Inspected a home today that was built in 1958. Meter and panel are in the laundry room, sitting behind the washer and dryer. I’m noting the obstruction, but according to the owner, FPL “recommended” the meter be left in place when the room was enclosed, as it wasn’t “baking in the hot sun.” I’m going to note that the PoCo can require it be moved outside…and IMO SHOULD be outside.
Around here meters in old buildings that are in the inside can typically remain inside until the service is upgraded. The obvious obstructions to the working space for that equipment needs to be addressed. Either the washer and dryer need to be relocated or the service needs to be relocated.
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It’s irritating that this was enclosed only in the last 10 years, and the panel was changed - I’d think it would have been better to move it all at the same time of changing the panel. I’m not sure that the PoCo said it was better inside…but you never know.
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In my area, most have been moved, but some still remain, usually in the basement.
The meters that remain, most POCO’s require the meter to be upgraded to a SMART meter so they can Read/Control it from their offices without needing to gain access to the home.
The meter in the pic does seem to be an older type Smart meter…
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I’d be very surprised if they actually said that part.
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Me too, being that they’re designed and manufactured to withstand environmental conditions.
In my area they are also required to be moved from the inside to out whenever there is a service upgrade.
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Hi, Andrew. Hope to find you well.
Besides the meter and panel. The SEC, Mast, and flashing, or lack thereof, what will you include in the report?
Exactly. And I would bet at least 95% of the meters in Florida are “baking in the Sun”
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And it’s highly likely that you would win that bet.
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Hi, Christopher.
They, metering equipment, where manufactured to withstand normal external atmospheric heat, as well as heat from normal operational conditions, one should/could/would reasonably predict.
I read on Mike Holt’s Forum, old class 200 mechanical meters from the 1980’s and 1990’s, were designed to handle (4x) four times the overload temperature, what ever that refers to.
First and foremost, the obstructed panel and meter will be in the report. I have had this before with another house, and the PoCo DID require them to move the meter before they would start the new service. Even though it is a smart meter, they wanted it moved. According to their meter install manual, the meter can be inside with “special permission”. I’m just advising the buyer it COULD happen and they COULD require it be moved. The county’s appraiser website has a great feature with a “Bird’sEye View” of the property which also has a selection of the most current image, or you can select images from years back. I can see the house before the addition, and see that originally, the mast appeared to be at the edge of the roof and they built around it. The meter was on the exterior wall. The images are great - they added a garage to the side of the house, so that there is a bedroom with the only window opening TO the garage. Owner told me the garage was done before he bought it - images show me he lied about that.
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Temperature at inspection time - 9am - was 85°F.
Yeah, it’s getting harder and harder to be a lying d-bag seller these days with all the new technology. I got into a debate once and had snapped pictures of the date stamps on the Romex. Mr. Seller couldn’t explain how 2008 wiring was in the house he moved into in 2004 and swore he hadn’t added onto 
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You will see in the image that the riser mast shall be within 4’ of the eave. This code was intensional so meters didn’t get enclosed into a finished area. The power utility has no access to the meter! Keep in mind that the service voltage coming down the riser to the line side of the meter can only be shut off by the utility in case of an emergency.
Thanks - that was the point I was trying to make - but of course, the owner’s response was that they can control it remotely… 
And originally, it WAS within 4’ - until they enclosed the space.
Andrew, every electric utility company publishes its own installation requirements. They are often different from NEC requirements.
This is the link to FPL’s requirements:
This is the link to KUA’s requirements:
I would suggest to the buyers that they contact FPL directly. The utility companies I have worked with have always been good about meeting with homeowners to discuss their concerns. I certainly wouldn’t rely on anything a seller says.
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