Do smart electric meters alert the power company when it's removed?

[homedad]

I'm needing to move my circuit panel in my basement in order to install a basement bathroom. I've always wired my own homes and outbuildings but this was prior to smart meters. In the past I could just pull the meter to cut the power so that I could replace the service entrance cable. Then just pop it back in place. Eventually someone would replace the security lock months or years later. Does anyone know if this is going to flag me the instant I remove it?

 

[LHF2019]

I would bet on it. They sent a tech out to confirm meter issue when mine quit.

 

[homedad]

Thanks.

 

[Oaktree]

I would bet on it. They sent a tech out to confirm meter issue when mine quit.

Agree. I'm surprised the OP got away with it in the past. One would think a broken/missing seal would be a giant red flag to a meter reader (back when they had them). Most utilities take theft of service seriously, and they usually want to be informed in advance if someone is removing a meter for any reason.

 

[WM75Guy]

They will know. The display quit working on my smart meter, it notified the electric coop. They sent a service guy out to replace it. When the power goes out, I get a notice on my phone app without contacting the electric coop

 

[tulenutn2o]

Around here, it is an automatic notification to the utility and a $250 charge.

 

[WM75Guy]

The meter is in constant communication with the power company. If it quits communicating, they know something is wrong.

 

[mjonesnh]

How can the meter report anything after it's removed?

If no signal is received from meter in allowed time utility knows there is an issue. During a power outage I will get a text from utility withing 2 minutes says a crew has been assigned to problem

 

[Cub 7275]

Around here, it is an automatic notification to the utility and a $250 charge.

So what is the procedure to get the meter pulled?

I often work as a helper doing HVAC and when the condenser disconnect needs replacing the guy just pulls the meter. Haven't heard of any ramifications from the short duration disconnection and know a few of the people who would have said something if the power company ever questioned them about it later. I would assume if the meter doesn't come back online the power company would eventually check to see if someone was stealing power.

 

[homedad]

Agree. I'm surprised the OP got away with it in the past. One would think a broken/missing seal would be a giant red flag to a meter reader (back when they had them). Most utilities take theft of service seriously, and they usually want to be informed in advance if someone is removing a meter for any reason.

My property involved building a home where we lived in which was always intended to become a woodworking shop once the whole project was completed. While we were living there I built a 3 car garage with electricity. Then I built a 3500sf home where I attached it to the garage. The first home always provided power to the well. Whenever I had a power outage I had to connect my generator to my 200a panel in the workshop in order to provide water and backfeed to the garage and the big house to provide power. I then had to disconnect the meter on the garage in order to not backfeed into the grid for the safety of the lineman. One time I left the meter face down and it filled with water. A worker came out about a week later to determine why the meter wasn't working. I explained the whole thing to him and he suggested that I put some other piece of equipment up so that I wouldn't have to do that again. He also said he was just going to hang the new security lock in an unlocked position just in case I needed to do it again. Sorry this was so long but I just wanted to express the point that these workers are really decent people and not just corporate drones.

 

[ponytug]

So what is the procedure to get the meter pulled?

I often work as a helper doing HVAC and when the condenser disconnect needs replacing the guy just pulls the meter. Haven't heard of any ramifications from the short duration disconnection and know a few of the people who would have said something if the power company ever questioned them about it later. I would assume if the meter doesn't come back online the power company would eventually check to see if someone was stealing power.

You just call the owner company, get a date and time, and go from there. Usually the lineman turns up and asks how long you need it out, and either stays (e.g. a
Something quick like replacing the siding under the meter), or comes back in the afternoon or whenever you want it. Quick and easy in my experience.

Besides the possible penalties, look up arc flash;

I'm not saying you might get lucky, but I am saying it is very much not a zero risk endeavor pulling a meter without safety equipment.

All the best,

Peter

 

[LHF2019]

They will know. The display quit working on my smart meter, it notified the electric coop. They sent a service guy out to replace it. When the power goes out, I get a notice on my phone app without contacting the electric coop

I liked when ours quit. Free electricity for a few months before they got around to replacing it. Got to the point I wondered how long they would let it go.

 

[WM75Guy]

I liked when ours quit. Free electricity for a few months before they got around to replacing it. Got to the point I wondered how long they would let it go.

I didn't get any free electricity. It didn't quit metering, it just didn't have a display.

