Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and

400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

Application
This standard describes BC Hydro requirements for customer-owned surface-mounted single-phase 120/240 V
200 A single or multiple main up to 400 A secondary voltage underground services for small residential and
commercial customers. These underground services shall be installed outdoors for residential customers and may
be installed indoors or outdoors for commercial customers.

Revision Notes
R12 is released to update the effective date to 2025-01-01. There are no other changes in R12. The changes to
R11 are repeated below and are still marked by revision lines in the left margin. Updated References section.
Removed old Table 1 showing minimum enclosure requirements and created new Table 1 for single meter sockets
and Table 2 for multiple meter sockets. Removed service cable compartment widths from Figure 2. Expanded note
1f description of galvanized steel, and 1f (iii) to allow a pole as a meter socket support structure. Added new note
1g. Edited Figures 5 and 6 to correct reference from note 4.1 to note 1f, add 22 kAIC to description of 200 A
customer service main, add breaker panel photo, and add reference to note 1g. Added reference to note 4d to
Figure 20. Edited note 4c to specify line-side lugs for single 200 A rated sockets and added new note 4d for
multiple main 200 A and 400 A rated sockets. Added reference to CSA 22.2 No.115 to note 5. This revision
released concurrently with Standards and Equipment Advisory Information Bulletin 2024-014 R1 Revised ES54
S1-01 Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and 400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation.

References
BC Hydro Distribution Standards
ES54 S0-02 Services General Notes
ES54 S0-04 Services General Notes Secondary Services
ES54 S0-05 Services General Notes Service Ducts and Trenches
ES54 S1-02 Secondary Single-Phase Services 320 A Self-Contained Meter Installation
ES54 S1-03 Secondary Single-Phase Services 400 A and 600 A CT-Based Meter Installation
Other BC Hydro Documents
DI S10-1 Distribution Instruction, Electric Service Connections – General
DI S10-4 Distribution Instruction, Electric Service Connections – Voltages
Secondary Metering Requirements for Secondary Voltage Revenue Metering (750 V and less)
External Documents
BCBC BC Building Code
BCEC Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (CSA C22.1) adopted for BC and endorsed by
Technical Safety BC (TSBC)
CSA 22.2 No. 115 Meter-mounting devices
TSBC D-El 2017-01 Directive: Exemptions to public utilities
TSBC IB-EL 2017-04 Information Bulletin: Electrical Safety Regulation application to public utilities
Professional of Record
Designed:
M. Kelvin, P. Eng Secondary Single-Phase Services
Checked: 200 A Single and 400 A Multiple
M. Kelvin, P. Eng
Self-Contained Meter Installation
Reviewed:
M. Stevens, P. Eng

Approved:
M. Stevens, P. Eng
Issued: 2024-08-28
Effective: 2025-01-01
ES54 S1-01 R12
Use only for doing work with or for BC Hydro. See legal disclaimer in ES54 A1-01. 2024-08-28, rev.12
Page 1 of 11
Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01
Notes
1. General
a. Customer service, bonding, and grounding conductors shall be installed and terminated on the load side
before BC Hydro installs utility supply cables and seals the meter socket for BC Hydro access only.
b. BC Hydro continues to install larger pad-mounted transformers with higher available fault level above
10 kA to meet increasing customer load demand. New construction and upgraded customer-owned
service breaker panels shall have 22 kA interrupting capacity.
c. Civil work and grounding installations, including maintenance and repairs, are the customer’s
responsibility. See ES54 S0-05 for service duct and trench requirements on private property.
d. Tables 1 and 2 show the variations of acceptable single and multiple main meter sockets, illustrated per
Figures 1 and 2.
Table 1 – Minimum requirements of enclosures for single meter sockets services 200 A to 400 A

Minimum outside Minimum

Type of enclosure dimensions (mm) KO and Minimum line side connector range
Height Width Depth duct size
Tunnel type lugs
200 A single service 430 240 130 3" #2-3/0 Cu
#2-250 kcmil Al
320 A single service See ES54 S1-02
400A single service See ES54 S1-03

Table 2 – Minimum requirements of enclosures for multiple main meter sockets services 200 A to 400 A

