Extra meter for Shop

[Clemson]

My contractor asked if I wanted a dedicated meter to my shop. I think the cost (based on what others have said in the area) is about $40 per month minimum.

I do plan on running some form of climate control eventually. Do most of you tie into your home power or have a dedicated meter for your shop?

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

The only reason I wpuld consider that is if you're running a business and the business will be paying that bill.

If it's a home shop, I wouldn't.

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[bamawildcat]

I run high amperage loads and have it tied to my house panel for the reason of avoiding any meter fee. You'd hate to just run lights in your shop for two months, use $3 worth of electricity, but in turn pay $80 just for the blessing of having a meter.

 

[DC73]

My contractor asked if I wanted a dedicated meter to my shop. I think the cost (based on what others have said in the area) is about $40 per month minimum.

I do plan on running some form of climate control eventually. Do most of you tie into your home power or have a dedicated meter for your shop?

It's almost always cheaper to have just one meter. The main design criteria is to have enough power for what you plan to do in your shop. I was able to replace my existing meter base with a 320 amp version that had lugs for two sets of wire. One set of lugs was used for the exiting house wire and the second set was used for the new wire for my shop. It cost me a little more in materials for this method but I will more than make up for it with the savings from not having a second meter charge.

DC

 

[purediesel]

Exactly why I put in a 400 amp service to my house. 1 meter and 200 amp for the house and 200 amp for the barn. Overkill but it'll never have to be upgraded. Only cost from the power company was the meter base and that was only $200. They wired the meter, disconnects, installed a new 25kv transformer, meter base, and splices for the house disconnect. $200 is well worth the savings of $40 per month. Really, for the 400 amp upgrade over having the second meter the cost would be $200 for the power company plus the price of the extra cable and the disconnects for the house and barn. Minimal in my eyes to save $480 per year in meter fees.

 

[Clemson]

Exactly why I put in a 400 amp service to my house. 1 meter and 200 amp for the house and 200 amp for the barn. Overkill but it'll never have to be upgraded. Only cost from the power company was the meter base and that was only $200. They wired the meter, disconnects, installed a new 25kv transformer, meter base, and splices for the house disconnect. $200 is well worth the savings of $40 per month. Really, for the 400 amp upgrade over having the second meter the cost would be $200 for the power company plus the price of the extra cable and the disconnects for the house and barn. Minimal in my eyes to save $480 per year in meter fees.

I'll try and find out if this is an option for me. I think the standard service is 200 amps. Maybe that is the residential standard in most places.

 

[bugnut]

When mine was done a second meter was installed I pay 30$ a month for the privilege even if no power is used. $360 annually for the joy of a second meter...........

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're talking about an entirely separate electrical service from the utility, check with them first before making a decision - many electric utilities will only provide a single service and meter for a residential property.

 

[purediesel]

^^^ both good reasons to do a single meter service..

 

[dcg9381]

I do plan on running some form of climate control eventually. Do most of you tie into your home power or have a dedicated meter for your shop?

Around here it's a $20/mo min charge for the meter. As such, I use a single meter wherever possible. It's (generally) hard for one man shops to use over 100A - even with HVAC, hot tub, etc.

I do have 320A service, but I'd do the same thing with standard 200A service.

 

[The Cobbler]

you can always buy your own meter to meter the usage in the shop. but it's probably pointless unless you run a business and want to expense the electricity

 

[JRC3]

I think the cost (based on what others have said in the area) is about $40 per month minimum.

That's $480 per year. $2400 over 5 years. That's 2-post lift money.

 

[Falcon67]

At the old shop I did this. Then after getting the bills I could buy the wire,etc to hook to the house as the equivalent of 6 months of electric bills. Ran the wire, had them come pull the drop and the meter.

Go from the house box IMHO.

 

[Clemson]

I called the power company and inquired about larger service. They are sending out an engineer to take a look and see if I can get above 200 amps. I need to meet with them anyway as right now we only have the land cleared and a driveway cut.

I'll update with what I find out.

