Other than the physical dimensions, and that the U4031 is just for underground, electrically both will do the same job.

tkrussell,

I am going to take your advice and install a 320/400 meter base with breakers built-in. I was originally against having any breakers on the outside of the house, but this setup definitely seems to be the best for my situation. Thanks for the service you provide to the community here.

Hi TimmiZ

I'm also considering purchasing U5059-X-2/200-K3L. I'm concerned about the breakers being on the outside. Doesn't it mean that someone could trip the breakers and pretty much get your house without any power? I'm thinking about someone trying to break in. If you have a picture of the meter base with the cover installed, that might be helpful to figure out how to protect the breakers. What did you do about it? By the way when the power company locks the front cover, does it mean that the breakers are then inaccessible? If I work on a load center, I like to both trip the breaker on the load center but also to trip the corresponding breaker on the meter base.

Most, if not all, electrical equipment that has an outdoor disconnect will have a hasp or some other menas of using a padlock to prevent someone fro shutting off the disconnect.

The utility will only seal the meter itself, they will never seal or lock a customers disconnect.