Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) Program
The Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) Program offered by SDG&E enables the safe installation or removal of customer-owned MSAs that meet SDG&E’s approval standards. An MSA is a device installed between your home’s meter socket and SDG&E’s electric meter, where the meter connects to your electrical panel. MSAs can help simplify the integration of backup power systems, such as photovoltaic solar and battery storage, or additional loads, such as electric vehicle chargers.
Under this program, the MSA is purchased and owned by the customer, but it must be an SDG&E-approved device and installed by an SDG&E authorized agent through an application process. Learn more about the different types of MSAs, how to apply, and how the program works below.
How the Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) Program Works
To have an MSA installed through SDG&E’s program, follow these steps:
- Confirm Eligibility: Ensure your home’s electric meter and service panel meet the program requirements, which can be found below.
- Select Your Device: Find an approved isolating or non-isolating MSA from the SDG&E Approved MSA Product List. The customer is responsible for purchasing the approved device directly from the manufacturer.
- Apply Online: Submit your MSA application through the appropriate online enrollment portal (isolating or non-isolating). A signed customer agreement is required.
- Approval, Installation Payment and Scheduling: Once your application is approved, SDG&E will provide the next steps for the customer to coordinate with the SDG&E authorized agent, including paying an MSA installation fee and scheduling the installation.
- Prepare for Installation: Before SDG&E authorized agent’s visit on the scheduled installation date, place the MSA in a waterproof, clearly visible bag near the electric meter panel.
- Installation: An SDG&E authorized agent will install the MSA on the scheduled installation date.
Important: Your application must be complete and approved before the MSA can be installed or used.
Eligibility Requirements for MSA Program
To participate in SDG&E’s Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) Program, the following criteria must be met:
- Residential Service: Your home must have a self-contained meter with single phase, 3-wire 120/240-volt service, and a panel rated up to 200 amps.
- System Compatibility: Any generating system, such as photovoltaic solar or battery storage, back-feed must not exceed the panel’s rated load.
- Panel Compliance: The meter panel must be free of any Electric Service Requirement violations.
- Device-Specific Requirements: Refer to the SDG&E Approved MSA Product List for specifications related to your selected MSA.
- Device Placement: The SDG&E-approved MSA must be placed in a waterproof, highly visible bag near the meter panel prior to installation.
Note: Multi-meter panels are not eligible as they are considered commercial and not residential services.
Two Types of Meter Socket Adapters
For a list of SDG&E-approved MSAs, please refer to the Approved MSA Product List.
Non-Isolating Meter Socket Adapters are devices that may allow for the addition of electrification loads, such as electric vehicle chargers, without requiring upgrades to your electric panel. Unlike isolating adapters, they do not physically disconnect your home from the grid in the event of a utility electric outage.
Using non-isolating adapters can help reduce upfront installation costs and offer a safer, faster alternative to traditional upgrading methods.
Note: SDG&E does not currently have any approved non-isolating meter socket adapters. Please check this page in the future for any updates.
Isolating Meter Socket Adapters function similarly to non-isolating adapters, but they also provide the added capability to safely and quickly disconnect your home from the grid in the event of a utility electric outage and automatically switch to backup power sources, such as battery storage or photovoltaic solar.
Apply for an Isolating Meter Socket Adapter: Distribution Interconnection Information System (DIIS)
Program Resources
Maintenance and Support
SDG&E is not responsible for the operation or maintenance of the MSA. For any maintenance or repair needs, please contact the MSA manufacturer directly. Only SDG&E is authorized to safely remove the meter locking ring for service disconnection. After the maintenance is complete, customers must call the SDG&E Customer Contact Center to safely reconnect service.
Contact the SDG&E Customer Contact Center at 800-411-7343 to request a meter locking ring removal.
Information for Vendors, Contractors, and Installers
Vendors: Submitting Devices for Approval
If you are a Meter Socket Adapter (MSA) vendor seeking to have your product evaluated for inclusion on SDG&E’s Approved MSA Product List, you must submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating compliance with all relevant codes, standards, and testing procedures. This includes detailed product specifications and valid certifications.
Please email [email protected] to initiate the process.
For a list of frequently asked questions and an overview of the evaluation process, please refer to the SDG&E MSA Evaluation Guide.
Contractors and Installers: Best Practices for Customer Applications
If you are a contractor or installer submitting an application on behalf of a customer, please follow these best practices to ensure a smooth approval and installation process:
- Obtain customer authorization to act as the primary point of contact with SDG&E throughout the application and installation stages.
- Verify eligibility by confirming that the customer’s property and chosen MSA meet all program requirements before starting the application.
- Prepare for the site visit by placing the MSA in a secure, waterproof, and clearly visible bag near the meter prior to the SDG&E authorized agent installation visit. This helps protect the MSA from inclement weather and ensures easy access for the scheduled installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
SDG&E requires applications for both isolating and non-isolating MSAs for safety and tracking purposes since the devices are connected to a customer’s SDG&E-owned electric meter.
No, only an SDG&E authorized agent is authorized to install the MSA. However, customers and/or contractors are responsible for ensuring that any connected equipment, such as photovoltaic solar, battery storage systems, or EV chargers, are installed by a licensed electrician and complies with all applicable electrical codes and standards.
MSA applications are reviewed and approved within twenty (20) business days of submittal. If an application is incomplete or missing key information, turnaround times may be longer.
Yes, the cost for MSA installation varies depending on the MSA device. This fee is paid directly to the SDG&E authorized agent after application approval and prior to scheduling the installation visit. This does not include the cost of the MSA, which the customer must buy directly from the vendor.
An additional fee may be charged for last-minute installation schedule cancellations or re-visits to the customer site if the MSA cannot be installed during the scheduled visit.
No, SDG&E does not sell MSAs directly. Customers shall review the SDG&E-approved MSAs, whether isolating or non-isolating, and purchase directly from the MSA vendor. The MSA make and model for installation is required to match the one selected when completing the SDG&E MSA application.
Isolating MSA (Generation): No, a separate Rule 21 application and fees will need to be submitted for any interconnection requests, such as photovoltaic solar or battery systems. Please visit SDG&E’s Distribution Interconnection Information System (DIIS) to apply.
Non-Isolating MSA (Load): No, a separate Electric Load application and fees will need to be submitted for any additional load requirements, such as EV chargers. Please visit SDG&E’s Builder Services Portal to apply.
To remove an existing SDG&E RMA, send a removal email request to [email protected]. Afterwards, apply to install an MSA through the appropriate portal (isolating or non-isolating).
Your MSA was likely not installed due to one or more of the following reasons:
- The MSA was not placed near the meter panel in a visible location inside a weatherproof bag during the scheduled installation time.
- The MSA was found to be damaged, dirty, or exposed to moisture, compromising the integrity of the equipment.
- The meter panel violated Electric Service Requirements.
- The meter socket was not compatible with the MSA.
Please contact the SDG&E-approved MSA installer to reschedule your MSA installation appointment. An additional fee may be required for the MSA installation revisit.
No, SDG&E does not perform maintenance on customer-owned MSAs. Customers must contact the MSA vendor to schedule maintenance. Coordination will be required with SDG&E to remove the meter locking ring. After the maintenance is complete, the customer shall call the SDG&E Customer Contact Center for a service reconnection.
Contact the SDG&E Customer Contact Center at 800-411-7343 to request a meter locking ring removal.