It is said that Florida is where circus folk spend the winter- and these guys are clearly clowns. Worse yet, it appears that the 'master' is teaching his methods to the other 'apprentices.'
Breaking the seal is the first 'sin.' A violation of PoCo rules. I can't speak for others, but I don't cut a seal without PoCo permission - and they usually send a troubleman this way to do it. He'll also cut and tie-off the drop for me- and return promptly for the hook-up.
OK, so it's open. Now what? Well, the damage to the jaw and the meter is obvious. Again, it's time for an immediate call to the PoCo. Th troubleman will bring a new meter.
The mast looks like 2", and the meter pan looks like 150-A ... it's pretty clear to me that this (and the panel itself) are replacements for an older 60-amp service. So- why do the service conductors look like the original, cloth-covered, #4's? They're certainly not the size of aluminum wire you need for 150-amps. Those need to be replaced at this time. There's the main NEC violation.
Weatherheads are cheap, and there's no excuse for not replacing it. Had they simply CUT all three wires, they could have simply pulled the old one off intact.
I loved the "hot gloves." Even the lead guy did not appear to have real rubber liners; the outers can be anything. The other guys using only one glove, and manipulating the hot wires with a pair of fuse pullers .... huh?
I trim 'hot' PoCo feeds all the time, using an ordinary box cutter ... and REAL gloves. Of course, I'm usually on a ladder- something these guys didn't seem to have, either.
Wires are reconnected using PoCo-supplied parallel-groove connectors (PGC's) or crimp connectors. Splicing tape covered by vinyl tape is perfectly fine- but this crew seemed new to the practice.
I've never seen replacement meter pan parts sold; I'm surprised they didn't replace the entire guts, or even the entire box.
Yet, there's the condition of the entire panel ... it's pretty clear that this slumlord has been using marginal "contractors" for years. All I can say is that you get what you pay for.
There was such a crew that passed through Reno a few years back. I had quite a bit of work, following after this guy, replacing his hackwork.
I get testy when I hear about "2-hour service changes" or panel "swap outs." Right then I suspect that the ground rod has not been driven, that the service drop has not been replaced, that none of the other requirements of a service change have been dealt with.
