Poco violation or overzealousness?

[Flying Wireman]

Maybe he is using what I circled in the pic.
18" from edge to edge.

So I had a meeting today with the POCO supervisor, who in short told me there is no issue with the meter install and to leave it as is.

The rep that came out initially thought the POCO crew that has to run the service wires from utility transformer to meter might not have enough room to work because of that railing…

So it does seem that there was a bit of overzealousness involved…Glad it got sorted out!

 

[infinity]

The rep that came out initially thought the POCO crew that has to run the service wires from utility transformer to meter might not have enough room to work because of that railing…

Sounds like someone who never strapped on a toolbelt.

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

Glad it worked out for you.

 

[jim dungar]

Funny how things differ from area to area

for sure.

 

[NoahsArc]

The screws for the busway will be below grade. compromising the ability to open the enclosure. no different from putting a 4x4 buried in a wall and covered over with wallboard. Even if the POCO didn't call this out or the reference in question is inaccurate, the inspector should call this out. The enclosure is listed NEMA 3 but not for direct bury.

This is common in our area (Chicago) to bury that pedestal, and then need to dig it out whenever you need to service the bottom. Usually you can get it to lean out a bit without much digging to get marginal access.
(yes, I've dropped a bit down the well so to speak. it was deeply unpleasant)

The conductors are in conduit and attached to the pedestal. If above grade, they would still be in conduit, only the conduit would stub up higher to reach the pedestal. Below grade, or above, would be no different since the conductors would be in conduit either way.
That would be a nightmare to replace the pedestal if it ever needed to be replaced. You would have to dig down more than 18" to to get to the bottom to disconnect it from the conduit.

If you need to replace it, you need to dig out just as when it was dug in.

Such a pedestal type cabinet should be capable of being free standing and the portion that is buried is the only securement involved.

They'll pull away from the structure readily. Inspectors will want it very firmly secured with heavy gauge screws to studs/concrete so it doesn't move around a lot.
Maybe not an issue with a brick veneer, but if it's vinyl siding and the meter's flat to the sheathing with j-channel cut out around it, you really don't want it to move. And it will move if it's not secured.

 

[kwired]

They'll pull away from the structure readily. Inspectors will want it very firmly secured with heavy gauge screws to studs/concrete so it doesn't move around a lot.

If it is truly designed to be a free standing pedestal it doesn't require additional securement. It is intended to be out in the open with nothing else to secure it to just the portion that is below grade does the securing. As was mentioned there may be some that require an additional "foot" accessory.

 

[NoahsArc]

If it is truly designed to be a free standing pedestal it doesn't require additional securement. It is intended to be out in the open with nothing else to secure it to just the portion that is below grade does the securing. As was mentioned there may be some that require an additional "foot" accessory.

Perhaps I'm confused about the subject. Just replying to the picture in OP and what's typical in the Chicago area: the pedestals are not meant to be freestanding, they attach to the structure. Whatever the UL listing says, locally that's how they get installed.

 

[kwired]

Perhaps I'm confused about the subject. Just replying to the picture in OP and what's typical in the Chicago area: the pedestals are not meant to be freestanding, they attach to the structure. Whatever the UL listing says, locally that's how they get installed.

Different products tend to be more common in certain areas. Around here most pedestal type enclosures you will ever encounter are free standing type.

Kind of like out west you see a lot of semi flush meters, panelboards or combo units, and other places you seldom ever see a loadcenter on exterior, particularly for dwellings.