Fixing or Upgrading Your House’s Meter Base

Protecting an electric meter from the elements, a meter base is an outdoor enclosure that keeps wires and electrical connections dry. We will cover a few aspects about meter bases from the homeowner’s point of view. Your home’s meter base may need to be upgraded to meet greater power demands and promote safety. Be sure to work with an experienced and licensed electrician to get the best results.

Homeowner’s Responsibility

Although the local power company provides the electric meter inside the base, a homeowner has the responsibility for all equipment attached. The utility has the responsibility for supplying power up to the point of attachment.

In instances when bad weather detaches the electrical line from a home, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to repair the point of attachment if it’s damaged. Now if the line itself is damaged, the utility should re-connect it without charging a fee. However, any required repairs will be the homeowner’s responsibility before proceeding.

Homeowners who have their electric service underground have to ensure that the utility has a clear path, such as a trench, for laying their cable. They must also provide a proper conduit system to protect wires leading to the meter base.

Upgrading a Meter Base

Older meter bases may require upgrading in order to comply with code requirements, which are updated regularly to keep up with current needs. Your meter base can be upgraded to higher amperages. Currently, 200 amps is the standard for most new homes.

Types of Meter Bases

Owners of older homes equipped with a 60A meter base should seriously consider replacing it. Installing a 200A meter base will meet modern power demands and increase safety. Not uncommon in American homes, a 100A meter base is often upgraded to 200A for the same reasons above. 200A meter bases are now the most common for the majority of homes. However, large homes may need a 400A meter base. Dimming and flickering lights, among other issues, are caused by the lack of amperage capacity.

Electrical Peace of Mind

Providing professional electricians since 1988 in Maryland, Cook Electric is the company you can rely on for all your electrical service needs. For knowledgeable, fair, honest, reliable, and conscientious service, call Cook Electric today at (410) 266-9040. We will be very glad to help you.