 

[floridafarmer]

I just added a new meter in my barn that I had been servicing from my home meter for 20+ years.. For me, the math was easy, especially if you don't have any big up-front install costs.
I have Duke Energy and my monthly bill has a "customer charge" of $9.66. The energy costs (Per KWH) rates are stepped - 1st 1,000 KWH are .07633¢ plus an energy charge of .03698¢. That totals .1137¢/KWH.
Above 1000 KWH the rate is .09259¢ plus an energy charge of .04698¢ which totals .13957¢ per KWH.
The difference is .02587¢ per KWH x 1,000 KWH = $25.87 savings on the first 1,000 KWH on both meters. So when I was pulling from the house - basically, I didn't get that $25.87 benefit at the barn and the power was billed at the higher rate.
Plus - the sub panel in the barn was 600 feet away so I was paying for power at the house and I'm sure there was some fall-off along the way.

I think it depends on the power company charges/rates as well as distance. For me, I needed more power and the install costs were very reasonable. For some of the replies I saw to your post with bigger monthly meter charges, it might be tough to justify.

 

[Falcon67]

I run a 70A feed for the shop off our existing 200A service. We're all electric, no issues with loads. Shop has two AC units, heater, five 240V loads plus lights, lift, tools, etc.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My garage being a former gas station, had a separate service when we bought it. A 200A service at the garage and 60A in the house.

I've swapped both boxes out to matching Square D QO panels. I prefer to have them separate for two reasons. One, if we were to ever sell and the buyer could use it as a business as is. Two, if there is ever an issue with power at one or the other, I can still have power to work off of.

While the latter might seem odd, I've seen enough services get pulled due to electrical issues or house fires. My thinking, just a small bit of insurance or peace of mind.


It didn't help that both services enter on opposite sides of each other.

 

[Clemson]

Spoke with the Engineer and he acted like I was a complete idiot. I tried explaining that I need power setup at a new construction site, and was interested in having more than a 200amp service installed so I could have plenty of power for house + detached garage.

He never understood so I finally just said lets just focus on the house and remove the garage out of the picture entirely...I need power hooked up by January so the contractor can start.


....sheesh I forgot how annoying dealing with people can be.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I'm not seeing how that could go over his head, seems pretty simple to me. We bought the house and the first folks that had a contingent offer already had approval for a detached 24'x24' garage with a dedicated meter. After we had the house I contacted the same contractor about the details of what he had quoted. I was thinking of moving forward with something similar but certainly don't want the expense of an additional meter every month in perpetuity. I only had 60A in my last shop and that was cutting it close, 100A would be plenty and not too difficult to pull off the box immediately below the meter. He understood no problem but was still pushing the separate meter for some reason. I can't see how it would have been easier for him to do it that way vs. the closer house service but the point is moot, just a shed for now and the savings with interest will put a tidy dent in a 40'x70' in four years after we move up the road.

 

[Clemson]

Got the impression he was just not interested in helping. He just wanted to do his job and move on. No time for anything out of the ordinary.

Conversation went in circles with a few smart remarks thrown in. I may bring it up again once I meet him in person on site.

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

Got the impression he was just not interested in helping. He just wanted to do his job and move on. No time for anything out of the ordinary.

Conversation went in circles with a few smart remarks thrown in. I may bring it up again once I meet him in person on site.

You may have to provide a load calculation to get a service larger than 200 amps. It depends on the POCO.

Up here in Canada, if we can give them a reason for a 320/400 amp service we can get one.

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[lazyriverrat]

One meter. The only reason you should consider a second is if the shop and home are too far apart. A 200A service is sufficient for 99% of the residential services in our district. (even if they think they need a 400A service) Many people confuse connected load with their actual demand load.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got the impression he was just not interested in helping. He just wanted to do his job and move on. No time for anything out of the ordinary.

Conversation went in circles with a few smart remarks thrown in. I may bring it up again once I meet him in person on site.

It's very possible he deals with pure residential work and doesn't understand why somebody would want or need a separate service for their home shop.


It's kinda along the lines of book smart but lacking common sense.

 

[Clemson]

One meter. The only reason you should consider a second is if the shop and home are too far apart. A 200A service is sufficient for 99% of the residential services in our district. (even if they think they need a 400A service) Many people confuse connected load with their actual demand load.

Is there a calculator I can use?

I'll have:
House requirements (no idea how to estimate this, is there a standard?)
Pool Requirements - Pump, Skimmer, hope to automate some tasks
Shop Requirements - AC, Welder, power tools, etc