[MassHistPres] Electric Meters in Historic Districts

[Nino Susi]

In answer to the question as to why indoor meters are avoided whenever
possible - 2 reasons I can think of.
1) meters on the inside of a property are more susceptible to power theft -
which was rampant at one time.
2) in case of a fire, the exterior meter can be quickly pulled out in order
to kill all power to the property. Strong argument in a court case or
arbitration.

If a meter is located on the side of a property or in some other indiscreet
location away from the existing service, the addition of a disconnect such
as a main circuit breaker in a combined enclosure with the meter will allow
for a main cable to be run indoors or underground to the existing interior
service rather than moving the service closer to the meter - much more
economical.

Nino Susi
Medford MA


On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 3:35 PM, <slater at alum.rpi.edu> wrote:

>  I know I've told this story before, but in Springfield, the power company
> puts it onto the homeowner -- the power company mandates that meters which
> were previously inside must come out if there is a change in service (like
> upgrading to 200 amps).
>
> It is impractical for a homeowner to move the meter to the side of the
> property because the circuit breaker and all the wiring are not easily moved
> on the interior of the structure.
>
> The homeowner is faced with 3 unpleasant choices:
>
> 1) abandon the project, which is a very bad choice since a homeowner
> usually does not realize that changing an electrical service will result in
> an exterior change, and often is halfway through a renovation when it comes
> up.
>
> 2) put the meter somewhere inconspicuous by moving the interior service and
> wiring, a job that would probably be easily in the 5 figures. Also very
> unpleasant.
>
> 3) put the meter on the outside of the house directly above where it was
> installed originally on the interior, which is usually the front of the
> house. Also very unpleasant.
>
> The historical commission, by eliminating option #3 -- the worst from the
> HCs perspective, is forcing a homeowner to spend five figures to remedy an
> electric meter on the front of a property. I don't think that would hold up
> in court.
>
> The power company is unrelenting with their requirement to leave meters on
> the interiors -- not sure why, since they read them by truck and the readers
> can get a signal on the inside of the house. I think that this is the avenue
> that should be pursued by multiple historical commissions working together,
> since power companies usually service multiple cities and towns.
>
> Ralph Slate
> Springfield, MA
>
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