Utility cable compartment

Minimum
Type of minimum outside
KO and Minimum line side connector range
enclosure dimensions (mm)
duct size
Height Width Depth
Tunnel type lugs
#2-3/0 Cu
200 A main bus #2-250 kcmil Al
multiple mains,
380 210 120 3" or
two to four meter
positions compression lugs
½"diameter threaded stud
comes with Belleville washer and hex nut
Tunnel type lugs
400 A main bus #4/0 – 500 kcmil Cu/Al
multiple main, or
508 440 130 3"
two to six(1) compression lugs
meter positions ½"diameter threaded stud
comes with Belleville washer and hex nut
Note 1: BCEC rule 6-104 limits the number of customer services terminating to one utility supply service to a
maximum of four customer services. For five or six services the customer shall obtain a deviation from the
local authority having jurisdiction allowed in accordance with rule 2-030. The customer shall submit a copy of
special permission to BC Hydro before installation.

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

Service

Height

Height
RM Cable RM RM
Compartment
S S S
S
Utility supply
Ø3" duct Utility supply
Width Width
Ø3" duct

Figure 1 – 200 A single Figure 2 – 200 A and 400 A bus multiple main

e. BC Hydro accepts both grounding options of meter socket and customer service ground in compliance with
BCEC rule 10-210.
f. Free-standing outdoor support structures for mounting customer service equipment shall be concrete,
masonry, rock walls, or galvanized steel frame above grade, and shall meet the following requirements:
i. Support structure shall have an adequate concrete base to withstand a 1200 N-m overturning
moment to prevent damage caused by vandalism; and
ii. BC Hydro service cables shall not be exposed to extraordinary stress caused by soil expansion and
contraction due to seasonal weather changes.
iii. Support structures made of treated lumber and plywood are not acceptable to BC Hydro. BC Hydro
will accept customer-owned poles.
Figures 3 and 4 show unacceptable and acceptable support structures.
g. Figures 5 and 6 show examples of an acceptable 200 A combo meter socket and panel. These are not the
only options available. The unmetered supply service conductors shall be inaccessible to unauthorized
individuals and customers when the panel cover is removed. This can be achieved using a sealable
covered raceway, interlocked barrier, or duct extension.

Figure 3 – Unacceptable support structure Figure 4 – Acceptable support structure

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

Concrete or rock wall or

engineered metal structure
or Flass 4 pole.
(Vee note 1.f)

200 A combo 200 A combo

meter socket RM
200 A meter socket
22 kAIC breaker panel
Only for covered S
Customer
raceway option
main
S
Utility
wireway(**) C 200 A
22 kAIC
Utility Fustomer
supply Ø main
3"duct Customer
duct or
Utility wireway (**) Feeder circuit
Expansion teck cable
(Vealable covered breakers
joint
raceway under the
Grade panel cover)

Frost
line

Figure 5 – 200 A hot-style combo meter socket with breaker panel

Concrete or rock wall or

engineered metal structure
200 A combo or Flass 4 pole.
meter panel (Vee note 1.f)
RM
Customer
S C
service main
Utility wireway (**) 200 A
Access interlocked with 22 kAIC
MIN
300

RM cover plate above

Feeder circuit
900 MIN

Utility breakers
supply
Ø 3"duct Metal barrier

Customer duct (* ) Expansion joint not required if duct

ExpansiRQ
joint or teck cable is embedded in concrete.

(**
) See note g

Frost LEGEND: S BC Hydro Seal

MIN
150

line C Customer Lock

Figure 6 – 200 A combo meter panel feeder circuit breakers

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

2. Service in Duct
a. Underground service duct should be installed outside the foundation walls and run on the surface of
the exterior building walls as shown in Figure 7. Service duct may be installed within the foundation
and building wall if encased in concrete. For further information on concrete encasement see note 3
Concrete Encasement in this standard.

200A 120/240V New 200A

meter socket 120/240V 22 kAIC
service panel
℄

1800 MAX
1500 MIN

Expansion
joint
300
900 MIN

For all Tape

construction 90° Elbow
details refer to Ø3" PVC DB2
ES54 S0-05
Drain rock

Perimeter
drainage

Figure 7 – Typical meter socket installed on wall surface

b. BC Hydro accepts service ducts and meter sockets installed on a building’s exterior wall finished
surface as a stand-alone surface-mounted assembly. BC Hydro also accepts assemblies installed and
enveloped inside a closet or cavity having an access door or removable cover. The closet or cavity
shall be constructed on the building’s exterior wall finished surface and be accessible from the outside.
A 25 mm access cavity shall be provided around meter sockets mounted flush with the finished wall
surface to allow BC Hydro crews to remove the meter socket cover. Figure 8 shows three acceptable
installations.

