How Low Can You Go? - ECN Electrical Forums

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This is one of my favorites from my collection of violations and just plain screw-ups. The GC had taken over this project from someone else and had started to dig before I got there. The meter was no more than an inch or so above grade.

- Wire Wrestler

Looking at the bottom of that meter can it appears that bottom 2 to 3 inches may have been buried!!!

Where's the load??? What POCO installed the meter??? What area is this from? Here in NJ, we need a local (Twp., City) permit & inspection, and a utility application and inspection by utility before any meter is set. Is this a joke or what?
John

A little more info.
It is my understanding that the meter pedestal was inspected and the POCO powered it up before the foundation was backfilled. Evidently there was no communication between the GC and the electrical contractor as to where the final grade would be. They obviously didn't use common sense either as evidenced by the basement window well.
This is in a small town in northern IL.
WireWrestler

I had one end up at about 2-1/2 feet once, but not this bad!

Has the meter been read yet and would the meter-person report it?

Ah, such contrasts we encounter here.

Binoculars are needed to read the meter from https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000157.html

As to this low meter...Just wait for the first snowfall that covers it.

Yikes!

[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 11-03-2002).]

Owner probably gets a lot of "estimated bills".

Along a similar incidnet, The local PoCo had cut off the PVC lateral riser conduit into bottom of the meter enclosure at a 45º angle just an inch or so below the grade, apparently so they could easily install their buried lateral into the meter.

Don't know how many they may have done previously. The unit had asked for an 'early service' ( after the wall was erected and the panelboard protected from the elements (110-11) ) so that the permanent panelboard could be used during construction.

Know that the original riser-stub was OK for the installers are to have the riser 'in-place, secured and exposed' for an service inspection.

When making the 'Final' inspection, the back-fill had settled and about 12 inches of service lateral was exposed.

Took pictures and went directly to the PoCo engineering and requested an immediate disconnection.

Don't believe this jurisdiction of the local PoCo did that again.

Looks almost like a tombstone ;who made that mistake ...is there a dead electrician below?

R.I.P.

*bows head and puts hardhat over heart*

Methinks the power company is hiring folks from the Lollipop Guild of Metermen. [Linked Image]

He just wanted to lower his bill.