How To Remove A Electric Meter

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An electric meter (or "watt/hour" meter) is a device your local electrical utility uses to measure out the corporeality of power used in a building or home, for billing purposes. Normally, there is no need for anyone other than a qualified electrician or authorized utility employee to remove a meter. Furthermore, about all utilities require obtaining permission before breaking seals and removing meters. This wiki covers most typical (250V or less) residential meters, not those with bypass switches, multi-phase commercial / industrial meters or those part of current transformer cabinets, etc.

1. i

   Locate the electric meter. Most times, it may ordinarily be found on the outside of the home, only may also be constitute inside; near the electrical console. If power is provided via aerial service lateral, but following the wires to the home should make the meter visible.^[one]

2. ii

   Inspect the meter and meter enclosure. The meter is oftentimes held in position by one of several methods:^[2]

   • A thin metal ring with a slot and tab. The band has a shoulder forth both sides of its length that engages the a lip on the edge of the meter and the rim of the meter socket or enclosure; and holds the meter securely into the socket. In one case the ring's tab has been passed through the slot, a seal is placed on it to indicate tampering.
   • A thick metallic ring with a special locked enclosure around the retaining hardware, that prevents unauthorized persons from removing the ring and meter.
   • The meter enclosure comprehend itself; which holds the lip of the meter and holds it in place in the meter enclosure. The cover volition employ a simple seal or special locked enclosure over the retaining hardware that allows for the opening of the comprehend (and meter removal) like to the previous two examples.
   • Some other arrangement specific to the requirements of the local ability company in your surface area. These types can not be covered by this wiki at this time.

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3. 3

   Determine if you are able to remove the meter. Those meters secured with a simple seal - whether through a slot & tab on a thin metal ring around the meter or on the meter enclosure cover itself - will be the blazon that volition allow removal of the meter. Those meters secured with thick rings / special locked enclosures, etc. volition not be able to exist removed without causing severe impairment to the meter or enclosure and significant take chances of shock, burns, fire or electrocution. This wiki is unable provide instructions to bypass this type of security hardware. The only safe remedy is to contact the local utility for removal.

4. four

   Obtain permission from the local utility to break the seals and remove the meter. If the meter is secured with a uncomplicated seal and yous have determined that you tin can remove it, notify the utility. This is often done by a telephone call to their client service department. You may exist asked why you lot demand to remove the meter, how long it is expected to be removed, etc. If yous determine that you are unable to remove the meter, y'all tin can schedule to have an authorized employee to do this for yous at this time.

5. 5

   Shut off power in the edifice. This will remove the load on the meter and will prevent destructive arcing and burning as the meter is withdrawn from the meter enclosure and when reinstalled, later. Annotation: switching excursion breakers to off and removing of fuses from the electrical panel will not remove power from the meter or enclosure. ^[three]

   • Switch ALL branch excursion breakers (typically all unmarried and double pole types from 15 amps ~ sixty amps) handles to OFF, then locate the Service Disconnect Switch (the largest value excursion breaker) in the electric panel; and move the handle to OFF, likewise.
   • Remove fuses. Unscrew all fuses 2-3 total turns or more than. Pull cartridge type fuses out completely and notation the location of each for proper re-installation later.

6. six

   Inspect the meter for indication of a connected load in the edifice. The meter should not be spinning, running or advancing at this indicate. If it is, there is withal a panel connected somewhere. Check garages, out buildings, etc. and remove the load as described to a higher place. Ideally, the load should be fully disconnected before standing. Go on in heed: Even though the meter isn't advancing because load has been shed; it does not mean the power is off! There is still electricity being provided past the utility, through the meter and into the electric panel - waiting to be used.

7. 7

   Cut and remove the seal. Use of a simple pair of wire cutters should be able to cut through the seal for removal. Watch out for sharp edges while removing the seal.

8. 8

   Place a rubber mat, canvass of plywood or other non-conductive material on the ground to stand on while working on the meter from this bespeak. Do not stand on earth, concrete, vegetation, asphalt, etc. every bit these will conduct electricity.^[4]

9. ix

   Remove the retaining ring or embrace that holds the meter in position. Lift the slot off the tab and spread the ring to remove information technology completely. The cover type will elevator upward or have screws to remove. If a lift blazon, push button the meter upward slightly to let the comprehend to clear the meter every bit it swings upwardly. Be aware that behind the cover lies energized parts. Practise not put your fingers where you lot cannot run into them or backside the comprehend while removing it.

10. x

    Stone the meter in an "up and downwards" motion to gratuitous the contact blades from the jaws. Do not use pressure nearly the base, nor attain behind the meter or into the enclosure - a steady upward / down rocking while pulling will allow the meter to go gratuitous.^[v]

11. 11

    Once the meter is complimentary, it should be secured from impairment or theft. Since the meter is owned by the utility, y'all are liable for its loss. The meter enclosure should not be left unattended without first securing a reliable "dead front" to prevent accidental contact with alive parts past people or other accidental conductors.^[6]

12. 12

    Reinstall. This is performed in the opposite society - except that the meter must be checked to be sure information technology is oriented right-side up; have its contact blades properly aligned with the enclosure'due south contact jaws and take steady pressure applied to its front while "rocking" in.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  Is it true that the prongs that agree the meter in place remain energized, and touching them could exist lethal?

  

  Yes. On a residential 120/240v meter base (with meter removed), the elevation 2 are line side, and the bottom 2 are load side. A voltage test across the top ii jaws will prove 240v, and from neutral to each superlative jaw volition show 120v. Consider all four jaws live until proper voltage checks accept been done.

• Question

  Can a power supplier enter a property and remove the meter without a warrant and/or permission of the property possessor, can the power company leave the property without a power supply?

  

  If the meter is within a building, permission would exist needed to enter. Many states have laws prohibiting disconnection of utilities from residences in some / all times of the yr under certain circumstances (children or elderly residing in the home). Commercial and industrial blazon buildings would not likely be subject to this type of protection. Keep in heed that the meter itself is the holding of the electric visitor; obtaining a warrant to retrieve it wouldn't probable be difficult. You lot'd practice well to speak to your lawyer for precise advice.

• Question

  What if the glass comes out but non the meter itself?

  

  The utility should be notified at once of this problem. The glass serves as transparent insulation from the energized parts of the meter's measuring and indicating mechanisms. It protects people from shock and prevents pelting and snow from entering that could result in fire or property loss.

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• 1. As suggested in the introduction, a meter should simply be removed when permission has been granted and and then; just by qualified & authorized persons.

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• 1. The potential risk of injury to property and person is significant; particularly when this work is performed by unqualified persons. Most residential electric systems in North America are 240VAC. Since equally fiddling equally 50VAC nether the right conditions can exist lethal, emphasis on rubber cannot be stressed enough.
  2. The meter is holding of the utility; not the homeowner, rate payer, etc., if you lose, harm or tamper with it, yous may be required to pay for a replacement; and in the example of tampering to facilitate "theft of service" - subject to legal proceedings, jail and / or fine.

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