Zebrafive
Super Member
Why do you need 200 amps at your barn?
Have you calculated what your power needs will be at the barn? AC? Water heater? welder? Air compressor? outlets?
In most cases, you will only be using one outlet at a time, plus lights. 100 amps is more then enough for a shop.
If you are pulling power from your main supply at your house, how much is your house using at the same time you will be in the shop? Will the AC be on in the house, the water heater? Maybe a dryer doing laundry or an oven cooking dinner?
I wondered the same thing, the need for 200A.
Where I am at a separate meter will cost about $50/month, before using any electric, better to come off the house for me.
At the time I did mine, it was more expensive for direct burial wire, than non burial AND conduit. Price it both ways.