Meter Installation

• All self-contained and transformer-rated meters, including CT enclosures, need to be installed outdoors. All meters originally installed outdoors that, due to alterations or additions to the building, become enclosed within the building structure (e.g. enclosed patio or garage), where access through a doorway is required, shall be relocated to an outdoor location designated by the Company’s local Electric Meter Department.
  • Xcel Energy is not responsible for the relocation of the service attachment, service entrance, or metering equipment resulting from an improper location that does not meet requirements.
• In locations with heavy snowfall or ice loading and in locations above 6000 feet in elevation, all meters shall be installed on the gable or non-drip side of a building or other structure. There shall be no adjacent rooflines, which will drip directly on or towards a neighboring meter installation. Please see Drawing SC-20 in the  Xcel Energy Standards of Installation and Use Manual for more details.
• Prohibited Electric Meter Locations:
  1. Electric Meters cannot be installed on fences, mobile homes, construction trailers, or company owned poles.
  2. Where the meter will interfere with traffic on sidewalks, driveways, hallways, or passageways.
  3. Where the meter will obstruct the opening of doors or windows.
  4. In a location that may be considered hazardous.
  5. Where meter reading or servicing become impracticable.

• Purchasing, installing, connecting, and maintaining self-contained meter sockets is the responsibility of the customer. Please work with an electrician to ensure the electric meter socket meet current installation standards. For more information, refer to section(s) 3 and 4 of the Xcel Energy Standards of Installation and Use Manual.
• K-base type meter socket installations are not allowed within the Company's service areas.

• If your project requires a Current Transformer or if your project requires a Secondary Connection cabinet, it is important to understand your responsibilities for installation as well as Xcel Energy's. Please see Drawing TR 10 and TR 20 of the Xcel Energy Standards of Installation and Use Manual.

• In locations with heavy snowfall, ice loading, and in locations above 6000 feet in elevation, all meters shall be installed on the gable or non-drip side of a building or other structure, and there shall be no adjacent rooflines, which will drip directly on or towards a neighboring meter installation. Please see Drawing SC-20A in the Xcel Energy Standards of Installation and Use Manual for more details.
  • Xcel Energy is not responsible for the relocation of the service attachment, service entrance, or metering equipment resulting from an improper location that does not meet requirements.
• There needs to be a 3' radial minimum clearance between the discharge/release point of the relief device line or regulator vent or connected terminal outlet piping of all gas meter sets and sources of ignition. Any discharge/release point of the relief device line, regulator vent, or connected terminal outlet piping must be located outside where the gas can escape freely into the atmosphere and away from any opening into the building.
• There should be no mechanical, electrical, or communication equipment installed directly behind a gas meter set, in an area 12" on either side of a gas meter set, or above a gas meter set. Conduit may pass through the space above a meter set if it is attached directly to the wall behind the set.
• Prohibited Gas Meter Locations:
1. Each meter existing within a building must be located in a ventilated place more than three feet from any source of ignition or heat source that might damage the meter.
2. Gas meters cannot be located in engine, boiler, heater, or electric meter rooms.
3. Gas meters shall not be located under interior stairways or show windows.
4. In Michigan, a meter cannot be installed in a bedroom, closet, bathroom, under a combustible stairway, or in an unventilated or inaccessible place.

All gas systems must be electrically insulated from the house piping in order to prevent grounding of the system. Customer fuel lines, including Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) and other facilities, shall not be grounded to any portion of Xcel Energy's system which includes the outlet of the gas meter and everything upstream from that location.

Xcel Energy must maintain electrical isolation for the underground natural gas pipeline system from all foreign underground and above ground metallic structures in order to provide corrosion protection to the pipeline.

Our gas lines are not effective when used as a ground because they are externally coated and insulated from the soil. If this is discovered, Xcel will issue a yellow tag and remove the ground wire, asking the customer to work with their contractor to ensure proper grounding per NFPA 54 National Gas Code.

Please reference the CSST Direct Bonding Documents below to find out more information.

CSST Direct Bonding Tech Bulletin (PDF)
CSST Mailer (PDF)