential-single-family.jsp

http://www.dom.com/dominion-virgini...e/for-businesses/residential-multi-family.jsp

http://www.dom.com/dominion-virginia-power/customer-service/for-businesses/commercial.jsp
 
admiralporklung said:
My question: who is typically responsible for for providing Meter Sockets and the Service disconnect and all of the stuff on the line side of the meter?
Click to expand...

Find out the power company serving the building, go to their web site and try to find their 'Green Book' or installation requirements.

Most power companies have it available for free download on their web sites, it is the only way to get rook solid info for each area. All the members here can do is tell you how it is for them.

For example in my area the EC has to purchase the meter socket, south of me the EC can get the socket for free from the power company.
 
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