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Pepco has approved ConnectDER’s Solar MSA, EV MSA and IslandDER MSA for installation in its Washington, DC-area service territory. The company says its meter socket adapters can connect equipment at a home’s existing meter socket and may reduce the need for panel or service upgrades, though project suitability depends on the home and utility requirements.
Pepco has approved three ConnectDER meter socket adapters for installation in its Washington, DC-area service territory, a decision that could give local homeowners and installers another way to connect residential electric-vehicle charging and other energy equipment. ConnectDER says its adapters attach at an existing meter socket and can, in some cases, avoid electrical-panel or service-capacity upgrades.
The approved products are ConnectDER’s Solar MSA, EV MSA and IslandDER MSA. The company describes them as meter collars that connect to a home’s existing meter socket outside the building. The EV MSA provides a power connection at the meter for residential EV charging equipment; the other products are designed for solar and islanding applications, respectively.
ConnectDER says the adapters can help installers reduce installation time and costs by avoiding some work associated with panel reconfiguration or a service upgrade. It says the EV MSA may allow a high-power home charger to be added to a property with an existing 100-amp electrical panel without upgrading that panel. That is a company description, not a guarantee that every home or charger can be installed that way.
The source report says ConnectDER’s devices are UL-listed and National Electrical Code-compliant, and have received utility approvals in 54 U.S. service territories. Pepco, which serves the Washington, DC area, is the latest utility identified in the report to approve the products. The report does not specify the approval date or provide a detailed account of Pepco’s installation conditions.
More Charging Options at the Meter
Residential EV charging can require more electrical capacity than a home’s existing panel can provide. If an installation needs a panel replacement or service upgrade, the added work can raise costs and extend the project. A meter-socket connection offers installers a different route to assess, potentially reducing some of that work where the property, equipment and utility rules allow it.
Pepco’s approval matters because utility acceptance is a practical step for bringing a product into a service area. It gives local installers an approved option to consider, but does not establish that every customer will qualify or that upgrades will always be avoided. Homeowners will still need an assessment of their electrical system and the proposed charger.
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How the Adapter Approval Fits
ConnectDER makes meter socket adapters for distributed energy equipment, including solar, battery storage and EV charging. The adapters are designed to connect at the existing meter location rather than relying solely on a home’s main electrical panel. The company’s stated aim is to simplify installations and limit work inside the home.
The reported approvals across 54 utility service territories indicate that the products have been accepted in multiple utility areas, but the source does not list those utilities or explain whether approval terms are uniform. Pepco’s approval adds the Washington, DC area to the locations where the report says installers may use the products, subject to local requirements and project review.
“ConnectDER’s meter socket adapters have helped us make solar and EV charging accessible to more DC residents without requiring expensive electrical upgrades.”
— Joseph Sigwarth, executive director of operations at DC-based Solar Solution
Installation Conditions Still Matter
The available report does not give the approval date, Pepco’s technical or operational conditions, or whether the utility has set limits on which homes and chargers can use the adapters. It also does not provide installation-cost figures, average time savings, or an independent assessment of the company’s claims about avoiding upgrades.
Approval does not mean every property can add a high-power charger without electrical work. The home’s existing service, equipment, charger load and applicable requirements will affect the design. The source material does not say how many Pepco customers have installed the products or when installations under the approval began.
Local Installers Assess Eligible Homes
With Pepco’s approval reported, installers in the service area can evaluate the adapters for relevant residential projects. Homeowners considering an EV charger should ask an electrician or installer to check their existing service and confirm that the selected equipment and installation meet utility and code requirements.
No rollout schedule, customer program or next approval milestone is specified in the source report. Further details about Pepco’s conditions, product availability and actual project costs would help establish how widely the adapters can be used locally.
Key Questions
What did Pepco approve?
Pepco approved ConnectDER’s Solar MSA, EV MSA and IslandDER MSA for installation in its Washington, DC-area service territory, according to the source report.
How does the EV MSA connect a home charger?
ConnectDER says the EV MSA provides a power connection at the home’s existing meter socket for residential EV charging equipment. A qualified installer must determine whether it suits a particular property and charger.
Will the adapter eliminate the need for an electrical-panel upgrade?
Not in every case. The company says the adapter can make it possible to add a high-power charger without upgrading an existing 100-amp panel, but suitability depends on the home and installation requirements.
Does the approval mean homeowners can install the product themselves?
No. The report concerns utility approval for installations, not do-it-yourself work. Homeowners should use qualified electrical professionals to assess and install charging equipment.
Are installation savings confirmed?
The source includes an installer’s account that the adapters can reduce disruption, labor and complexity. It provides no cost data or independent comparison, so the size of any savings is not established.
Source: chargedevs.com
