[MassHistPres] Electric Meters in Historic Districts

[Garrett Laws]

The solar industry is required to have a separate emergency shut that
isn't very large... Why not request the same in this case with the
meter, electrical boxes etc. staying on the interior while only adding
the extra for the one shut off.

Garrett laws

On Monday, November 22, 2010, Nino Susi <ninosusi at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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 SusiMedford 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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