Meter removal and installation certification

How to navigate this course Click to advance to next page. Click to return to previous page. Press ESC key at any time to exit, but you will have to start the course from beginning.

Overview We Energies has policies prohibiting electricians from cutting meter seals and removing meters when performing residential service rewires. These policies were created to keep electricians and homeowners safe. In certain scenarios, a certified licensed electrician can disconnect a service and remove and reinstall a meter. This is a training module for an electrician licensed with the State of WI to gain certification with We Energies for safe meter removal and reinstallation upon completion. The program will only be acceptable for work being done in We Energies’ southeastern service territory (south of HWY-151 and east of I-90).

Contents Section 1: When it is permissible to cut meter seal and remove meter Section 2: When it is permissible to reinstall meter Section 3: When utility or utility contractor is required to remove meter Section 4: Additional requirements Section 5: Weatherhead Section 6: Hazard assessment Section 7: Theft assessment Section 8: How to safely disconnect service and remove meter Section 9: How to safely reinstall meter and reconnect service

Section 1 When it is permissible to cut meter seal and remove meter Only on residential services 200 amps and below For overhead-to-overhead service rewires of same voltage For overhead-to-underground service rewires of same voltage For underground-to-underground service rewires of same voltage For service relocations of same voltage After successful completion of hazard assessment After successful completion of theft assessment

Section 2 When it is permissible to reinstall meter On residential services only For overhead-to-overhead service rewires of same voltage only If meter socket is approved in Book 2 of Electric Service and Meter Manual If backfeed is not present (solar jobs, etc) If service was not upgraded to 320 amps

Section 3 When We Energies needs to remove and install the meter Rewires with a change in voltage Meter stacks When a hazard is found and service needs to be de-energized When tampering is suspected, meter or meter socket is damaged, or utility installed locking device is present We Energies is required to install meter for all 200A and below residential rewires and service mast relocations except overhead-to-overhead rewires

Section 4 Additional requirements Electricians/customers shall never jumper a meter – it will be treated as theft Under WI Statute 941.36, electricians and/or customers face a class C misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed thirty (30) days or both, for each offense, and disconnection of service Per NEC 590.4(A) for temporary service requirements, services shall be installed in conformance with parts I-VII in Article 230 of the NEC Temporary services shall meet same requirements as permanent installation All service work and rewires require an application to be submitted Differences between 320A and 200A and why you are not permitted to remove 320A: 320A sockets use a lever bypass. Lever bypasses hold meter in place and require special disconnect device 200A and lower sockets use horn bypasses 320A have multiple distribution panels and higher loads

To disconnect service drop, cut, secure, and adequately cover ends Section 5 Weatherhead Temporary connections must be installed in a manner adequate to prevent safety issues until We Energies installs permanent connections To disconnect service drop, cut, secure, and adequately cover ends

Section 5 Weatherhead Company-owned service drop Service drop insulator (house knob) Company-owned Permanent Connectors (installed by company) Customer-owned service entrance conductors

Section 6 Hazard assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report hazard Red Seal If a red hazard seal is present, We Energies has already identified a hazard. Call We Energies for a disconnect. Loose or broken meter block in socket occurs when the screws holding a meter block into the socket are broken or damaged Caution: Old 60-amp services may have broken and cracked meter blocks

Open meter socket (meter not installed) Damaged meter or meter socket Section 6 Hazard assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report hazard Open meter socket (meter not installed) Damaged meter or meter socket

Section 6 Hazard assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report hazard Incorrectly installed horned bypasses (commonly found on duplex-type residences) Missing bypasses Incorrect Correct

Damaged meter or meter socket Section 6 Hazard assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report hazard Damaged meter or meter socket Damaged contacts

Damaged meter or meter socket Section 6 Hazard assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report hazard Damaged meter or meter socket Utility installed locking device Cut off (Also tampering) Missing seal (Also tampering)

Meter seal is cut or missing Section 7 Theft assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report theft/hazard Meter seal is cut or missing Utility installed locking device is present Meter is bypassed Evidence of direct line to load connection that does not pass through the meter reducing or eliminating consumption Jumpers, pieces of metal, etc. Tampering Evidence that the utility owned equipment has been altered Meter is missing and power is still on Jumpers, extension cord/wire from neighbor, etc.

Section 7 Theft assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report theft/hazard Bypassed meter

Section 7 Theft assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report theft/hazard Unmetered jumpers

Utility installed locking device Section 7 Theft assessment If present, contact We Energies for disconnect and to report theft/hazard Utility installed locking device

Section 8 How to safely disconnect service and remove meter Recommended PPE: Flame resistant clothing per OSHA 29cfr1910.269(l)(8), safety glasses, 600-volt rated rubber gloves If there are not any hazards present or signs of theft/tampering, proceed to disconnect service. If hazards or signs of theft/tampering are present, DO NOT proceed with disconnect. Call the We Energies outage/hazard number and report your findings. If a utility installed locking device is present, DO NOT try to remove. Call We Energies for removal. The We Energies outage/hazard number is 800-662-4797. The We Energies Customer Care Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 800-242-9137.

