22kW Generac Natural Gas Meter requirement

[KenB2920]

I am looking to have a 22kw Generac air cooled automatic transfer standby generator installed.

I currently have a meter that reads 250. The gas company says I would need a double upgrade. They said I need not jump up once size, but two. This would skip the 425 and go to 630. On top of this, the upgrade will cost $800 for the meter alone plus $160 to install. I asked if I will then OWN the meter to which the guy said NO!

This seems a bit extreme in cost especially as I read some people are getting upgrade meters for free.

I do have a gas stove, water heater and dryer.

Any insight, suggestions, recommendations, pointers etc please feel free to let me know.

 

[V1Rotate]

When I had my 10 KW Generac installed, the gas company changed my meter from the 250 to the 425 for free.
I'm surprised that your gas company is charging you, I would dispute this with them.

 

[KenB2920]

When I had my 10 KW Generac installed, the gas company changed my meter from the 250 to the 425 for free.
I'm surprised that your gas company is charging you, I would dispute this with them.

How long ago did you have them do this?

 

[XMS]

Not sure if this would work for you, but for those prices you could buy a yard bomb (propane tank) and fill it. It's a one-time expense for the fill-up, but when done you are done. All Generac units can use propane, it's just a nozzle adjustment. And if you look carefully, the same propane unit will actually put out more watts than the same unit on NG. A 100 gallon tank would last you through most outages. You get ice and wind in MI, but not hurricanes. And the upside is you are not dependent on the utility/gas staying up.

I know my answer is pretty different from what you asked, but thought I'd throw it out there. If you have need of a decent tractor, I figured your zoning would not be an issue. Hunters might be a problem, though. Around here a lot of tanks eventually need repair because the get holed by a shot sooner or later. We tend to bury them, for that reason.

Good luck.

 

[CobyRupert]

Do they change them free if theirs is "damaged"?

 

[s219]

Dealing with the gas company, whether it's propane or natural gas, was one of the reasons that motivated me to install a diesel generator. They all seem to have a fine line between what's fair to you and what's fair to them. When it tips over to their side, the customer really seems to get screwed. In the case of propane, it felt like I was paying them an awful lot of money to install equipment I wouldn't own and they wouldn't maintain, just for the privilege of getting deliveries. No thanks! I like to keep my options open for reasons like this.

 

[V1Rotate]

That was about two years ago, my gas supplier is Connecticut Natural Gas.
They seemed to be happy to install a larger meter because they figure I'll be using more gas.
How about this, instead of swapping your meter for a larger one, maybe your gas company would install a second meter (for the gen) under a new account, for free.

 

[bigtiller]

I am looking to have a 22kw Generac air cooled automatic transfer standby generator installed.

I currently have a meter that reads 250. The gas company says I would need a double upgrade. They said I need not jump up once size, but two. This would skip the 425 and go to 630. On top of this, the upgrade will cost $800 for the meter alone plus $160 to install. I asked if I will then OWN the meter to which the guy said NO!

This seems a bit extreme in cost especially as I read some people are getting upgrade meters for free.

I do have a gas stove, water heater and dryer.

Any insight, suggestions, recommendations, pointers etc please feel free to let me know.

Ask for a rebate.

Even my not-for-profit electric CO-OP gave me a nice rebate for installing florescent lighting in my shed.

 

[DocDryden]

Hi neighbor...
I just had natural gas installed back in March, I had requested a larger meter & larger gas pipe (at no extra cost). I run a Kohler 14Kw generator. A larger meter should be free, you will be using more gas, that should make the gas company happy. My gas meter is a 400A

 

[KenB2920]

Hi neighbor...
I just had natural gas installed back in March, I had requested a larger meter & larger gas pipe (at no extra cost). I run a Kohler 14Kw generator. A larger meter should be free, you will be using more gas, that should make the gas company happy. My gas meter is a 400A

I'd love to respond to all of these but since you live across the street I must ask you. Do you know who you called? I would love to speak with them if you still have their number etc.