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#16834 11/16/02 10:54 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 186
M
mj Offline OP
Member
in my area, we can not break a seal on the meter, only power co employee can remove the seal, $1000 fine. what about your area?

#16835 11/16/02 11:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
mj,
I take it that you are a licenced Electrician,in the US.
Over here in New Zealand or at least the area of the South Island that I work in,
what normally happens, is that you ring you local Electrical Inspector or the Control Centre, to get permission to break the seal.
This is normally given quite freely, provided you give them your registration number(and in my case, a clearance number).
Most of our work is done by Radio Telephone.
[Linked Image]

#16836 11/17/02 12:02 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
H
Member
In NJ, you are not suppose to break the seal unless you get the power company's OK. Then they might also ask you fill a form making you responsible for the job. (And the liability.)

#16837 11/17/02 07:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
What the utilities may tell you and what your actual State Laws are may vary....

Quote
ยง 3784. Interfering with meters

A person, other than an authorized agent or employee acting for the owner, manufacturer or operator thereof, who maliciously opens, closes, breaks into or in any manner adjusts or interferes with a meter, or other regulating or measuring device or appliance attached to or connected with wires, pipe lines, mains, service pipes or house pipes owned or used by a manufacturer or furnisher of electricity, gas, or water shall be imprisoned not more than three months or fined not more than $100.00, or both.

my bold ....

#16838 11/17/02 09:04 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Out here in SoCA, our resi meters have a "super ring" with a keyed locking device. (No pic, my camera blew up). You call SCE or LADWP, etc., and they send someone out to unlock it for you. Response time is usually only an hour or 2, unless an emergency, in which case they're right there.
To bypass this, you'd have to drill out the lock, and then you'd be subject to tampering law (Hardly worth it)

#16839 11/17/02 12:14 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
For "problem" meters, there's stuff like http://www.inner-tite.com/rhino.html




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 11-17-2002).]

#16840 11/17/02 02:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member
We cut meter seals as a matter of routine when we need to cut the power for the service entrance. We always call the power company after to let them know the meter needs to be resealed

#16841 11/17/02 05:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Bjarney,
Yup, that's the one.
They're a default setting down here!!

#16842 11/17/02 06:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
The poco here dictates that i shall not pull meters, cut or rebug service entrance.

But these are thier bylaws, and they know it because i'll not have thier beuracracy hold me up from making a living and do as i'm hired to do.

I could possibly think differently if in fact the poco owned any of the service laterals or OH drops here...not so...

If you think about it, we could cough up some 70E stuff that would have you deenergize via pulling a meter for safety reasons.
All in all if the poco won't trust a field sparky to do this, i have no ear to thier concerns either.

As to the so-called 'emergency response' here, there is none inside of 40 minutes or so.

Apparently past history saw the line foreman take the bucket truck home, not so anymore.

They have to get up, get dressed, etc, go to the shop, do all that is dictated ( punch in, truck checks..)by the poco to respond.

40+ minutes is an eternity in some situations....trust me.

#16843 11/17/02 08:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
We aren't suposed to cut the tag off, but we do it all the time. In many cases it could be more dangerous not to remove the meter if there is a problem that needs immediate attention. I've never been confronted about it and I've never notified anyone, but whenever I do, my intentions are clear and not malicious.

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