Section 8 How to safely disconnect service and remove meter Sequence overview: Call We Energies, open main, and then disconnect weatherhead or remove meter. Call We Energies’ Customer Care Center. Inform them you are performing a service disconnect for an overhead-to-overhead or underground-to-underground rewire. They will verify your name, date of birth, and license number to check for valid certification. Open customer’s main breaker to remove load. Using voltmeter, test that customer’s panel is de-energized. If panel can’t be de-energized, contact We Energies for disconnect. If panel is tested and is de-energized, depending on work being done, disconnect service drop at the weatherhead and/or remove meter. If disconnected at weatherhead, energized ends of conductor shall be adequately secured and covered to prevent contact. If only removing meter – and line side of meter socket is energized – meter socket needs to have a protective cover installed and locked. Protective cover

Section 9 How to safely reinstall meter and reconnect service OH to OH rewires only Sequence overview: Open main, reconnect weatherhead, reinstall meter and call We Energies for meter seal and/or permanent connections. Verify customer’s main breaker is still in open position. If service is disconnected at the weatherhead and meter is removed, install temporary connections to energize line side of meter socket. Determine if service is 240V 3-wire or 120V 2-wire and then follow correct procedure for installing meter. Call We Energies’ Customer Care Center. Inform them you have completed your service disconnect for an overhead-to-overhead rewire and that permanent connections and a meter seal are needed. We Energies will install permanent connections and a meter seal.

Test line voltage for 240V 3-wire service Section 9 How to safely reinstall meter and reconnect service 240V 3-wire service procedure NEUTRAL TERMINAL Test line voltage for 240V 3-wire service Test from 1 to neutral – 120V is a correct reading Test from 2 to neutral – 120V is a correct reading Test from 1 to 2 – 240V is a correct reading Different readings require further investigation – do not install meter Test for back feed on the load terminals Test from 3 to neutral – zero volts is a correct reading Test from 4 to neutral – zero volts is a correct reading A 120-volt reading on either test indicates back feed from another power source – do not install meter Test for 120V connected grounds, shorts or load with voltmeter Test from 1 to 3 – zero volts is a correct reading Test from 1 to 4 – zero volts is a correct reading A 120-volt reading on either test would indicate connected load or shorts on customer’s equipment – do not install meter. Have customer open main breaker, and then repeat test. If zero reading is obtained, continue.

Test for 240V connected load or shorts on customer’s equipment Section 9 How to safely reinstall meter and reconnect service 240V 3-wire service procedure Test for 240V connected load or shorts on customer’s equipment Close one line to load loop (close loop 1 to 3) Test from 2 to 4 – zero volts is correct; if all tests pass, install meter A 240V reading on this test would indicate the main breaker is closed or a phase-to-phase fault is on customer’s equipment before main breaker – do not install meter Note: If any test fails, do not install meter – notify We Energies

Test line voltage for 120V 2-wire service Section 9 How to safely reinstall meter and reconnect service 120V 2-wire service procedure Test line voltage for 120V 2-wire service Test from 1 to 2 – 120V is correct reading Different readings require further investigation – do not install meter Test for ground, shorts, and load Test from 1 to 3 – zero volts is correct reading A 120V reading on this test would indicate connected load or shorts on customer’s equipment – do not install meter. Open customer’s main breaker and repeat test. Test for back feed on load terminals 120V 2-wire Test from 2 to 3 – zero volts is correct; if all tests pass, install meter A 120V reading on load terminal would indicate back feed from another power source – do not install meter Note: If any test fails, do not install meter – notify We Energies

Click to return to previous Completion The training module is complete. Certification is valid for one year from completion date. Fill out registration form to complete certification. Upon registering, please allow 7-10 business days for your information to be added to our system. Email electriciancert@we-energies.com with registration or training module issues. For the property owner’s and general public’s safety, We Energies does not condone the temporary bypassing of any electric service entrance equipment, breakage of meter seals, and the removal/installation of meters. This applies to new, rewired or relocated electric service facilities. The National Electric Code does not allow, nor recognize, special exceptions for the temporary energizing of service equipment. Services must be installed in a manner that meets the requirements for a permanent installation. By completing this training, you are acknowledging you understand this requirement and will not hold We Energies liable for any loss of property or harm to person for failing to comply with this requirement. Also, you understand if a temporary installation is discovered prior to We Energies scheduled cutover, We Energies reserves the rights to immediately make the area safe, which may include disconnection/interruption of the electric service. A fee may be required to re-energize.   By checking this box, I verify that I am an authorized, State of Wisconsin licensed electrician and that the information I provide in the registration is valid as of the date of this submission and that I will notify We Energies of any licensing changes. Click to return to previous Click to register Click to end