Raising a panel and meter
Above the flood line, not at the old height
In a flood zone, water that cannot reach the panel and meter cannot ruin them. A raise moves both up.
How high depends on the flood elevation for your address and on what your county asks for. We read the flood map with you, write the height on the estimate and build to it. The best time is when a wall is already open for a repair.
Meter base and panel moved up the wall, or to a pole or a deck-height box
Mast, service wire and the circuits that connect to them changed to match
Permit and inspection through your city or county
The power company moves its meter on its own schedule
Raised or left where it is
What changes for the next flood.
| Left at the old height | Raised above the line | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the panel and meter base sit | Left at the old heightAt the height the house was built with | Raised above the lineAbove the flood elevation we write on the estimate |
| In a flood | Left at the old heightThey are under water for as long as it stands | Raised above the lineWater below the new height does not reach them |
| Afterward | Left at the old heightEquipment the water touched is generally replaced | Raised above the lineWe check the equipment before power is restored |
| Paperwork | Left at the old heightA permit and an inspection for the repair | Raised above the lineA permit and an inspection, and the height written down |
How a raise goes
Five steps, one wall
- 01
Step 1: We read the flood map with you
The elevation for your address sets the height. We write it down before drawing.
- 02
Step 2: Survey and written estimate
The raise is its own line, so you can choose it separately.
- 03
Step 3: Permit
We pull it and pass the fee through at cost.
- 04
Step 4: The power company cuts the service
We build the new run while the power is off.
- 05
Step 5: Inspection, then reconnect
The inspector checks the new height and wiring. Then the power company reconnects and moves its meter.
Questions we hear after a storm
How high should the panel and meter go?
It depends on the flood elevation for your address and on what your county asks for. We read the flood map with you before we draw anything, and we write the height on the estimate.
Do I need a permit?
Service entrance, meter base and panel work usually needs one. We pull it, and the fee is its own line on your estimate. The owner confirms what the city and county require.
Who owns the meter?
The power company owns the meter. We own the meter base, the mast and the wiring on your side. For a raise, the power company moves the meter and we move everything it connects to.
How long will the power be off?
The electrical work often takes a day or two. The longer wait is usually the inspection and the power company’s reconnect, and both schedules are theirs. We tell you what we hear the day we hear it.
Tell us the address, and we will read the flood map with you
Send the street address and a photo of the panel and meter.