Two-family house: How many electrical meters? (Jersey City: apartments, condo, houses) - New Jersey (NJ) - City-Data Forum

Kthnry · 02-14-2017, 01:46 AM

If you own a two/three-family house, do you just have one electric meter per unit? Or do you also have a house meter for the common areas?

I want to remove the house meter and roll the common-area costs into my personal PSE&G account, but my electrician says that PSE&G is resisting. They are requiring extremely expensive work -- more than five times what my electrician originally estimated just to pull the meter and reroute the wiring to my breaker box -- and may require me to reinstall the house meter if I sell the house. Has anyone had experience with this? I think PSE&G is being that way because rates for the commercial (house) account are much higher and they don't want to lose the revenue, which is exactly why I want to remove the meter.

Blue biker · 02-14-2017, 10:57 AM

Since the house is owner occupied, maybe they can change how the bill is classified?

I live in a condo, that were garden apartments. The garages are a separate building and have their own electric meters. When I first moved in PSEG required a large deposit as it was "commercial". The bill says garage #xxx, after I was here a while they returned my deposit, it was 18yrs ago. I do think I explained the situation to them when I first set up service. I do get billed separately since there are two meters, it seems a waste because the amount of electricity used in the garage is never more than what's allowed with the monthly service charge

nybbler · 02-14-2017, 06:41 PM

Doesn't make a lot of sense; you should just be able to have PSEG pull the meter; anything on your side of the meter is not for them to make rules about (beyond the NEC). It appears the residential tariff allows 2-3 family houses to put "incidental common-use equipment" on one of the unit's meters.

ansky · 02-15-2017, 09:55 AM

I used to live in a 4-family brownstone walkup in Jersey City. There were 5 total electric meters - 1 for each unit, and a separate one for the common areas. That allowed PSEG to bill each apartment separately, plus a separate bill to the landlord to pay for the common areas (basically just a few hallway lights).

fattire2016 · 08-29-2018, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kthnry

If you own a two/three-family house, do you just have one electric meter per unit? Or do you also have a house meter for the common areas?

I want to remove the house meter and roll the common-area costs into my personal PSE&G account, but my electrician says that PSE&G is resisting. They are requiring extremely expensive work -- more than five times what my electrician originally estimated just to pull the meter and reroute the wiring to my breaker box -- and may require me to reinstall the house meter if I sell the house. Has anyone had experience with this? I think PSE&G is being that way because rates for the commercial (house) account are much higher and they don't want to lose the revenue, which is exactly why I want to remove the meter.

i have the same problem. how did you get it resolved? can they change from " commerical' to "residential"?

Kthnry · 09-02-2018, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fattire2016

i have the same problem. how did you get it resolved? can they change from " commerical' to "residential"?

Ha! I forgot I posted this a year and a half ago, so I'm reading the OP and thinking Wow! I have the exact same situation! But it turns out it was me.

No, I haven't resolved it. I keep meaning to bring the electrician out and move some circuits from the house meter to my personal meter, but haven't gotten around to it yet.