2023 09 15 - 200 Amp Meter Loop Specifications
2023 09 15 - 200 Amp Meter Loop Specifications
2023 09 15 - 200 Amp Meter Loop Specifications
1. Residential and commercial meter loops are typically used when constructing facilities for permanent service.
All guidelines outlined in this document shall be followed by your contractor or electrician. PEC shall provide
and install a service wire drop to the member's meter loop.
2. The member shall be in compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and all applicable codes and
ordinances as legally required by any local authorities having jurisdiction. PEC is in compliance with the
National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).
3. For your protection, PEC urges you or your electrician to use only NEC-approved procedures and materials.
All meter loops must be sized according to the load to be served and NEC guidelines.
4. PEC will refuse service where a known hazardous condition exists and/or if connections do not meet the
specifications outlined in this document. PEC urges the member to use a qualified electrician to prevent safety
hazards, additional costs, and delays. PEC requires that all construction meet or exceed these specifications
prior to service connection. While PEC makes all reasonable efforts to ensure good electrical practice on the
member's side, the Cooperative is not responsible for validating additional criteria that may be applicable to
the member's premises beyond the scope of this document.
5. The member will be responsible for providing, installing, replacement, and repair of the meter loop, including
the meter socket, panels, conduit, underground cable, poles, racks, weatherhead, etc. The member shall own
the meter rack and shall be solely responsible for the related construction, installation, and maintenance of all
electrical and structural components. Splicing is not permitted within meter sockets. The underground cable
used shall be an approved type for underground installation (USE type or UF type). Conductor size will be
based on member load, location of meter socket, and NEC for size of conduit. No member-owned facilities
shall be mounted on PEC-owned poles.
6. Member-owned poles shall be installed a minimum of 10' and a maximum of 40' from transformer. Never install
member-owned poles and/or PEC poles under overhead electric lines. Weatherhead shall not extend above
pole top. Steel poles must be capped to prevent water ingress and may be more than one piece if the final
product is appropriately coupled and meets all other requirements. Pole shall be buried 10% of pole height +
2', be of sufficient height above grade to meet NESC clearances (NESC Table 232-1), and meet the following
criteria:
5" minimum diameter, at the narrowest point, for creosote-treated or commercially pressure-treated
wood poles.
4.5" outside diameter and minimum 0.237" thickness for round steel poles.
4" square and minimum 0.25" thickness for square steel poles.
7. Clearances from ground level to service attachment point shall follow the requirements
of NESC Table 232-1 and associated footnotes and NESC Rule 234C3d for residential
decks. Clearances from ground level to service attachment shall be a minimum of
16' for service to a non-residential building or for residential services crossing potential
traffic exceeding 8' in height. 12' clearance is permissible for a residential driveway
accessible to pedestrians and for horseback riders less than 8' in height. 10' clearance
is permitted for areas only accessible to pedestrians. This is to include all pole-mounted
services and weatherheads mounted to the side of a structure and above
the roof line of a structure.
09/08/2023
(USE TYPE OR UF TYPE) WAS (USE OR UF TYPE),
REV D DATE 09/08/2023 REVISION BY RWC CHK SSS APR MMG
MATCH 320A NOTES, RE-WORDED NOTE 7
8. Neutral conductor must be electrically continuous through the meter socket to the main panel and must be
attached to the meter socket. Electric contractor has the option of terminating the neutral at the meter socket
lug. Main panels will be terminated at the meter socket lugs. Neutral conductor size shall meet or exceed
NEC or local ordinance requirements. It is the responsibility of the member or their electrician to make this
determination.
9. A 200-amp meter loop is rated for breaker(s) less than or equal to 225 amps. For information on higher
amperages, refer to the 320-Amp Meter Loop Specifications.
10. The exterior of the service area shall have a weatherproof main disconnect panel fused or breaker-protected
regardless of the number of branch circuit breakers.
11. Ground cables shall be #6 copper minimum or larger per NEC Table 250.66. Ground rods shall be 5/8" x 8'
copper-clad with clamp and driven at or below grade per NEC. Service areas not bound by permits or codes
are required to install a 5/8" x 8' copper-clad ground rod. If the electric service is installed under an electrical
permit, other grounding methods may be used in accordance with NEC.
12. Bypass levers shall be equipped on all single-phase meter installations 320 amps and above, and on all
three-phase meter installations regardless of amperage.
13. For commercial/industrial/multi-family residential underground services where the meter or a bank of meters is
to be located on the building or adjacent to the load, the service (cable, conduit, and trench) from the
transformer to the load will be provided by the member/developer.
14. Members and/or contractors will have a 30-day grace period to become fully compliant when new PEC
specifications are posted. Any project started prior to the release of new specifications can be completed using
the previous specifications.
