Main breaker vs. lug main in Washington state

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smaddux

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Washington State, U.S.
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Home Owner
Where the permanent meter base is mounted about 100 feet from the service entrance in a residence, does Washington state require that the main disconnect be installed adjacent to the permanent meter base, or may it be mounted on the main panel in the residence?
 
State modifications/clarifications to the NEC are here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-46b
The sections mirror the NEC articles. NEC/WAC 225 covers feeders to detached structures. NEC/WAC 230 covers services.

WAC 225-032 gives some guidance, as does WAC 230-070. A key design issue is whether a disconnect is even required at the meter base, as that changes what comes from the meter from a service to a feeder. The power company may demand that, but I don't think Puget Sound Energy does. I don't think WA requires it either, and that seems to be the crux of your question.

The 2020 NEC requires an outside disconnect for dwellings, so that's another complication, and a MLO panel could be inside the house if you have a disconnect on the outside. So you need a disconnect on the outside of the house (or within 15' of it) to comply with the 2020 NEC and WAC interpretations of disconnect location. Having one 100' away would be too far in my opinion, but you could ask the inspector if that is required. I don't know why it would be. Did someone tell you that?
 
Thank you for your thorough reply. No one suggested that it needed to be done one way or the other - rather I was trying to understand the code requirements. It sounds like a call to the local inspector may be the best way to understand how they expect to see it given where the permanent meter base is relative to the residence.
 
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