Here's the haps, the inspector said ask the electric co. the electric co said ask the inspector!!!! I was asked to bid up grading an apt buildings fuse pannels. The problem is that there are five apts. there is 2 old 60 amp meters coming in feeding 4 fuse panals for a total of 185 amps. Now my ? is does each apt. need a separate meter and box and does it have to be a certain amprage. do I have calculate up the whole buildings amps??
five unit apt building running off two 60 amp meters
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tonyi
Senior Member
Re: five unit apt building running off two 60 amp meters
Does the poco intend on maintaining the existing multiple drops, or would they like to make it a single? It sounds like they may want to upgrade the lateral wire since this is so old...
If the owner doesn't intend to supply power for the whole place, a meter per unit is the only practical way to go - and you'll likely be wanting a 6th for common services billed to the owner (shared furnace maybe), common area lights, basement service recepticals and such.
A lot of rehabs seem to forget about common services and then just whack common service things onto a tenent panel as an after thought, but this can get an owner is legal hot water if a disgruntled tenent really wants to make a stink over it. Its also very inconvenient to have a whole building's heat and basement lights shutdown because some deadbeat failed to pay their power bill and didn't tell anyone
Does the poco intend on maintaining the existing multiple drops, or would they like to make it a single? It sounds like they may want to upgrade the lateral wire since this is so old...
If the owner doesn't intend to supply power for the whole place, a meter per unit is the only practical way to go - and you'll likely be wanting a 6th for common services billed to the owner (shared furnace maybe), common area lights, basement service recepticals and such.
A lot of rehabs seem to forget about common services and then just whack common service things onto a tenent panel as an after thought, but this can get an owner is legal hot water if a disgruntled tenent really wants to make a stink over it. Its also very inconvenient to have a whole building's heat and basement lights shutdown because some deadbeat failed to pay their power bill and didn't tell anyone
Re: five unit apt building running off two 60 amp meters
You have a design issue, that requires a professional design engineer or an accomplished plan examiner.
Each unit should have a separate panel accessible to the tenant.
Metering is likely up to the owner and utility company.
Good luck: Bennie
You have a design issue, that requires a professional design engineer or an accomplished plan examiner.
Each unit should have a separate panel accessible to the tenant.
Metering is likely up to the owner and utility company.
Good luck: Bennie
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: five unit apt building running off two 60 amp meters
It depends on where you are as to whether or not it is a design issue. We have the following text in our Goldbook because of the state law at the bottom of page 19.
"Master metering is generally prohibited on all new multi- unit buildings. Electricity
delivered to a new building containing units which are separately rented, leased or owned
shall be sold on the basis of individual meter measurements for each occupancy unit,
except for electricity used in hotels, motels, and other similar transient lodging.
Service applicants who believe individual metering will present a hardship for their
project must contact the company during the design of the project for review of their
individual case."
This was put in place because of the energy crunch and has never been removed. In this case, it would not apply in Indiana because of it being an existing building that already has service. Other states may have different laws.
It depends on where you are as to whether or not it is a design issue. We have the following text in our Goldbook because of the state law at the bottom of page 19.
"Master metering is generally prohibited on all new multi- unit buildings. Electricity
delivered to a new building containing units which are separately rented, leased or owned
shall be sold on the basis of individual meter measurements for each occupancy unit,
except for electricity used in hotels, motels, and other similar transient lodging.
Service applicants who believe individual metering will present a hardship for their
project must contact the company during the design of the project for review of their
individual case."
This was put in place because of the energy crunch and has never been removed. In this case, it would not apply in Indiana because of it being an existing building that already has service. Other states may have different laws.
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