March 2008

Meter Access Critical to Your Safety

In case of fire, it will be impossible for Walton EMC personnel to quickly shut off power because this meter base door is blocked by construction.

This homeowner got an unexpected deck modification when carpenters sealed in the meter base.

Walton EMC employees are discovering

increasing numbers of meter bases that are

sealed off by construction or remodeling. This creates several problems, the biggest being safety.

The meter base is the metal box that houses your electric meter. Its door allows meter removal or access for servicing the connections and wire inside. Meter bases are typically located on the sides of buildings.

“I would hate to know that authorized personnel can’t cut the power to my house quickly if they need to,” says Roger Harrison, Walton EMC meter reading and revenue recovery supervisor.

In the event of a house fire or other electrical emergency, pulling the meter out of the meter base is much faster than having to shut off power out at the utility pole or underground transformer.

But if boards, caulk or masonry obstruct the door of the meter base, it prevents quick removal. Besides being a safety concern, it’s a violation of the cooperative’s service rules and the National Electrical Code.

It’s also a violation and unsafe to enclose the meter within a room. If you’re adding a room, the meter needs to be relocated.

“Although it’s rare, like any other man-made mechanical device, meters sometimes fail,” says Harrison. “They can also be struck by lightning. We have to be able to open the meter base to provide good electric service.”

Video: Why meter access is important

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