2 existing meters on property.

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

nizak

Senior Member
I have a residential property that has 2 electric meters. Both structures were built in the early 80’s

One is on a detached garage near the road and it supplies a 100 amp panel inside the garage.

The other is on the dwelling approximately 400’ away and supplies a 200 amp panel inside the house.

Owner will be adding an outdoor kitchen , hot tub, and some pumps for a pond.

Current load on house panel is calculated around 140 amps.
Load on garage panel is a door opener and 4 8’ HO fluorescents

With the 2 meters not grouped together is there a violation in bringing power for the kitchen, sauna, and pumps from the garage panel?

Both meters are fed from the same xfmr.

The cost to upgrade the house to a 320A service is ridiculous and would take several months just to get it through engineering. Then with the garage service gone it would need to be re fed from the house.

I’m trying to utilize the available garage power since it’s available.

Any input or suggestions appreciated.
 
electrofelon said:
IT seems a little crazy to come all the way from the garage to power a few things. Sounds like the house service can handle it just fine.
Click to expand...
Hot tub nameplate is 42A @240V
Dual fuel range is 8KW
Pond “fountain pumps” are each 2HP @240V

Maybe I’m being too cautious.
 
electrofelon said:
IT seems a little crazy to come all the way from the garage to power a few things. Sounds like the house service can handle it just fine.
Click to expand...
Hot tub nameplate is 42A @240V
Dual fuel range is 8KW
Pond “fountain pumps” are each 2HP @240V

Maybe I’m being too cautious.
 
mtnelect said:
In most jurisdictions you can't have two meters, so it must be an ADU ?
Click to expand...
The POCO might have some rules about needing to tap the nearest transformer for a structure. Four hundred feet is quite a distance as far as frontage is concerned. Well, at least in most of NJ.
 
gadfly56 said:
The POCO might have some rules about needing to tap the nearest transformer for a structure. Four hundred feet is quite a distance as far as frontage is concerned. Well, at least in most of NJ.
Click to expand...

I agree ... The maximum service drop for SCE is 100 feet.
 
Must be a California thing.
 

Attachments

  • Electrical Service Requirements (ESR) — Service Drop Residential_Page_1.jpg
    Electrical Service Requirements (ESR) — Service Drop Residential_Page_1.jpg
    155.4 KB · Views: 12
  • Electrical Service Requirements (ESR) — Service Drop Residential_Page_2.jpg
    Electrical Service Requirements (ESR) — Service Drop Residential_Page_2.jpg
    406.4 KB · Views: 11
electrofelon said:
Note that what you highlighted is under "three phase service" , and note it also says "per occupancy".
Click to expand...

Yes, I highlighted the three-phase service, I should have highlighted the single-phase service by mistake, same idea though.
From the original post it was single occupancy, so the two meters would not be allowed in California.
 
mtnelect said:
In most jurisdictions you can't have two meters, so it must be an
Click to expand...

electrofelon said:
never heard of that. Have lots of houses with several meters on them.
Click to expand...
In my area it’s quite common to have 2 meters. With that being said I’m talking installs that were done several years back.

Was quite common to put a detached garage / outbuilding on the property say when it was purchased and then as time went on a house was built usually deeper back on the parcel and it got its own meter as well.
 
nizak said:
In my area it’s quite common to have 2 meters. With that being said I’m talking installs that were done several years back.

Was quite common to put a detached garage / outbuilding on the property say when it was purchased and then as time went on a house was built usually deeper back on the parcel and it got its own meter as well.
Click to expand...
I think what the POCO will NOT want to do in most cases is provide two services. Two (or more) grouped meters would be one service. Think about something like a duplex. OF course we put two meters on those, and sometimes a third for house. POCO has never asked for any sort of proof or documentation that that is a two family building. I think I could put 6 meters on a single family house in every POCO territory I have worked in and they wouldnt blink an eye, they just want to know who to mail the bills to.
 
electrofelon said:
never heard of that. Have lots of houses with several meters on them.
Click to expand...
This (ADU's) are becoming a big thing on the West Coast. It's an attempt to deal with the housing shortage. Previously, most zoning wouldn't allow you to have a separate dwelling unit. ADU's are typically only 1 or 2 bedrooms, kitchen and bath facilities, and a small general area. Like mother/daughter setups. There are a lot of pros and cons to consider.
 
mtnelect said:
The only time you would see two meters on a residential property would be for an Accessory Dwelling Unit.
Click to expand...
My current residence has 3 meters / 3 services. So did the last one. Very common (at least around here) on rural and semi-rural properties with out buildings. POCO's don't care about property lines as long as they know who to bill.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top