15. Please contact your PEC district office at 1-888-554-4732 prior to construction.
09/08/2023
REV E DATE 09/08/2023 REVISION REMOVED WIRE GUIDELINE CHART, MATCH 320A NOTES BY RWC CHK SSS APR MMG
WEATHERHEAD
WEATHERPROOF FUSED
OR BREAKER-PROTECTED MAX. 6'
MAIN PANEL MIN. 4'
GROUND ROD
UL-APPROVED OVERHEAD
WEATHER-TIGHT METER SOCKET
CONNECTOR SUPPLIED BY MEMBER
WEATHERPROOF FUSED
OR BREAKER-PROTECTED
MAIN PANEL
MAX. 6'
MIN. 4'
#6 COPPER MIN. OR
LARGER AS PER NEC
09/08/2023
GROUND ROD
MAX, 6' MIN.4' WAS MAX. 6' MIN. 5'
REV B DATE 09/08/2023 REVISION BY RWC CHK SSS APR MMG
REDRAWN, MATCH 320A NOTES
PEC WIRE
30" OF TAILS
OUT OF
WEATHERHEAD
SERVICE RACEWAY
REFER TO NOTE 7 SHALL BE 2" RIGID
ON PAGE 1 FOR METAL CONDUIT ONLY
SERVICE ATTACHMENT (NOT IMC OR EMT)
POINT CLEARANCES
WEATHERPROOF FUSED
OR BREAKER-PROTECTED
MAIN PANEL
MAX. 6'
MIN. 4' #6 COPPER MIN.
OR LARGER
AS PER NEC
GROUND ROD
GROUND ROD
CAP
MEMBER TO SUPPLY AND
INSTALL EYEBOLT
MAX. 18" REFER TO NOTE 7
ON PAGE 1 FOR
SERVICE ATTACHMENT
WEATHERHEAD POINT CLEARANCES
WEATHER-TIGHT
CONNECTOR
MIN. 10'
CLEARANCE
UL-APPROVED OVERHEAD METER SOCKET TO DRIP LOOP
SUPPLIED BY MEMBER
09/08/2023
#6 COPPER MIN. OR
LARGER AS PER NEC
WEATHERPROOF FUSED
OR BREAKER-PROTECTED MAX. 6'
MAIN PANEL MIN. 4'
FILL ABOVE GRADE
GROUND ROD
MAX. 18"
REFER TO NOTE 7
ON PAGE 1 FOR
SERVICE ATTACHMENT
POINT CLEARANCES
UNISTRUT MIN.
3/4" X 1 1/2" OF
REQUIRED LENGTH 2" MAX.
EXTENSION
2" NIPPLE
#6 COPPER MIN. OR
LARGER AS PER NEC RIGID PIPE OR IMC
TO BE SET IN
FILL ABOVE CONCRETE 10%
MAX. 6' GRADE OF TOTAL HEIGHT
MIN. 4' +2' DEEP
GROUND ROD
09/08/2023
UL-APPROVED UNDERGROUND
METER SOCKET SUPPLIED
BY MEMBER
WEATHERPROOF FUSED
OR BREAKER-PROTECTED
MAIN PANEL
2" NIPPLE
3" SCHEDULE 80
URD LATERAL #6 COPPER MIN.
OR LARGER AS
GROUND ROD PRE NEC
MAX. 6' MIN. 4' WAS MAX. 6' MIN. 5'
REV A DATE 09/08/2023 REVISION BY RWC CHK SSS APR MMG
REDRAWN AND MATCH 320A NOTES
MEMBER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF UNDERGROUND CABLE FROM THE BREAKER
TO THE LOAD SIDE OF THE METER SOCKET. THE UNDERGROUND CABLE USED SHALL BE AN APPROVED
TYPE FOR UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION (USE TYPE OR UF TYPE). CONDUCTOR SIZE WILL BE BASED ON
MEMBER LOAD, LOCATION OF METER, AND NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE FOR SIZE OF CONDUIT.
UL-APPROVED UNDERGROUND
WEATHERPROOF FUSED
METER SOCKET SUPPLIED BY MEMBER
OR BREAKER-PROTECTED
MAIN PANEL
CAP
UNISTRUT
SUPPORT AS
NEEDED
#6 COPPER
MIN. OR 2" MAX.
4' MIN. LARGER AS EXTENSION
FROM TOP PER NEC
OF PIPE
TO GRADE
MIN. 2" NIPPLE
INCOMING BETWEEN
5' MAX.
CONDUIT PANELS
3' MIN.
MUST ATTACH
TO THE SIDE
OF THE RIGID PIPE OR
METER CAN
09/08/2023 IMC TO BE SET
OPPOSITE IN CONCRETE
#6 COPPER MIN. OR 10% OF TOTAL
FROM THE LARGER AS PER NEC
DISCONNECT HEIGHT + 2'
DEEP
GROUND ROD
24"
MEMBER FEED
6"
SEE NOTE 2
3' MIN. 3' MIN.
3' MIN.
MAX. 6'
MIN. 4'
3' MIN.
09/08/2023
NOTES:
1. PERMANENT AND/OR TEMPORARY OBSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT PERMITTED WITHIN 3' IN
ANY DIRECTION OF AN ELECTRIC METER.
2. OBSTRUCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO TREES, SHRUBS, HVAC UNITS,
GENERATORS, WALLS, FENCES, GAS METERS, WINDOWS, AND/OR BUILDINGS.