Water Heater Meter

[mkgrady]

I'm doing a service change in Eastern Mass. The old service has a seperate meter for the water heater. Looks like the meter switches on during off peak. PoCo info booklet is silent on seperate meter for WH. I take it that this meter setup is no longer effective for providing a cheaper rate. I can't call the PoCo on the weekend to confirm. Questions: Does the PoCo still give a break for off peak usage on the second meter? Assuming No (I wonder why), Does the WH meter have it's time switch disabled so the customer has power all the time to both heater elements of the WH? In the new service, does the second meter just get turned over to the PoCo?

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Re: Water Heater Meter

Does this PoCo have a website? They might list the different residential reate classifications.

Electric heating of any kind was never very popular here, but they once did use a dual meter / timer setup for off-peak billing. That practice is discontinued now, and they simply have a different rate classification for those who heat space or water with electric, which slightly discounts the regular KWH rate.

 

[JohnE]

Re: Water Heater Meter

Massachusetts Electric (now National Grid) used to call this a J Rate and it was a reduced rate for a water heater at off peak times. That rate has been discontinued for many years, so on a service change you would just install one meter. As far as I know, N-Star had basically the same policies.

Looking at the customer's electric bill will probably show both meters usage at same rate.

Did you get a Utility Authorization for this service change? Typically this info would be discussed with them. Although you have 5 days to take an electrical permit after you start, you are supposed to contact utility prior to cutting seal and opening meter. Not that I haven't done work prior to calling utility.

 

[mkgrady]

Re: Water Heater Meter

LawnGuy I checked the PoCo web site. It doesn't show anything.

John. You have confirmed what I thought. The PoCo, National Grid no longer offers the cheaper rate and the second meter is useless except that the water heater circuit runs through it. I'm still wondering if the meter time switch is defeated some how so the WH always has full power to both elements.

I have'nt started the work but I certainly will get the utility authorization before I start.

With all the pleas from the power companies about conserving energy I wonder why they no longer offer the off peak meters for heating water at night.

 

[peter d]

Re: Water Heater Meter

Originally posted by mkgrady:
With all the pleas from the power companies about conserving energy I wonder why they no longer offer the off peak meters for heating water at night.

Because they'd much rather charge $.16 a KwH for "normal rate" power. :roll:

But you raise a good point. In this day and age restarting the off-peak program would make a lot of sense. Oh, that's the problem, it would make sense. :roll:

[ February 26, 2006, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: peter d ]

 

[renosteinke]

Re: Water Heater Meter

What you describe is a common thing here. In a service change, the water heater gets run from the new panel...and the WH meter is left on the ground for the PoCo to pick up.
Make sure to check current PoCo specs for the service, though. Most likely, the size of the mast, and the service conductors, will have changed. You may also be required to re-locate the panel...if the gas meter is too close.