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.