1 apartment 2 meters in NYC

Tainted

Tainted

Senior Member
Location
New York
Occupation
Engineer (PE)
Is there anything in the code that says you cannot have 2 meters serving 1 apartment in NYC? I heard from someone that there is and I cannot find it.
 
So I am not in New York and I know they got their own thing going on, but, I would combine them if given the chance. I am guessing they are paying fees for having two meters rather than having all that load on one.

If the apt can be split again, and no circuit cross between them, then I guess the landlord or building might have an opinion on keeping it separate. But if they already got approval to do the kind of work required to make it one apartment, then I am going to assume nobody plans on making it two separate apartments again.
 
Don't know abut NY but locally it would be allowed if it's still one service with grouped service disconnects**. You never know, next year it may be divided into two occupancies again. It would not be a bad idea to make note of a second panel at each.

**It's actually been allowed here with the panels being the service disconnects provided they were identified.
 
Doesn't seem like section i applies to multifamily buildings with 5 or more residences.

I've worked on many apartments in NYC that have 2 meters, in multifamily buildings. Never hit with a violation.
 
Grouch1980 said:
Doesn't seem like section i applies to multifamily buildings with 5 or more residences.

I've worked on many apartments in NYC that have 2 meters. Never hit with a violation.
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Yea it happens when apartments get combined and it’s quite common…

What bothers me is it says:

"A building in which two or more dwelling units have been constructed in accordance with
the certificate of occupancy, or if there is no certificate of occupancy, as determined by the
department, may have one meter for each dwelling unit and one additional meter for the common
areas of the building, provided that smoke detecting devices are installed in all common areas in
accordance with departmental requirements."

It says "may" and not "shall". Not sure if they intended to say "shall"
 
Grouch1980 said:
Doesn't seem like section i applies to multifamily buildings with 5 or more residences.

I've worked on many apartments in NYC that have 2 meters, in multifamily buildings. Never hit with a violation.
Click to expand...
I found it... Can't believe it... It's in the new NYC electrical code

https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/Le...9F3985796&Options=ID|Text|Attachments|&Search

§ 28-119.5.2 Electric meter installation; restriction. A public utility shall not supply electricity to a one-, two-, three-, or four-family dwelling, or energize more utility meters in a building than the number of distinct and separate dwelling units in such building as authorized in the certificate of occupancy applicable thereto, or if there is no certificate of occupancy, as determined by the department, without first receiving a written sign-off from the department. An owner of a one-, two-, three-, or four-family dwelling may request approval to install an additional utility meter from the department. A public utility shall not install such additional utility meter without such approval. A building with 2 or more dwelling units in accordance with the certificate of occupancy, or if there is no certificate of occupancy, as determined by the department, shall have 1 meter for each dwelling unit and may have 1 additional meter for the common areas of the building, provided that smoke detecting devices are installed in all common areas in accordance with departmental requirements. Such common areas may include boiler rooms, shared hallway lighting, shared stairway lighting, and outdoor perimeter lighting, but shall not include any habitable space. In the event that a meter has been found to have been installed or to exist in violation of this section, the utility must report such findings to the department, which may take action leading to the disconnecting of such meter in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in section 87.2 of the New York city electrical code.

84.6 Electric utility meter installation. The department shall not issue a permit or, if applicable, an electrical sign-off pursuant to an application that involves the energizing of a utility meter in a one-, two-, three-, or four-family dwelling if the department finds that such action will cause the total number of utility meters for the building to exceed the number of dwelling units specified for such building in the certificate of occupancy, or if there is no certificate of occupancy, as determined by the department, except as permitted herein. A building specified as a one-family residence in the certificate of occupancy or, if there is no certificate of occupancy, as determined by the department, shall have only 1 utility meter. A building in which there are 2 or more dwelling units in accordance with the certificate of occupancy, or if there is no certificate of occupancy, as determined by the department, shall have 1 utility meter for each dwelling unit, and 1 additional utility meter for the common areas of the building is permitted, provided that smoke detecting devices are installed in all common areas in accordance with departmental requirements. Such common areas may include boiler rooms, shared hallway lighting, shared stairway lighting, and outdoor perimeter lighting, but shall not include any habitable space. In the event that a utility meter has been found to have been installed or to exist in violation of this section, the department may take action leading to the disconnecting of such utility meter in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in section 87.2.

They added the word shall... but one could argue and say it doesn't say "shall only have"..
 
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Here in NC, years ago many cities had water heater metered separately from lights & power. I can't remember the thinking behind it but I saw a lot of it with rewires. On a service change, we did away with the smaller service altogether. Original permit/inspection papers were often taped into the panel cover.
 
jmellc said:
Here in NC, years ago many cities had water heater metered separately from lights & power. I can't remember the thinking behind it but I saw a lot of it with rewires. On a service change, we did away with the smaller service altogether. Original permit/inspection papers were often taped into the panel cover.
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Some utilities used to give reduced rates for electric water heating to encourage their adoption. A second meter is how it was done, but I think it was still considered one service. In my area, it’s still done that way, but only for electric heat pumps instead of water heaters.
 
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