If you own a row home in DC, there’s a decent chance your property has two electric meters. One for the main home, and one for the basement or rental unit.
A lot of homeowners ask the same question:
“Should I combine my meters so I can install one bigger solar system and save more money?”
Short answer, most of the time, no. It usually doesn’t pencil out.
Let’s walk through why.
The Cost of Combining Meters Adds Up Fast
Combining two meters into one isn’t just a paperwork change. It’s real electrical work.
You’re talking about:
- Reworking your main electrical service
- Running new wiring throughout the home
- Potential panel upgrades
- Coordination with Pepco
- Inspections and permits
In DC, this kind of work can easily run around $5,000 or more.
That’s a big upfront cost just to restructure how your power is measured, before you even get to the solar install.
Splitting One Solar System Into Two Is Also Inefficient
Some homeowners think, “Okay, I’ll just keep both meters and split the solar system into two smaller systems.”
That sounds simple, but it actually creates more complexity and cost.
Now you need:
- Two inverter setups (or at least more complicated equipment)
- Two utility interconnections
- Two permit processes
- Additional conduit and wiring
- A larger, more visible combiner setup on the front of the home
You’re basically duplicating a lot of the infrastructure. That drives up cost without increasing total production. Typically $3,500-$5,000
Also, space becomes a real issue when you split a system. You need duplicate equipment near each meter, and on a row home or any tight setup, that can quickly turn into a problem. Here’s an image below of what just one system’s equipment looks like.
Pepco Already Credits You for Extra Solar Production
Here’s the part most people don’t realize.
With Pepco and most utilities, if your solar system produces more energy than you use over the course of the year, you don’t lose that value.
You get it back.
At the end of the year, excess production is typically paid out as a check.
So trying to perfectly match solar production across two meters isn’t as critical as people think. The system doesn’t need to be perfectly balanced month to month or meter to meter.
Focus on the Meter That Actually Uses the Power
In most row homes, usage isn’t evenly split.
A common setup:
- The main home uses the bulk of the electricity, especially with AC in the summer
- The basement unit uses significantly less
That’s exactly how my own house works.
So instead of overcomplicating things, it usually makes more sense to:
- Install solar on the meter with the higher usage
- Offset the biggest portion of your bill
- Keep the system simple and cost-effective
That’s where you’ll see the most impact.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, this comes down to cost versus benefit.
- Combining meters is expensive and rarely worth it
- Splitting a solar system into two adds unnecessary complexity
- Utilities already compensate you for excess production
- Targeting the higher-usage meter delivers the best return
There are always edge cases, but in the vast majority of row homes in DC, keeping things simple is the smarter move.
If you’re not sure what setup makes the most sense for your home, it’s worth having someone look at your actual usage and layout before making any decisions. A quick review can save you thousands in unnecessary electrical work.
