Powering Tenant's Electric Via House Common While Waiting For Utility Company: Risks?

[Scott Bridgehouse]

Hi All,

I just got my first-ever tenant moved in this past Saturday and all was going smoothly until she called to set up her electric. She was told by our local power company, PPL, that our meter base needed to be upgraded, THEN they could put her meter in (there was no meter in her unit because the previous tenant moved and it has been unoccupied for a few months). I, the owner, living in one unit of this two-unit building, was never told this. Now I am in a situation where my tenant is already moved in yet she can't get her power turned on until we get the meter base upgraded.

Thankfully our electrician already ordered the base and is hoping he can get it installed by the end of the week at the latest. He said that we can just move the meter from our common area electric (which I pay) over to the socket for her electric in the meantime when he upgrades the base, this way she gets power and we will just go without lights in the basement and common area. The reason he suggested we do this is so we can give her power (and just pay it ourselves for her in the meantime) while we wait for the inspector to come out and approve the base meter upgrade, and then to send that to PPL, and then to have them come put her meter in, a process which could apparently take several weeks.

Has anyone else done something like this? Anything I should be aware of when it comes to my utility company after having done so? My electrician may be able to answer too, but I'm also wondering if I should have him come back and move the meter back to the common socket before they come put her meter in? Or could we just have them switch the accounts on the back-end once all three meters are back in place (I say three because my unit also has a meter). Any help would be VERY MUCH appreciated.

Sincerely,

A stressed out newbie!