What function does service equipment serve in an electrical system?

Service equipment plays a critical role in electrical systems by ensuring safe and efficient delivery of electricity to a building or structure. The main function of service equipment is to provide metering and disconnection of service. This involves incorporating a meter that measures the amount of electricity consumed by the property, allowing utility companies to bill customers accurately. Additionally, service equipment serves the essential purpose of disconnecting the electrical service when necessary, such as during emergencies or maintenance, to protect both the infrastructure and the individuals working on it.

While connecting multiple buildings, distributing power throughout a building, and transforming voltage are important aspects of an overall electrical system, these functions are not the primary purpose of service equipment as defined by the NEC. Service equipment is specifically designed to handle the entry point of electrical supply into a building, ensure proper metering, and provide safety measures for disconnection. Therefore, the focus on metering and disconnection highlights the critical safety and monitoring functions that service equipment must perform in every electrical system.