How do I find a meter base/socket with two sockets that fits my space?

[reader2580]

I plan to eventually put in electric heating with a heat pump. My utility will give me half price on the electricity with a separate meter for the electric heat. Normally, you would just put a breaker in your main panel and feed that to a separate meter base. My issue is if I do that I will get charged for electricity generated by my solar panels during the day. The meter can't distinguish between utility supplied power and my solar power.

I asked if I could tap the utility side of my current meter base to feed the other meter and they said no. They said you have to use a two (or three) meter base with a bus that supplies the utility side of all meters from a common point. The utility can only make one connection.



My issue is finding something that will fit in my limited space. I am too close to the gas meter to install anything to the left of my emergency disconnect switch. I replaced my meter base and added the required emergency disconnect for my solar in 2020. I was stupid and didn't ask about the electric heating when I did this work, or I would have put in a different arrangement in 2020. Any suggestions for a meter base that has a common bus on the utility side, room for two or three meters, and has lever bypass? (Lever bypass requirement eliminates a lot of meter bases.)

 

[reader2580]

A lot more NEC 2020 compliant meter bases with integrated emergency disconnect are on the market now than in late summer 2020. Milbank had one for a single meter with the switch integrated, but the utility power comes up the left side and my old meter base it came in the right side. I didn't think I could move the utility feed enough to make a left side feed work. It turns out it would have worked because once I dug a huge hole to uncover the utility line it turned out I could move the line a few feet either way. The linemen who disconnected my power also told me they could splice the cable underground if need be.

Milbank makes a U5882 meter base now that might be perfect for me, but it does not have lever bypass. It is quite large so not sure if it would fit.

 

[Kezorm]

Afraid I don't have an answer for you, but when I did it 10 years ago, the only dual socket meter bases that Xcel would accept are huge. Add in newer requirement for disconnects and I don't see there being enough room. How hard would it be to get the gas meter moved a few feet to the left? I think Centerpoint cost is generally reasonable on a short meter move.

I also have a dual fuel setup with ground source heat pump and solar PV hooked up to the main service (left analog meter was replaced with bi-directional meter after solar PV this summer). My solar installer was skeptical that Xcel would let me run with both solar PV and Dual Fuel, but never heard a peep from Xcel about it. Here's the ginormous meter base for reference. And this doesn't even have outside disconnects...

 

[reader2580]

I have Connexus Energy for electricity and Xcel for gas. I had numerous discussions with Connexus about meter bases when I did my solar because their document listing acceptable meter bases was way outdated. They finally said the only requirement is that it be UL listed and have a lever bypass. That Milbank U5882 is about the same size as the meter base in that photo.

I don’t know where else the gas meter could be placed due to windows and an A/C condenser taking up the rest of the wall.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Good luck

meter bases are in very short supply right now

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Do those windows open? If so then the gas meter is not compliant as the regulator vent is right below them. It needs to be extended past the window

 

[reader2580]

Good luck

meter bases are in very short supply right now

This is something that won't happen for quite a while like a few years. I want to start my research now so I know what changes I might have to make to accommodate a new meter base. Even in normal supply times some less common meter bases have long lead times.

The gas company placed the meter there in 2014 long after the house was built. The electric meter and the window were already there. (The electric meter used to be where the disconnect switch is.) I have never seen a gas meter with an extended vent in my area. I would have the meter moved instead of having an eight foot tall vent installed.

 

[sparky 1971]

It will still need to have some kind of disconnecting means on the exterior, but this is the best I can think of as far as fitting as well as having a lever bypass.

Milbank - U5112-X-5T9-BL

www.milbankworks.com

https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Milbank-U5112-X-5T9-Bl-Power-Outlet/5780664?srsltid=AYJSbAcLqBGtYwpJm92kz0_vgyy1DcAumbaJLJNcs4fmJ2VzXToW3bQwfwc

 

[wyliesdiesels]

This is something that won't happen for quite a while like a few years. I want to start my research now so I know what changes I might have to make to accommodate a new meter base. Even in normal supply times some less common meter bases have long lead times.

The gas company placed the meter there in 2014 long after the house was built. The electric meter and the window were already there. (The electric meter used to be where the disconnect switch is.) I have never seen a gas meter with an extended vent in my area. I would have the meter moved instead of having an eight foot tall vent installed.

the vent extension would not be vertical it would be horizontal so it vents away from the window.

my gas meter is right below a window and the vent on the regulator was extended about 3' so its outlet is not below the window