AEtherScythe
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Leon
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2020
- Threads
- 19
- Messages
- 241
- Reaction score
- 570
- Location
- Michigan
- Vehicles
- Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford Escape Hybrid
- Occupation
- Sr. IT/Product Architect; Enterprise and Cloud Manageability Engineering
- Thread starter
- #1
In July, right after confirming our Mustang Mach-E "First" order, we started the process of getting a dedicated PEV meter for our detached garage.
Found out a few things the hard way...
We had hoped to have the PEV dedicated meter attached directly to our garage, since the utility pole is immediately adjacent to the garage.
First we were told that DTE will not allow allow a second drop to a residence.
Then we were told that they might allow us to place the second meter on the garage by tapping the main drop closer to the pole.
Then we were told by the city that we could not do that, because there needs to be a single shut-off for the garage, which is for fire-code reasons.
That thwarted our plans, because to get the DTE discount for a dedicated PEV meter the charger has to be hard-wired, and we can't power the garage from that feed, which means we could not have other power in the garage for garage door openers and lights if we put the meter PEV meter on the garage. :-(
Our first electrician bailed on us, stating the job was too complicated. He referred us to another electrician.
The second electrician said he had just installed a second line to another garage and DTE was fine with it, which seemed to contradict what DTE had already told us, that they only allow one drop per residential address.
So we decided to pursue the idea of disconnecting the garage from the house power, installing new service to the garage, and adding a second PEV-dedicated meter to the garage, tapping off the new service.
We got pretty far into that plan when we learned that DTE could approve it if the city would approve it, but that the garage and PEV meter would all be billed at the COMMERCIAL rate, which completely defeats the purpose of having a dedicated PEV meter. :-(((((
We had to revert to a plan which involves burying a new, higher capacity, line to the house and back to the garage to allow for the PEV meter to be placed on the house right next to the existing meter. Because of the trenching, our new electrician said it was too big of a job. I offered to do the trenching and he was fine with it at first, but then told me a week later that he was too busy for such a complicated job. :-(((((
I am now on my third electrician. But at least we appear to have gotten the "story" straight about what is allowed and why.
We are having a HUGE expense to do the trenching, plus a big upheaval to our back yard and cement driveway, plus the ugliness of a second meter on the house.
This mess is ultimately due to the COMPLETELY ARBITRARY rule on DTE's part that a second service to the same residential property has to be billed as commercial, even though there is no commercial enterprise on the property. :-(((((
Were it not for that arbitrary rule, this would have been a simple installation of a new meter on the garage + the dedicated PEV meter, plus the PEV circuit.
So, while we're at it, we're having two PEV circuits installed, and we're laying conduit so that our phone and internet utilities can also be buried.
Anyone else with a detached garage have a different / better experience with DTE?
Is this stone-age backwards approach common-place with most power companies or is it just DTE?
Found out a few things the hard way...
We had hoped to have the PEV dedicated meter attached directly to our garage, since the utility pole is immediately adjacent to the garage.
First we were told that DTE will not allow allow a second drop to a residence.
Then we were told that they might allow us to place the second meter on the garage by tapping the main drop closer to the pole.
Then we were told by the city that we could not do that, because there needs to be a single shut-off for the garage, which is for fire-code reasons.
That thwarted our plans, because to get the DTE discount for a dedicated PEV meter the charger has to be hard-wired, and we can't power the garage from that feed, which means we could not have other power in the garage for garage door openers and lights if we put the meter PEV meter on the garage. :-(
Our first electrician bailed on us, stating the job was too complicated. He referred us to another electrician.
The second electrician said he had just installed a second line to another garage and DTE was fine with it, which seemed to contradict what DTE had already told us, that they only allow one drop per residential address.
So we decided to pursue the idea of disconnecting the garage from the house power, installing new service to the garage, and adding a second PEV-dedicated meter to the garage, tapping off the new service.
We got pretty far into that plan when we learned that DTE could approve it if the city would approve it, but that the garage and PEV meter would all be billed at the COMMERCIAL rate, which completely defeats the purpose of having a dedicated PEV meter. :-(((((
We had to revert to a plan which involves burying a new, higher capacity, line to the house and back to the garage to allow for the PEV meter to be placed on the house right next to the existing meter. Because of the trenching, our new electrician said it was too big of a job. I offered to do the trenching and he was fine with it at first, but then told me a week later that he was too busy for such a complicated job. :-(((((
I am now on my third electrician. But at least we appear to have gotten the "story" straight about what is allowed and why.
We are having a HUGE expense to do the trenching, plus a big upheaval to our back yard and cement driveway, plus the ugliness of a second meter on the house.
This mess is ultimately due to the COMPLETELY ARBITRARY rule on DTE's part that a second service to the same residential property has to be billed as commercial, even though there is no commercial enterprise on the property. :-(((((
Were it not for that arbitrary rule, this would have been a simple installation of a new meter on the garage + the dedicated PEV meter, plus the PEV circuit.
So, while we're at it, we're having two PEV circuits installed, and we're laying conduit so that our phone and internet utilities can also be buried.
Anyone else with a detached garage have a different / better experience with DTE?
Is this stone-age backwards approach common-place with most power companies or is it just DTE?
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