Adding a 3rd Meter
I was told that I can add a third meter to my 2 family building as a hallway/common area meter. Did anyone here done that? I want to know the process of such a thing. Thanks in advance!
I was told that I can add a third meter to my 2 family building as a hallway/common area meter. Did anyone here done that? I want to know the process of such a thing.
Thanks in advance!
We just did this within the past week and the Con Ed inspector made me pay $100 deposit (check to Con Ed) even though we have had service in our name at the same house for over 15 years. Our electrician rewired the house to have three meters, in order to make 100 amp service work for a two-family, four-story building. I’m not happy about it, as I almost wish we’d been given the option of paying a small fortune to bring in more service from the street, as our A/C and the entire cellar and the outside lights will be on this third meter at the higher rate for years to come. The $100 is nothing compared to the cost of the electrician. Good luck.
say, 4 lights, cfls, on 24h= 75kwh = $13! As a landlord myself, I can’t believe this is worth it. Why even mention it to tenants? I don’t.
Great info thank you all.
My plan is simple on paper-
my 3d floor will be connected to one meter- the current situation.
The 2nd floor will be connected to a 2nd meter- new situation.
The 1st floor (where I live) and the common areas will be connected to the third meter.
Coned said that the charge will be by a penny per kilo higher. It’s not bad.
The city’s electrical inspector will then inspect it and approve it. The question is if the inspector can request a building inspection also..?
Here is the New York State Shared Meter Law
http://bk.ly/bmp or
http://www.pulp.tc/Shared_Meter_Law_091509.pdf
To clarify my last post. I have three units in my house qualifying as Multiple Dwelling.
I’m not sure if Rules with ConEd or the Public Service Commission are different for two family.
from the NY State PSC website for electric service
Deposits
* New customers do not have to pay deposits.
* If you don’t pay two bills in a row, you can be asked for a deposit (except for, in most cases, senior citizens and consumers who receive public assistance).
* If you must pay a deposit, you can pay it in installments over a 12-month period.
* If you pay your bills on time for one year, you can get your deposit back, with interest.
I had a separate meter put in for common area Electric. It is referred to as a Public Light Panel or “PLP”. The rate is negligably higher than a regular residential. It is important to separate if any of the public lights are connected to circuit breakers on the tenant’s meter. The electric company considers this a shared meter condition and if they estimate that usage is over a certain Kwh it is not acceptible.
I have a second and floor rental, and unfortuantely most of the public lights were connected to the second floor meter. Previous problem tenants put in a complaint to the public service commision regarding setup. Even though they had an established $40 discount off the rent stated in the lease, PSC informed ConEd that I would have to remedy the situation. The PSC also can recommend rebate to the tenant for the electric use on their meter that you will be charged for. Big headache.
Your electrician will need to file with the DOB, install an additional PLP panel, rework electric lines to the new panel, and arrange for ConEd to install the additional meter.
If this is your situation, do it now.
neither Con Ed nor BUG(national grid) will charge a deposit to an existing client that adds a new meter-as long as the meter is in the same name of an existing client with a good payment record. In fact I am fairly sure that state rules prohibit it.
Con Ed will add or remove a meter, if your electrician files appropriately and re does the service to the meter inside. Con Ed is responsible for bring the current into the house to the meter and for the meter itself.
I have taken away a meter in my house. I get the lower rate and there is a base charge for a meter that adds up. Its cheaper for me to have this consolidated meter than two meters.
For tax purposes I prorate the use….and the IRS has never questioned it.
For God’s sake, don’t do this! I am desperate to get rid of my public meter. You will have to pay a delivery charge every month that will be many times the actual usage. Also, every time Con Ed wants to raise rates, they raise the delivery charge instead of elec. rate. This way, they can say electricity has not gone up. It’s an awful rip off.