Figure 8 – Acceptable meter sockets installed on wall surface

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01
c. The service duct trench shall be in a direct line-of-sight from the property line stub-off to the meter
base or service duct entry into the building. The base of the trench shall be graded to the depth of the
BC Hydro duct stub-off. For further information on service trench and duct installation see ES54 S0-05.
d. The service location on the building shall be on the wall closest to the stub-off point or within 1 m back
from that wall on either side.
3. Concrete Encasement
a. Service ducts inside building walls shall be encased in concrete as a fire barrier. BC Hydro does not
provide overcurrent protection for supply service cables. This requirement is consistent with BCEC
Rule 6-208 for customer-owned service conductors.
b. Figures 9 through 15 show service duct concrete encasement construction details.
c. Concrete encasement is not required for service ducts and meter sockets installed on a building’s
exterior finished wall surface. See Figure 11.

Drip shield 25 300 25

Building wall
(Approx.)
25 x 25 (per BCBC)
Fibre Drip
Access cavity y shield
cement Building
siding A
(Approx.)

insulation
_
450

140 (per BCBC)

Meter socket

50
50

50 MIN
F Fibre cement
concrete
siding
encasement
200
(Approx.) 150 Approx
B
_ Ø3" DB2
PVC duct

Ø3" DB2 Foundation

PVC duct wall

Footing

Figure 9 – Concrete encasement front elevation Figure 10 – Concrete encasement

side elevation optional installation

Figure 11 – Concrete encasement not required

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

d. For most installations, service duct installed within the building foundation and wall requires an exterior
bump-out to accommodate 50 mm of concrete encasement as shown in Figure 12.

3"Ø DB2 50 MIN concrete

PVC duct encasement

Approx.

150
200
Concrete 50 (±6)
bump out Total thickness

Section B
_

Figure 12 – Concrete encasement bump-out

e. Concrete encasement shall be visible for inspection by the BC Hydro installer at the time of service
connection. In-wall ducts without visible concrete encasement at the time of connection will be
rejected. Figure 13 shows the inspection confirmation requirement.

Figure 13 – Concrete encasement bump-out inspection requirement

f. Building contractors may install the rain screen cavity over the wall’s exterior sheathing and apply fibre
cement siding as an exterior finish surface to eliminate the appearance of the concrete bump-out as
shown in Figure 14.

3"Ø Duct 2"x6" studs

Building insulation
12.5 OSB
Approx.

sheeting
150
200

16.0 Rain Meter Fibre cement siding

screen cavity socket
Detail 1
Section A _
_

Figure 14 – Rain screen construction details

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

g. A 25 mm access cavity shall be provided around meter sockets mounted flush with the finished wall
surface to allow BC Hydro crew to remove the meter socket cover. Figure 15 shows access cavity
construction details. Figure 16 shows an unacceptable flush-mounted meter socket without an access
cavity around the meter socket.

Wall insulation
2" x 6"
studs
Meter
socket

Metal
flashing

Access
cavity

MIN
25 OSB
sheeting
Cover 25
(removable) MIN Fibre cement
siding

Detail 1
_

Figure 15 – Access cavity construction detail Figure 16 – Unacceptable meter socket

without access cavity

4. Meter Socket Requirements

a. The underground service duct should enter on the left side of the meter socket to accommodate the
bending radius of the incoming BC Hydro large service cables and to avoid crossing customer service
conductors. See Figures 17 and 18 for typical wiring installations for 200 A 120/240 V meter socket
services. A right-side service duct entry meter socket design may be accepted by the BC Hydro
designer subject to accommodating the bending radius of BC Hydro service cables and avoiding
crossing customer service conductors. See Figure 19 for unacceptable right-side connections.

BC Hydro BC Hydro
service cables service cables Meter
socket

Meter N N
socket

Customer
Customer conductors
conductors

Utility supply Customer Utility supply

Ø3" duct service Ø3" duct

Figure 17 – 200 A meter socket hot style Figure 18 – 200 A meter socket hot style
customer bottom exit customer back exit

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

Figure 19 – Unacceptable right-side entry and customer wiring

b. 200 A to 400 A multiple main meter sockets require a separate utility cable compartment as shown in
Figure 20. An unacceptable duplex meter socket with no utility cable compartment is shown in Figure 21.

