The process of meter connection

[Roy Shi]

I'm a little bit curious about the connection process.
For we will need to change the meter base to a dual, how long will it be needed to make the change and reconnection -- especially when we use the same location(or at least part) of the original meter base.

We will need to:
1. have the service company to remove the current meter, disconnect the power supply;
2. change/install the new base, wiring
3. have the inspector check the whole new installation
3.1 possiblly, we will need to do alternation
4. have the service company to reconnect the power and meter(s)

They are seemly not able to be finished in one day.

Would like Rob or other firends to give a typical example.

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Roy,

Yeah, what you list is about right.
Hydro does a "disconnect & hold" in the morning. So you'll be without power for a while. How long the process of replacing the service entrance and meter base takes varies. There always seems to be at least one wrinkle, but we've always managed to get it done in a day. The inspector has to come and approve the new meter base etc., then Hydro comes back to replace the meter.

Because of the potential problems, and need to get it inspected and passed all the same day I don't recommend this for DIY. Everything else can be done ahead of time, with no rush, this one is worth paying an electrician (one with a good reputation so inspectors are likely to pass the work on the first try).

As mentioned, we often run into complications when replacing meter bases. Typical issues are that the wiring coming out of the ground (for underground feeds) isn't long enough to reach the terminals in the new meter base. We can't splice those, so it means digging down to the cable and trying to get some more slack out of it there. Often there are space constraints, causing feed and house side not to line up well with the new meter base, these days Hydro seems to be taking the opportunity to force us to 'upgrade' the service entrance (move meters from basements to outside, change the location of meters), and so on. It pays to have an electrician for this that has done many before, so they know how to deal with problems.

-RoB-

[Dave Schwartz]

Ours, done by the same licensed electricians that installed the entire system, took only about 3 hours from the time the LDC first disconnect the meter. They simply pulled the meter, removed the box cover, disconnected and taped off the service wire (the service lines were live the whole time - everybody knows electricians are non-conductive... the conductive ones get weeded out early). The electrician then removed the lines to the panel, undid the conduit connector nuts and just lifted the old meter base off the wiring. The dual base was then slipped back over the wires and conduit nuts reinstalled. All that, plus connecting the existing load wires to the first meter and the inverter to the second, took only about an hour. Waited about another hour for the inspector and then a further hour for the LDC to come back to connect the service and pop the meter back into place.

I guess this would be 'best case' according to Rob: 3 hours.

Of course, it then took the 'new meter' crew about another week to install the generation meter but the service wasn't off at any time after those 3 hours.

[Roy Shi]

Then I know the process and can make a better plan.
Actually, I planed to take the chance to upgrade my service.

Then I will make the updrade simple mainly just on the outside work with current pannel box intacted by add in a NEW MAIN between and hope to finish all in one day.

Btw, I should have to upgrade the wires from drop. Will the utility company change the wires from drop to street line? Will I have to pay for that?
thx again

[Dave Schwartz]

The homeowner will pay for the service upgrade. If your service drop is all above-ground (pole to mast, down mast to meter base - assumes your mast conduit is big enough) you might be able to get it all done in a day.

Probably not much chance of you upgrading an underground service yourself in a day unless you do all the underground work in advance (going to be lots of hand-digging involved) and its just the loose ends the LDC has to deal with on the day. A contractor could probably do it in a day with the drop disconnected at the pole because then power equipment could be used.

[Roy Shi]

The homeowner will pay for the service upgrade. If your service drop is all above-ground (pole to mast, down mast to meter base - assumes your mast conduit is big enough) you might be able to get it all done in a day.

Probably not much chance of you upgrading an underground service yourself in a day unless you do all the underground work in advance (going to be lots of hand-digging involved) and its just the loose ends the LDC has to deal with on the day. A contractor could probably do it in a day with the drop disconnected at the pole because then power equipment could be used.

Yes. it's all above ground.
I'll have to install new 2" conduit for that the original is only 3/4" to accomodate #6es.
It seems the wires was updated not long, quite new. I even consider to use them(both the conduit and wires, at original place, from meterbase to 2nd floor) for the solar AC connection :huh: though I may be required to add a neutral - there is only 2 black and 1 bare inside.
Then I may put the new 2" conduit over the original metal one.
I have small inverter with batteries, as well as car for backup - small power tools can still work with that.
I will try not leave too much work to challenge that day.
Thank you very much for the help.