Who clicks a link with that title? Seriously. That's literally the exact OPPOSITE of clickbait.
We live in Oakland, CA and according to code, an electric meter (or main panel? or both? not sure) can't be within 3 feet of the gas meter.
Our house was built before that regulation, so the meter is just 2 feet away. The electric meter is the box/circle right in the center, and the gas meter is the gray contraption in the lower right, next to the flower pot.
Replacing the 100A main panel with a 200A main will require moving the panel left so we can pass inspection. The astute observer will notice there isn't actually any enough additional space to slide the panel over!
The only option we currently envision is moving the panel left around to the FRONT of the house. There is probably enough clearance to put a meter here:
- Can an electrical meter be that close to a window? One electrician said no, another said yes as long as it doesn't open (which it doesn't). So fingers crossed on this one.
- Is there enough width? We measured and I think so, but it's gonna be close
- Will Oakland zoning allow us put a meter on the front of the house? We contacted the city. This is allowed as long as it's obscured by landscaping or similar. So it's probably fine.
- Isn't it ugly to have a meter on the front of the house? Yup. Plus all the conduit running 200A wires. Ugh. We'll likely plant in front of it, so it shouldn't be too bad. Alternatively, if we get a Span meter, it's really well designed -- white and sexy -- which you can argue makes our house look a forward-thinking progressive home. I'll probably lean into that :-)
- Isn't it going to cost more? Absolutely! That's the theme of this project, and should probably be the name of this blog.
PS This post an example of this blog getting into our super specific circumstances. But I imagine everyone will have something like this.
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