Section 9 - Metering Equipment

1. Meter Types

All energy supplied by the Cooperative will be measured by electric meters furnished and owned by the Cooperative. The Cooperative employs a variety of different types of meters to accurately measure electric use sold under each of its tariffs. In general, for services that are either greater than 200 amperes and/or larger than 300 volts, the Cooperative utilizes instrument rated meters designed with current and/or potential transformers. Below these levels, the Cooperative uses self-contained meters that do not require provision for instrument transformers. A member or contractor should consult with the Cooperative to review the type of meter socket that is required for the specific service being requested.

Most meters used by the Cooperative employ spade type terminals. However, in the case of some instrument rated installations, the Cooperative utilizes so-called " A-base" or bottom connected meters.

2. Meter Location & Height

• Meters for single occupancy buildings and small multiple occupancy buildings must be located outside the building, and in a location approved by the Cooperative which is easily accessible to the Cooperative's meter reading and maintenance personnel.
• In large multiple occupancy buildings, meters may be located inside the building in a single common area approved by the Cooperative. Indoor meters must be located in a dry and clean area that is accessible to the Cooperative's meter personnel at all times. Where access is restricted at any time, a lock box containing the building key (but accessed by the Cooperative's standard key) shall be provided on the exterior of the building.
• Single electric meters shall be installed at a height of between 5 to 5 1/2 feet above finish grade. Multiple metering installations that cannot accommodate all meters within a range of 5 to 5 1/2 feet above finish grade may utilize the space. below this level down to a minimum height of 3 ft. above floor level or finish grade.
• In general, meters shall be located at or near the division of ownership between supply facilities owned by the Cooperative and the service equipment installed and owned by the member.

3. Meter Sockets

Mounting - Meter sockets shall be mounted plumb and securely fastened to supports with screws. On masonry supports, expansion bolts or anchors shall be used. Outdoor meter sockets shall be made water-tight at all conduit or conductor entrance positions.

Self-Contained Meter Sockets - Members are required to furnish and install meter sockets for self-contained meters (see Paragraph #1 of this Section) except in the case of a meter mounted on a pole. All meter equipment associated with a meter on a pole will be supplied and installed by the Cooperative, and billed to the member. Member supplied meter sockets shall be Underwriters' Laboratories (U.L.) approved, and shall include a locking provision that will enable the Cooperative to lock the socket with a meter seal after the meter is installed.

The incoming line side conductors must always be connected to the top terminals of the meter socket.

Instrument Rated Meter Sockets - The proper meter sockets together with the appropriate instrument transformer enclosures, transformers, and test switches for use with instrument rated meters shall be furnished by the Cooperative (at the member's expense), but installed by the member's electrical contractor unless otherwise agreed to by the Cooperative (see paragraph #4 of this Section). The Cooperative will wire the metering installation after this equipment has installed in place by the contractor. The Cooperative may permit other arrangements on occasion upon agreement.

Exception: In the case of metal-clad freestanding service entrance equipment, the Cooperative will permit the use of a separate, completely isolated compartment for its instrument transformers, provided the size and design meet the approval of the Cooperative. Meter sockets installed in conjunction with free standing service entrance equipment may be mounted separately from, but not more than fifteen feet away from, the instrument transformer compartment.

4. Instrument Transformer Metering Equipment

Enclosures for Transformers - Except in the case of a service metered on a pole, an enclosure is required to house the instrument transformers used for metering services up to 600 volts. The Cooperative will furnish a suitable enclosure for the member's contractor to install. Normally the instrument transformer enclosure shall be mounted near but ahead of the main service disconnect.

Exception # I: Instrument transformers for metering a high voltage service (over 600 volts) will be mounted on the pole or, in the case of an underground service, within a special pad-mounted enclosure provided by the Cooperative.

Exception #2: Commercial and industrial buildings which utilize metal- clad switch gear or free standing service entrance equipment may provide separate and sealable instrument transformer compartments as an integral component of the switch gear or service entrance equipment. The Cooperative's Metering Dept. should be consulted during the planning stages to ensure that adequate space and access provisions for the Cooperative's metering equipment are included within the member's service entrance equipment.

Exception #3: Where single or three phase service under 300 volts (but over 200 amperes) is rendered to a pole rather than to a building, in most cases the necessary current transformers can be mounted on the pole, eliminating the requirement for an instrument transformer enclosure.

Instrument transformer enclosures shall not be used to contain or terminate other wiring not associated with the function of metering a member's electric load. Only service entrance conductors to be metered shall enter and leave the transformer enclosure and no branch circuit connections or other equipment shall be permitted inside the enclosure.

The member's contractor shall install 1-1/4 inch conduit between the instrument transformer enclosure and the meter socket. In general, the meter socket shall be mounted within 15 ft. of the transformer enclosure.

The instrument transformer enclosure will be locked and sealed by the Cooperative when the meter has been installed. After sealing, entry to the instrument transformer enclosure and meter socket is expressly prohibited unless authorized by the Cooperative.

Transformers - The Cooperative will furnish and install all instrument transformers used in conjunction with metering a member's service. The Cooperative will wire the secondary metering circuits and furnish and install a test switch between the meter socket and the instrument transformers.

5. Metering For Underground Services

Meter Pedestals - As noted in Section 5 Underground Services, low voltage services installed by the member may under some circumstances be metered on a meter pedestal. Normally this will occur when a member elects to run his or her own low voltage service extension from the Cooperative's existing underground system. Meter pedestals are free standing posts, stub poles, or commercially available metallic supports to which the meter socket and associated equipment is affixed. Pedestals must be installed at least 4 ft. into the ground and permit the meter to be installed at a height of 5 to 5 1/2 ft. above the ground. Pedestals made of wood must be pressure treated to resist decay.

Metering on Pad-Mounted Transformers - Where it is convenient to do so, and only a single service is contemplated, the Cooperative will permit instrument rated metering to be installed in conjunction with the pad-mounted transformer supplying the member.

Electric Load Worksheet Please print and fill out the Electric Load Worksheet and bring in, or mail to the engineering department.