Residential gas meters

[accurate]

I've been having issues with the gas co. here in WA. state. The gas co. requirements is that the meter must be able to supply the draw for all the appliances and generator. This means upgrading to a larger meter and or increasing the supply line to the meter. The standard meter is a 250 cuft/hr. meter and the 16kw generac is rated at 245 cuft/hr. My gas installer assures me that in actual practice, this is not a concern and as long as the generator is close to the meter. They do this all the time with no problems.

Should I be concerned?

[Kelly Myers]

Heres how I see it.. If you're sitting on the bubble of needing a new gas meter, why not install the generator first?

Turn on every gas appliance, and put the generator under heavy load. If you don't have enough fuel, you will have some problems with the generator running lean, or the furnace having its pilot light sucked out.

If you have a meter issue, then have it upgraded.

Remember: ONLY FIGURE IN GAS APPLIANCES THAT WILL BE RUNNING WHEN THE GENERATOR IS!

If you're on the bubble of needing a new meter, and you want to save the money, simply eliminate the gas dryer, etc..

[dave]

I was just quoted 147.00 by Cascade Nat Gas ( WA state ) to upgrade from the 250 cu ft meter to the next size up. Not a bad price for the piece of mind. I am waiting to see if they add something on extra to that.

[Jason]

I'm in the Seattle area, and it seems that depending on the day you call, PSE (Puget Sound Energy) will either tell you that you need a new meter and line at a cost of $3000, or that everything is A-OK. After talking to them four times, I finally decided to accept their final answer of A-OK rather than try to get them to reconcile their conflicting stories.

Funny thing is, I've talked to two friends who've both had the same experience, and the same price tossed at them, $3000. One even asked if that was a flat fee, or does distance from the line factor in at all. They told him is was $3000 regardless.

This area had a really bad windstorm last December, my power was out for 8 days, and so there have been a bunch of generators installed around here this year. My guess is that PSE is trying to get a piece of that pie and is assuming that if you can afford a standby generator, then you can afford to pay them $3000 too. Furtunately, not everyone working there got the memo as the last person I talked to gave me the all clear.