Electric Meter Location

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Larry Wilson

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While inspecting a home today I observed an electric meter and mast head pipe in the interior of a cabinet on the wall of an added family room on the rear of the home. The mast head penetrated the roof and appeared to be properly anchored. The owner stated that they had the electric companies approval because the "meters are read electronically now" it was not a problem. :rolleyes: I have a hard time with that statement. Can anyone direct me to the proper code relative to the safety/location of the electric meter.
Thanks
Larry W.
 
I believe that is a POCO issue as long as the service is properly grounded and the service entrance conductors are adequetely sized.
 
Larry,

My only concerns with this type of installation would be:

Article 110-26 Working space and

Article 230-70 (a) (1) reguarding the service disconnecting means at the nearest point of entrance of the service entrance conductors.

I don't know how strict your muncipality is with reguards to that requirement but a meter does not qualify a service disconnecting means.

But in reguards to the meter I see of no violation in having it inside of the house.

Joe Villani
 
As far as metering being inside the house, the meters have been inside in this area forever. We only started to be required to move them outside on service changes a few years ago.
.. and we still have a lot of stuff fed out of basement end boxes, so the meters have to stay inside anyway.
... but this masted service with the meter in the middle of the house is a weird one. I'm surprised that they weren't required to move it, at least move the meter to the new rear wall, install a disconnect and reconfigure the service panel as a sub-panel.
 
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Thanks for the replys. I have the NEC code book but could not find a proper reference. As for local approval, they just adopted Cabo codes in 1999. This house being I believe 28 years old did not fall under them. We could not determine when the addition took place but it appeared to be within the last 6-8 years which would have required a permit but none was issued.
As for proper work space, this cabinet was like an entertainment section that would hold a TV so it was very accessible. As for the disconnect, the interior service panel was on the opposite side of the wall that the meter was on and it had the service disconnect in the panel. There appeared to be a proper ground but we could not verify it because it was under the sub floor on the addition and there was only about 13-inches of clearance. (There was a copper ground wire at the meter.) I guess my only concern would be an lightning strike on the mast that would fee it down inside the home. Maybe I am making too much of this but want to be sure that my client is safe in their new home.
Thanks again for the responses.
Larry W.
South Carolina
 
Larry Wilson said:
I guess my only concern would be an lightning strike on the mast that would fee it down inside the home. Maybe I am making too much of this but want to be sure that my client is safe in their new home.
Thanks again for the responses.
Larry W.
South Carolina
Click to expand...

Wilson,
In Va & NC, the mtr location MUST be approved by the utility. Your concerns are legit. I also feel as though the situation you've described is of concern. Not only lightning strike. but also a problem such as, a car hitting the pole and the serv conductor breaking loose in the mtr base and a symmetrical fault current of substancial amplitude blast that mtr base and the surrounding area with flame and molten metal. I've seen several instances where a mtr inside has created a devasting event.
Look at where the protection for that serv conductor is located. The OCPD for the serv is located on the primary side of the tx, very few tx's have OCPD on the sec side, thus an extremely high fault cuurent.

Another area of concern is with the mtr base inside, some folks seem to think they can cut the seal and invert the mtr or whatever they feel is effective to reduce their monthly bill. With the new mtr's being installed (AMR, automated meter reading) the utlity can actually determine when and if the mtr has been removed, and no access is necessary. This will be no deterent for the thief.

So, with all said it is up to you to determine the safety of the location, you know the environment which it resides.
The utility may or may not accept that paticular location, if up to me, I would have it as far outside as possible (one less fire hazard).
 
Larry Wilson said:
While inspecting a home today I observed an electric meter and mast head pipe in the interior of a cabinet on the wall of an added family room on the rear of the home. The mast head penetrated the roof and appeared to be properly anchored. The owner stated that they had the electric companies approval because the "meters are read electronically now" it was not a problem. :rolleyes: I have a hard time with that statement. Can anyone direct me to the proper code relative to the safety/location of the electric meter.
Thanks
Larry W.
Click to expand...
If this mast is not on an outside wall then I would make sure you have the legitimate clearance off the roof for the service drop. I couldn't quite tell where the service mast was situated with the addition and all. Exterior wall should not be an issue.
NYC has almost all their meters in the basements of the house unless they are fed overhead. Underground is the rule not the exception in NYC.
 
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