Alabama Administrative Code
Title 770 - ALABAMA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Chapter 770-X-3 - SPECIAL ELECTRIC RULES
Section 770-X-3-.02 - Location Of Meters And Master Metering
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 770-X-3-.02
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 5, February 29, 2024
(1) All Meters
(a) The center of meters hereafter installed
shall not be more than five (5) or less than four (4) feet above final grade of
floor level.
(b) When metering for
seven (7) or more apartments grouped on one wall, the center of meters
hereafter installed may be as high as six (6) feet above final grade of floor
level.
(2) Outdoor Meters
(a) Where meters are installed
outdoors, they shall be placed on the exterior of buildings in locations
readily accessible to authorized company representatives for meter reading,
testing, and maintenance, and shall not be subject to severe
vibration.
(b) Meters shall not be
installed in locations where the meter readers or servicemen may inadvertently
damage flower beds or shrubbery, or where it will be necessary for them to
climb fences or other obstructions to read or service the meters. They shall
not be placed in locations where they may be accidentally damaged, such as
buildings where they will extend unguarded into alleys or driveways, or where
they will cause inconvenience either to the customer or to the company's
representative.
(3) Indoor Meters
(a) New meters will be installed
indoors only at the discretion of the utility. Where meters are installed
indoors, they shall be located on the first floor or in the basement where they
will be readily accessible to authorized company representatives for meter
reading, testing, or maintenance and shall not be subject to severe vibration
or excessive dampness. Meters shall not be installed near belts or moving
machinery endangering the safety of those doing work on such meters.
(4) Master Metering
(a) Master Metering is prohibited in
buildings on which construction began on or after January 1, 1981, and which
have more than one unit, and separate metering of the electric energy
controlled by each unit in such building is required.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of
770-X-3-.02(D)(1), Master Metering is permitted, and separate metering is not
required, in the following cases:
1. In
residential buildings where units are usually rented or leased for a term of
less than 30 days;
2. In
residential buildings where a single family residence is divided to create a
separate unit or units;
3. In
residential buildings that do not have individual electric appliances in the
units for one or more of the following purposes:
(i) Space heating
(ii) Space cooling
(iii) Water heating
4. In student housing buildings of schools,
colleges, and universities;
5. In
commercial buildings where one company or firm occupies 70% or more of the
available floor space;
6. In
commercial buildings which are not permanently divided into units, but space is
allocated for each new tenant;
7.
In residential buildings where tenants are required to be at least 60 years of
age.
(c) Master Metering
is prohibited in mobile home parks opened after June 1, 1981, and separate
metering of the electric energy controlled by each mobile home is required.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in mobile home parks where space is
usually rented or leased for a term of less than 30 days, separate metering is
not required.
(d) Additional
exceptions may be permitted by order of the Commission in specific situations
where it appears that a prohibition of a Master Meter would not be appropriate.
The Secretary of the Commission will serve a copy of the petitions or requests
for exceptions on parties so requesting, and written comments on a petition or
request may be filed within 15 days of the filing of the petition or
request.
(5) Meter Relocations
(a) The Utility may, at its option
and at its expense, relocate a meter when deemed reasonably
necessary.
(b) The company, upon
request, will relocate a customer's service facilities and the customer will
pay such costs as are in accordance with the company's applicable service
extension policy.
Author: Alabama Public Service Commission
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 37-1-32, 37-1-38, 37-1-53.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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