What Is Electrical Service?
Electric Service is the connection between your home and the overhead electricity wires provided by your utility. It includes the supply component, which is the electricity delivery to your home, and the retail component, which is metering, billing, and customer service. The electric supply component is associated with the high-voltage transmission facilities and electric power plants that provide energy to your local distribution system. The electricity that travels from these facilities and plants to your home is delivered by the electric company through a delivery system, which may include lower-voltage distribution facilities within the electric company’s service territory. The delivery system is regulated at the wholesale and retail levels.
The main electrical wiring inside your home runs from the electric meter base to the circuit breaker panel or breaker box that is installed in the side of your house, often in the garage. The breaker box contains the circuit breakers that switch on and off your household electrical load. If the breaker is incorrectly sized or improperly connected, you could experience problems such as flickering lights or acrid smells around outlets.
To determine if you have the correct amount of electrical wiring, you can check your electric meter for the number of amps it is capable of handling. Your electric utility will also have a record of the size and location of your service drop, which is the point where the overhead electricity wires from the street connect to the meter base. The meter base is the part of the system that is the responsibility of the homeowner, including any riser and meter cable that goes to the breaker box or panel.
When determining your amperage requirement, it is important to be accurate about your current and future needs. Underestimating can result in costly rewiring or equipment damage, while overestimating can lead to excessive energy bills. The best way to determine the correct amperage is by adding up the total wattage of your appliances and machinery, then comparing it with the amperage capacity of the breaker box.
Your home’s electrical panel, which is also referred to as the service panel or service head, is the central distribution point for your home’s electricity. The electrical panel connects the service wire or service drop (the main wire from the outside of your house) to the breaker box and to exit wires that serve each room in your house.
It is important to always be cautious when working near your service panel, especially if it is open with the breaker switches exposed. Tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and even your hands can touch parts of the service panel and transmit an electric shock to you. This shock can be fatal or at least very painful. You can avoid these dangers by making sure that the outer door of the service panel is closed, and only working on the breaker switches with the protective front cover removed. Also, make sure that any tools you use have plastic handles to reduce the risk of contact with metal parts and surfaces that can conduct electricity. Electrical Service