RECC members can save on electric heating, air conditioning and water heating with our Dual Meter rate! A home with electricity as the primary heat source and electric water heater qualifies for a separate Dual Meter which is billed at a special rate. There is an $8.00 per month facilities charge for this meter and billing program. Other electric usage such as lights and appliances is billed at the normal residential rate.
The Dual Meter program is an incentive rate to encourage the use of electric heating systems during the winter months. Seasonal homes or owners who wish to use wood or other fuel sources for a significant portion of their heating needs may not see a significate savings with this rate. For more details, contact the RECC office.
You can find the Dual Meter Member Agreement here or below.
Member Agreement for Dual Meter – Off Peak Space Heating (Rate 16)
Application:
• Residential homes heating with a geothermal, air source heat pump or electric resistance heat (with or without central air conditioning) and electric water heating. If only a small portion of the building’s heating requirement is being met with electric heating, then the co-op may remove the Dual Meter.
• Other electric loads that may be included on the Dual Meter are central air conditioners or 240-volt window air conditioners on a dedicated circuit, and 240-volt electric water heating devices including pool heaters, spas, steam rooms and hot tubs.
Guidelines:
• A separate Dual Meter will be installed to measure the electric heat, water heating and central air conditioning use. General purpose usage on the Master Meter is billed at the applicable standard rate. Future rates are subject to change by RECC Board of Directors.
• A Peak Switch may be installed to interrupt controlled circuits during Peak Alert control periods. Prior to January 1, 2018, controlled circuits included the water heater and the air conditioner. RECC is currently not installing Peak Switches.
• Prior to January 1, 2018, the Peak Alert control periods for air conditioning were during the months of May, June, July, August and September – usually between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The central air conditioner compressor was interrupted for a cycle of 15 minutes off and 15 minutes on. RECC is currently not controlling air conditioning.
• Prior to January 1, 2018, the Peak Alert control periods for water heaters were four hours or less per day and could occur anytime during the year. RECC is currently not controlling water heaters.
• The Cooperative will install and maintain any future control equipment if needed.
• The member is responsible to notify the cooperative prior to the Dual Meter installation. They will then be furnished with a meter base and one C.T. metering coil, free of charge. The member will be charged if an additional coil is required. The member or electrician is responsible for the Dual Meter installation and any additional equipment needed. Once meter wiring is complete, the member must contact RECC for final inspection and actual kWh meter connection.
• The Member must allow access to the equipment at any reasonable time.
• If the Cooperative suspects tampering with the equipment, the Member will be removed from the rate. Penalties will be assessed.
Billing Rate:
• Winter usage on the Dual Meter between September 1st and May 31st will be billed at $.08 /kWh, and summer usage between June 1st and August 31st will be billed at $.107 /kW. The monthly facility charge for the Dual Meter is $7.50. Wholesale Purchased Power Cost Adjustment may also apply.
• Heating Season Minimums: A minimum of 3,000 kWh must be used on the Dual Meter during the winter months to demonstrate that electricity is the primary heat source. There is no minimum requirement for air conditioning, but electric water heaters should record some usage each month.
Dual Meter Installation Guide
Where to Start
Contact us as soon as possible. We can make sure you qualify for the Dual Meter program and determine what rebates you may be entitled to. You always have more options before any equipment is purchased or installed. Just remember your primary heat must be electric and permanently installed and have a 40-gallon or larger electric water heater to qualify for this rate. Other considerations include meter placement and circuit planning. Once again, there are many more options if considered before construction is complete. No one likes to remove drywall to run forgotten wires.
Installation Process
Your electrician will need to call RECC at 217-438-6197 or stop by the office in Auburn, IL. RECC will then furnish the C.T. metering coil and Dual Meter socket base. We can also provide a wiring diagram of a typical installation and advise on the most efficient way to install the equipment. Just remember to notify RECC when the installation is complete and ready for inspection. Once proper wiring is verified, the dual meter will be inserted into the meter socket by a cooperative employee. After this final step, the Dual Meter will officially be installed and registering KWH’s at the reduced rate.
Qualified Circuits for Metering
Circuits to be metered: Heating, Cooling, and Water Heating. Examples: Geothermal, heat pump, electric furnace, hard-wired baseboard heaters
Circuits not to be metered: Everything not listed above, but call if a circuit is questionable. Examples: Dryers, range, water pumps, portable heaters, and plug-in air conditioners
Diagram of Dual Meter Installation
Detailed Instructions for a Qualified Electrician
Installing the Current Transformer (C.T. coil)
- Identify circuits that qualify for the Dual Meter rate and label them
- Place #1 marking tape on first breaker to be metered and #1 on conductors fed from that breaker
- Place #2 tape on the second breaker to be metered and #2 on conductors fed from that breaker
- Continue with #3, #4, #5 if needed to identify and mark all eligible circuits.
- After proper labeling, remove only the numbered conductors (wires) from the breakers.
- Separate those wires into two groups, blacks in one group and red/white in the other
- Choose a location in the breaker panel to place CT coil (temp wire-nut CT wires together)
- With the CT upright, place the red/white group of wires down and through the coil
- Then take the group of black wires and run them up through the coil The red/white wires must go through the coil in the opposite direction of the black wires
- At this point you may need to extend the wires to have enough length to reach breaker lugs
- Before landing wires back in breakers, you must determine the proper polarity.
- The red/white wires must all land on the same buss/leg which we will call L1 for this installation.
- The black wires are now L2 and must be placed on the opposite leg of the red/white wires.
- Remember that each single space in the panel alternates between L1 and L2 going up and down
- But, each breaker space is the same polarity going from left to right.
- Polarity can also be tested with a volt meter with the breakers turned on.
- Reconnect each of the remaining wires into their appropriate breaker lug and verify polarity is correct.
- Install a 20-amp, 2-pole breaker that will be used to power the Dual Meter. LEAVE OFF
Installation of Dual Meter Socket / Base
Meter base must be installed 5’6” above final grade on the outside of house and be accessible to RECC personnel at all times. If new construction, the Dual Meter base may be placed on meter pole with master meter. This is only an option if meter pole is less than 100’ from the breaker panel. The meter socket shall be mounted securely with ¾” – 1 ¼” PVC conduit covering the meter cable. Place a temporary cover over the meter opening to prevent water from entering the meter socket.
Meter Cable and Connections
The meter cable consists of 5 (each) #12 conductors for lengths up to 50’ or 5 (each) #10 wire up to 100’ in length. The cable will run between the meter socket and the main breaker panel. The five conductors should be different colors or labeled individually. Of the five wires, red and black must be used for the 240-Volts that power the Dual Meter. Two alternate colors will be used for CT connections, and the last will be a mechanical ground. Leave an extra 6” of wire in the meter base.
Meter Base Connections
Red = top right (120V)
Black = middle left (120V)
Blue = top left (CT)
Orange = bottom left (CT)
Green = ground lug (Ground)
Breaker Panel Connections
Red = insert into L1 of 20-amp breaker (120V)
Black = insert into L2 of 20-amp breaker (120V)
Blue = wire nut to black wire of CT coil (CT)
Orange = wire nut to white wire of CT coil (CT)
Green = ground lug inside breaker box (Ground)