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Overview
It is essential to ensure that the main panel can adequately support the electrical load of the entire system. If a large solar system is connected to a small meter, it may overload it, leading to potential safety hazards. If it is determined the size of the system is too large for the main panel to handle or if the current panel does not meet our acceptance criteria, an MPU will be added to the project. If it is determined that your project needs an MPU, there will be a meter spot to ensure the location of the new main panel is sufficient with current safety and code regulations.
Meter Spot
A meter spot refers to the utility company's inspection of a job that involves an MPU. During this inspection, the utility will assess the Main Panel's location and determine if it needs to be relocated. They will also inform us if the power needs to be disconnected while we carry out the work.
ESP will submit the plans to the utility company and request a meter spot for the inspection process.
Due to its nature, the timeframe of a meter spot is subject to the utility company's availability. Generally, it will take at least a month, potentially longer, to get the meter spot results back.
The utility company will typically coordinate scheduling directly with the homeowner. It is crucial for the homeowner to provide clear working access to the meter, meaning no locked gates, dogs, or foliage near the meter. If the homeowner fails to provide easy access to the meter, it can lead to a rescheduling of the meter spot.
Once the meter spot results are determined by the utility, ESP can proceed with scheduling the work required to perform the Main Panel Upgrade.
Main Panel Upgrade
A Main Panel Upgrade involves removing the old meter and replacing it with a larger meter. Once the meter spot results are received, ESP can perform the work. Please note, If the utility determines a disconnect is required to upgrade the main panel, the schedule will depend on the utility company's schedule which is typically at least a week but potentially over a month out.
An MPU will usually take 1-2 days to complete. After the new meter is installed, most utilities will require a rough inspection of the new meter. During this inspection, the utility will inspect the electrical work on the open panel.
Some things to note:
- If there is a disconnect, the inspection must take place before they can turn the power back on.
- A rough inspection will take place before the wall is repaired for flush-meters
- Flush meters will require an additional team to repair the stucco on the wall on a separate day from the MPU.
- If a relocation was determined in the meter spot, the inspector must perform a line transfer to shift the power from the old panel to the new one.