42 units, off Zinsco and onto their own PG&E meters.
A multifamily brief for owners still running obsolete tenant metering. Zinsco equipment at the end of its life is a safety and insurance problem. Private submetering is a billing headache. This project fixed both in one scope.
A 42-unit apartment building in Oakland was running its tenants on obsolete Zinsco metering equipment, mounted on the parking garage wall and billed through private submetering. GBS did a like-for-like replacement: removed the Zinsco tenant meters, installed a new PG&E-compliant 42-position meter bank and service-rated disconnect, and converted all 42 units to individual PG&E meters. GBS also ran the full PG&E application, including load calculations, the one-line diagram and equipment submittals, plus the city permit. The building's existing service, house meter and elevator meter stayed in place, which kept the scope and cost contained.
42-unit apartment building, Oakland
Why it matters
What we did
- Prepare and manage the PG&E service application to convert 42 privately submetered units to individual utility meters
- Load calculations, one-line diagram, equipment layout and submittals for PG&E
- City of Oakland electrical permit, plan review and inspections
- Photograph and map every existing meter position before disconnection
- Remove the Zinsco tenant metering and private submetering hardware
- Install a new UL-listed, PG&E-compliant 42-position tenant meter bank
- Install a new service-rated disconnect and replace the existing disconnect
- Reconnect existing service and tenant feeders, with grounding and bonding for the new equipment
- Label every new meter position, test, and prepare for PG&E's final meter set and energization
What stayed in place
Keeping the existing service configuration is what made this a contained, like-for-like project.
- Existing overhead utility service and service room
- Existing distribution box
- Existing master meter, which becomes the house and common-area PG&E meter
- Existing elevator meter
- Existing feeders, raceway and service capacity
How we delivered it
Figures reflect a specific completed GBS project. On any other building, PG&E controls its own review and energization schedule, and scope and price depend on utility and city requirements.
Still on Zinsco or submeters?
Tell us your unit count and what is on the wall. We will scope the replacement, run the PG&E process, and keep your tenants powered through it, the same way we did here.
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