 

[mrmikey]

A lot more involved in that around here.
Couple years ago the power corp installed a smart meter. Usually it's a plug and play the meter installer does. Well in mine the block was cracked that the meter plugs into so they had to replace that. Power corp lineman had to come out and disconnect the service at the mast, then they had to call a private company electrician to replace the meter base, once the meter base was replaced they had to call the power corp inspector to inspect the panel that wasn't even touched inside the house. Then they had to call the lineman back to reconnect the power and the meter change guy had to install the new meter and put his seal on it. It didn't cost me any thing but the power was out from about 9 in the am till 7 or so at night. All this time the poor sob that was the meter installer had to hang around with his finger up his backside. I felt sorry for him so I'd go and grab him a coffee and a sandwich.
Major crap if you remove your meter and the tag is cut, they know immediately if the meter is pulled.

Mind you they have more serious issues to deal with now as their (NS Power) customer base got hacked and their customers information was leaked including SIN numbers, passwords, and all other info. My power bill is almost a month late arriving. The way they are going after the rate payers for everything I imagine we'll end up paying somehow.

Nova Scotia Power was the victim of a ransomware attack where hackers stole customer data, including personal information like names, addresses, and financial details. The stolen data has been published on the dark web. The company has confirmed the attack and is working with cybersecurity experts to investigate and restore systems. They are also offering credit monitoring services to affected customer

 

[grsthegreat]

Way more strict here in idaho and washington state. Im an electrician and a buddy of mine, also an electrician, removed a meter on a fire damaged house to replace service. He didnt bother calling to have it removed. He was arrested for theft of a public utility or something like that. Boss had to bail him out. The meter and all wiring from it to pole outwards is owned by the utility company. If you cut that tab, and pull meter and someone gets hurt, they dont want the liability.

What we HAVE to do is pull a permit (online), than call utility company with permit numer and schedule a shutdown. They pull meter and either blank off the push plates or kill the transformer if were replacing entire panel. They will repower after were done. No charge. This is what i have always done.

 

[grsthegreat]

And yes, smart meter if pulled, alerts system of a problem. It believes power was dropped to it and our power providers dispatch service crew.

 

[ning]

So what is the procedure to get the meter pulled?

I often work as a helper doing HVAC and when the condenser disconnect needs replacing the guy just pulls the meter. Haven't heard of any ramifications from the short duration disconnection and know a few of the people who would have said something if the power company ever questioned them about it later. I would assume if the meter doesn't come back online the power company would eventually check to see if someone was stealing power.

Isn't there a disconnect fuse right next to the condenser where you pull it out for a positive on/off?

 

[Cub 7275]

Yes, but sometimes the whole disconnect box needs replacing because the pull out contacts are welded or the box is rusted away or it's a new install.

 

[Oaktree]

What we HAVE to do is pull a permit (online), than call utility company with permit numer and schedule a shutdown. They pull meter and either blank off the push plates or kill the transformer if were replacing entire panel. They will repower after were done. No charge. This is what i have always done.

Some of that is going to vary by jurisdiction. In my town no permits are required for anything other than septic (state requirement). No building permits of any type.
I upgraded my service when I first bought this house. After verifying that no permits were required, the electric company provided me with a meter socket, which I wired to my new panel. Then called the electric company and they did the rest...new wiring from the pole & installed the meter. Obviously, there'll be more red tape if your town requires an electrical permit and/or a licensed electrician to do the work (I'm not).

 

[ultrarunner]

Way more strict here in idaho and washington state. Im an electrician and a buddy of mine, also an electrician, removed a meter on a fire damaged house to replace service. He didnt bother calling to have it removed. He was arrested for theft of a public utility or something like that. Boss had to bail him out. The meter and all wiring from it to pole outwards is owned by the utility company. If you cut that tab, and pull meter and someone gets hurt, they dont want the liability.

What we HAVE to do is pull a permit (online), than call utility company with permit numer and schedule a shutdown. They pull meter and either blank off the push plates or kill the transformer if were replacing entire panel. They will repower after were done. No charge. This is what i have always done.

Interesting… when I install a service upgrade the box and rigid conduit up to the weatherhead and the conductors inside are owner supplied in my PGE territory.

I’ve called in to report electric theft and nothing happened for months… the residents going through eviction by passed the meter with speaker wire and duct tape…

The utility said it would wait until the occupants were removed…

It’s not unusual to see utility workers with off duty Oakland Police in full uniform providing security… with department approval… too many utility workers robbed at gun point so this is the solution.