INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS ELECTRIC SERVICE - NStar

ARTICLE 704 ARTICLE 705
NSTAR employees to use adjacent property, climb fences or
other obstructions, or cause damage to the customer’s
shrubbery or flower beds in gaining access to the meter.
In areas subject to vandalism or damage, permission may be
granted for indoor meters. All such indoor meters shall be in
a readily accessible location next to the service entrance
equipment.
In multiple occupancy buildings, for residential or
commercial use, permission may be granted for
meters to be installed indoors in one common
location accessible to all occupants.
Metering equipment shall not be installed in locations subject
to excessive moisture, dust, heat, chemical fumes or in
locations which are hazardous or inaccessible.
Meter locations are not permitted in living spaces, stairways
or under stairways, display windows, attics, boiler rooms,
elevator shafts; over doors, stoves or sinks; directly under, in
the rear of, or close to, steam, gas, water or drain pipes or
near moving machinery.
In special circumstances, meter locations may be required to
be changed to ensure the integrity of the metering equipment.
A. Outdoor Meters
Outdoor meter sockets should be mounted so that the
face of the meter is less than 6 feet above the final grade.
In no instance will any meter be installed with the center
of the meter more than 6 feet, nor the center of the
meter less than 3 feet above the final grade. A clear area
of 3 feet is required in front of each meter.(See Sketch 13)
Installation On Poles
NSTAR does not permit the installation of meters on its
poles, except for cable TV amplifiers. Specific approval
shall be obtained by NSTAR for such installations and shall
conform to Massachusetts Electrical Code requirements.
(Refer to Article 907)
Installation On Pedestal
For residential and small commercial applications only, the
installation of the meter socket shall be permitted to be
mounted on a free-standing pedestal pending the approval
of the authority having jurisdiction. The customer may be
required to provide protective devices for and at the freestanding
pedestal. (See Sketch 14)
B. Indoor Meters
Multiple meter bank-installed indoors shall be mounted so
that the center of the top meter(s) is no more than
6 feet and the center of the bottom meter is no less than 3
feet above the floor level. A clear area of 3 feet is required
in front of each meter.
705. Location of Service Disconnect and Current
Limiting Protection
A. Hot Sequence
In general, the service disconnect shall be located on the
load side of the meter (hot sequence metering).The
service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily
accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the
service entrance conductors. (See Sketch 15)
B. Cold Sequence
The service disconnect shall be located on the line side of
the individual meter socket (cold sequence metering) for
the following applications:
78
79