L1
See note L1
L2
4.d. L2

Customer
service
ground
Utility supply Customer Customer Customer Customer
Ø3" duct service duct service duct service duct service duct

Figure 20 – Acceptable 200 A and 400 A bus multiple main meter socket

Figure 21 – Unacceptable duplex meter socket with no utility compartment

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

c. Line-side lugs for single 200 A rated meter sockets shall be tunnel-type and accept the conductors
listed in Table 1. All BC Hydro conductors have compact stranding.
d. Line side lugs for 200 A and 400 A rated multiple main meter sockets shall be either tunnel-type
supplied by the manufacturer or compression-type supplied and installed by BC Hydro. Meter socket
buses with compression type lugs shall be equipped with ½”dia threaded studs complete with
Belleville washers and hex nut for cables listed in Table 2.
5. Revenue Metering Requirements
A single 200 A meter socket or individual meters for multiple main meter sockets shall be certified in
accordance with CSA C22.2 No. 115 and meet the following BC Hydro revenue metering requirements:
a. Each meter socket enclosure dimensions shall not be smaller than the dimensions in Table 1.
b. Each 200 A meter socket shall have a single cover plate secured to the meter socket enclosure with a
pull bar having a latch tab located inside the revenue metering round cut-out with a drip flange. Split or
multiple cover plates requiring a BC Hydro padlock are not acceptable to BC Hydro.
c. After inserting, the revenue metering is fastened to the cover plate round cut-out using a seal ring,
sealed for restricted access by BC Hydro only.
d. Metered, unmetered, line, and load conductors shall not be installed inside the same raceway and
shall not cross each other.
e. Revenue meter socket cover plate removal does not require the use of tools in proximity of energized
jaws to undo screws holding the revenue meter socket cover plate in place.
f. BC Hydro no longer connects 120 V 100 A single-phase two-wire services. For such services, the
customer shall supply and install a standard 120/240 V 200 A single-phase meter socket for BC Hydro
to connect three-wire supply service cables and plug in a standard 200 A revenue meter. The
customer could then connect 120 V 100 A single-phase two-wire service on the load side of the
revenue meter.
g. If an existing 120/240 V 200 A single or 200 A or 400 A multiple position meter socket has been
submerged in water due to flooding in the affected area, the submerged meter socket shall be
replaced with new meter sockets before BC Hydro can re-energize the service.
h. For further BC Hydro revenue metering requirements of acceptable meter sockets see Secondary
Metering guide.
6. Service Upgrade to 200 A
a. If the customer wishes to upgrade an existing service to 200 A, meter socket service grounding and
bonding may require upgrades to comply with applicable BCEC rules.
b. If the existing service duct and meter socket are adequate to accept upgraded service conductors, BC
Hydro will accept the existing installation. If the service duct or meter socket cannot accept the
upgraded service conductors and need to be replaced, the new installation shall comply with current
BC Hydro standards. Concrete encasement is not required when replacing only the meter socket.
7. Standby Generator
a. Any standby generators shall be connected to a transfer switch on the load side of the customer
service main. The transfer switch and standby generator are the jurisdiction of TSBC and shall be
certified per applicable CSA standards. Verification of compliance to CSA standards and applicable
BCEC rules rests with the local electrical authority having jurisdiction.
b. BC Hydro will not accept custom-built mechanical or electrical interlock schemes as a means of
service transfer between the customer service box and a customer standby generator. BC Hydro will
only accept certified transfer switches specifically built for this function per applicable CSA 22.2
standards.

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Secondary Single-Phase Services 200 A Single and
400 A Multiple Self-Contained Meter Installation ES54 S1-01

c. BC Hydro will not accept third-party devices installed inside or mounted on the meter socket for
connection of portable generators such as the collar shown in Figure 22. The meter socket is certified
for the installation of a BC Hydro standard revenue meter only and is not certified for any other devices
which would reduce life expectancy of the meter installation.
d. BC Hydro crews are not accredited to install customer-owned third-party equipment. BC Hydro will not
accept the liability of operation, maintenance, repair, and damages resulting from the failure of
customer-owned third-party equipment.

Generator
sleeve
RM
Revenue BC Hydro
meter S seal
S
Meter
socket

Generator
plug

Extension cord

Portable
Generator

Figure 22 – Unacceptable meter socket collar for portable generators

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