New-build meter at final
The 200 A main breaker panel is in the basement directly behind the meter. What's wrong here?
- There is no outdoor emergency disconnect for this dwelling service
- The AC pull-out counts as the emergency disconnect, so this passes
- The underground service riser must be rigid metal conduit, not PVC
- No ground rod shows at the meter, so the service is not grounded
Show the answer and the code reference
The answer
This new one-family dwelling has no outdoor emergency disconnect; the only service disconnect is the main breaker inside the basement.
Correct choice: 1. There is no outdoor emergency disconnect for this dwelling service
Since the 2020 NEC, and carried into 2023, 230.85 requires a one- or two-family dwelling service to terminate in a disconnect in a readily accessible outdoor location, so firefighters can kill power without going inside. That disconnect can be the service disconnect itself (a meter-main), a meter disconnect, or another listed disconnect suitable for use as service equipment ahead of the service disconnect, marked EMERGENCY DISCONNECT. A main breaker in the basement right behind the meter satisfies 230.70(A)(1) for location, but not 230.85, and this ringless meter socket has nothing that opens the service. The AC pull-out opens only the condenser's branch circuit.
How to fix it
Install a listed outdoor emergency disconnect ahead of the basement panel, marked per 230.85. Either use a meter-main or service-rated disconnect as the service disconnect, which turns the basement panel into a feeder panel (4-wire feeder, neutral isolated, bonding jumper removed per 250.24(A)(5)), or use a meter disconnect or other listed disconnect marked NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT so the basement main stays the service disconnect.
Code references
NEC 2023 230.85 — Emergency Disconnects
For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting means having a short-circuit current rating at least equal to the available fault current, installed in a readily accessible outdoor location and grouped if more than one. Each must be a service disconnect, a meter disconnect, or another listed disconnect suitable for use as service equipment on the supply side of the service disconnect, marked EMERGENCY DISCONNECT with the corresponding wording.
Drills citing 230.85NEC 2023 230.70(A)(1) — Readily Accessible Location
The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
Drills citing 230.70(A)(1)
2026 NEC:changed: The 2026 NEC deletes 230.85 and folds the dwelling emergency-disconnect rule into 230.70. For one- and two-family dwellings, the service disconnect itself must now be outdoors and readily accessible, on or within sight of the dwelling (with an exception where a 225.41 feeder emergency disconnect is provided), and marked SERVICE DISCONNECT and EMERGENCY DISCONNECT (white on red). This ringless socket is still a violation, but the fix that adds a meter disconnect marked NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT and keeps the basement main as the service disconnect appears no longer to comply. Under 2026 the outdoor device should be the service disconnect. Confidence: medium
Minnesota
Minnesota enforces the 2023 NEC, adopted by reference without amendments in Minn. Rules 1315.0200 (Minn. Stat. 326B.35), effective July 1, 2023. 230.85 therefore applies as published; amendments to the emergency-disconnect rules were proposed during the 2023 adoption review, but none was adopted. The 2025 permit in the caption places this job under the 2023 NEC. Xcel Energy and many co-ops also publish meter-main requirements in their service standards. The Board of Electricity adopted the 2026 NEC, also without amendment, for permits filed on or after Aug. 17, 2026 (exams moved to the 2026 NEC on Sept. 8, 2026); see the 2026 NEC note on this drill.
How Minnesota adopts the NECWhy the other choices are wrong
- The AC pull-out counts as the emergency disconnect, so this passes. The pull-out only disconnects the condenser. 230.85 requires the outdoor disconnect to open all of the service conductors to the building.
- The underground service riser must be rigid metal conduit, not PVC. PVC is permitted for the riser; where it is subject to physical damage it must be Schedule 80 or another raceway listed in 300.5(D)(4) (see also 352.10(F)).
- No ground rod shows at the meter, so the service is not grounded. New footings provide a concrete-encased electrode (250.52(A)(3)), which 250.50 requires to be used when present, and the grounding electrode conductor can land at the indoor service disconnect. No rule requires a rod at the meter.