Combining meters? (former duplex)
Has anyone converted a house with two electric meters into a single meter? Could you tell me about the process, permits, cost, and general headache if you've done this? The house is a former duplex (now single family home) and the second kitchen was removed, but the house remains on two meters. How big of a pain is this going to be?
I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but this is Walnut Creek.
Thank you!
Feb 25, 2021
Parent Replies
My house in Berkeley has two electric meters. (Duplex converted to a single family.) There is no need to pay to have the second meter removed, we still have two. PG&E just bills you as meter aggregation. There are advantages in having two meters. If you have an electric car or plan on getting one you get get on PG&E’s EV-B rate plan. If you do, your PG&E electric bill will drop by 30% or more. (Ours is 40% less.) Even if you don’t have an EV car PG&E bills on a tired system. The more electricity you use per meter the more you pay. Having two meters allows you to buy twice as much electricity at the lower rate. If you ever plan it install solar having two meters allows you to be on a lower priced rate plan. In May PG&E is forcing everyone to change rate plans. Your bill could almost double if you switch to one meter when the rates change in May.
If you don’t care about the price of electricity switching to one meter is very easy provided your circuit breaker panel can accommodate the extra electrical load. A good electrician should be able to make the switch in less than a day. Cost for everything, parts, labor and permits should not be more than $500 - $ 700 if you current electrical panel can handle the additional load. If it can’t handle the additional load you are looking at well over a thousand if not three or four. Our house has an upgraded electrical system. For us to convert from two meters to one would take about an hour, no more than two.
Hope this helps.