POCO Damages Meter Can

[ohm]

I got a call from an HO saying when the POCO replaced a mechanical with a digital meter they stripped out the speed nut where the bolt holds the face (and meter).

They said the HO needs to have it fixed, at his expense.

Since it was a combination meter & breaker style I quoted $1500 to replace it, which was definately not in their plans.

The HO had loaded up every space so they exceeded the six hand rule and our AHJ won't allow us to pull the meter w/o upgrading the service.

Any suggestions or comments?

 

[480sparky]

What's the deductible on their homeowners insurance?

 

[ohm]

What's the deductible on their homeowners insurance?

Don't know Sparky...$500 is pretty common around here. But do they pay worn out equipment?

 

[480sparky]

Don't know Sparky...$500 is pretty common around here. But do they pay worn out equipment?

Worn out? I thought the POCO damaged it.

As for whether they'll pay anything, maybe a call to their agent will answer that. $500 out-of-pocket is better'n $1500.

 

[ohm]

Worn out? I thought the POCO damaged it.

As for whether they'll pay anything, maybe a call to their agent will answer that. $500 out-of-pocket is better'n $1500.

Well I think the plastic digital style is a bit thicker than the old glass mechanical, which was doing just fine.

The speednut was a bit rusty and when the POCO tried to torque down on the can ..it stripped.

I guess a call to the HO insurance co. is a good try, can't hurt!

 

[alfiesauce]

Sounds like a pretty rotten deal for the homeowner to have to pay for a poco screw up like that.

 

[ultramegabob]

I got a call from an HO saying when the POCO replaced a mechanical with a digital meter they stripped out the speed nut where the bolt holds the face (and meter).

They said the HO needs to have it fixed, at his expense.

Since it was a combination meter & breaker style I quoted $1500 to replace it, which was definately not in their plans.

The HO had loaded up every space so they exceeded the six hand rule and our AHJ won't allow us to pull the meter w/o upgrading the service.

Any suggestions or comments?

the only suggestion I would have would be to tell the customer to take the poco to court for reimbursment since they damaged their privately owned equipment.

 

[ohm]

the only suggestion I would have would be to tell the customer to take the poco to court for reimbursment since they damaged their privately owned equipment.

I was thinking the same thing. Since a big effort to replace mechanical meters is underway all over the country you would think this is not the first time it's happened.

 

[Cow]

We're also fielding the calls from the POCO when they have problems swapping to the new meters. My boss isn't entirely sure yet who's paying the bill(we've only had to replace one meterbase so far, just a couple days ago) but he thinks the POCO here might be absorbing the cost.

I would hate to tell a homeowner out of the blue they need to come up with $1500 dollars for a service change, just because the POCO decided to change to a new meter, even though there wasn't anything wrong with the old one.

 

[ohm]

We're also fielding the calls from the POCO when they have problems swapping to the new meters. My boss isn't entirely sure yet who's paying the bill(we've only had to replace one meterbase so far, just a couple days ago) but he thinks the POCO here might be absorbing the cost.

I would hate to tell a homeowner out of the blue they need to come up with $1500 dollars for a service change, just because the POCO decided to change to a new meter, even though there wasn't anything wrong with the old one.

Yea, now if POCO wants to contact out to local EC's for any damage in the switch-over we could all use the work and the new SE upgrades although a temporary inconvenience, would help the HO in the long run.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

This is also happening here where we work, the POCO destroying property while upgrading the meters.

Here the POCO has actually hired a different contractor to follow the meter guys around when they damage property. So the HO is not paying out of pocket.

 

[LarryFine]

Any suggestions or comments?

Call a lawyer and have the POCO correct their damage. Seriously.

 

[LarryFine]

the only suggestion I would have would be to tell the customer to take the poco to court for reimbursment since they damaged their privately owned equipment.

Oh, you have privately owned meter bases there? Here, the POCO provides meter bases, but not the labor.

That's what I was thinking in my first response. Now that I know this, I'd be even more adamant about it.

 

[LarryFine]

Yea, now if POCO wants to contact out to local EC's for any damage in the switch-over we could all use the work and the new SE upgrades although a temporary inconvenience, would help the HO in the long run.

Yes, but not at the homeowners' expense.

 

[sparkyway]

I totally agree, given the facts...poco needs to put the MBase back to proper working order or pay to have it done if it was a result of their work. Any of us EC's are required to fix items "we damage" as a result of our work (unintended damage of course) and they are no different. However, I find meterbase damages all the time-- loose lugs, broken lugs, burnt wires, welded meters, etc and I let the homeowner know up front that these kinds of damages exist and that they are not my fault but I will fix them at a quoted cost once the problem is fully identified. So far, so good with this practice...I'd expect the same from my mechanic or other repair persons. If the mechanic damages my radiator installing O2 fuel enhancements...he needs to make it right.

 

[growler]

The speednut was a bit rusty and when the POCO tried to torque down on the can ..it stripped.

That equipment is the homeowners responsibility to maintain and keep in good working order.

All the power company has to do is to say that your equipment is unsafe and turn your power off and there is not much a customer can do. If you want your power turned on then you get your equipment up to their standards.

Here they inspected the old meter bases before converting to the new digital meters. If your base was old and rusty then they gave 60 days to get it replaced before the power would be turned off. Once you had the new meter base in place then they installed the new digital meters.

This was normally not a big deal because they gave out the new meter bases and was considered a repair and we didn't even permit if all that was needed was to swap out the meter base. Lineman shows up and kills power and back and hour later to restore power, quick and easy, new meter base installed. Very low cost to customer.

I would just have the customer call the power company complaints department and see if the Power company will accept any responsibility.If so they may be willing to foot at least part of the bill and if not it's up to the homeowner.

 

[ohm]

That equipment is the homeowners responsibility to maintain and keep in good working order.

All the power company has to do is to say that your equipment is unsafe and turn your power off and there is not much a customer can do. If you want your power turned on then you get your equipment up to their standards.

Here they inspected the old meter bases before converting to the new digital meters. If your base was old and rusty then they gave 60 days to get it replaced before the power would be turned off. Once you had the new meter base in place then they installed the new digital meters.

This was normally not a big deal because they gave out the new meter bases and was considered a repair and we didn't even permit if all that was needed was to swap out the meter base. Lineman shows up and kills power and back and hour later to restore power, quick and easy, new meter base installed. Very low cost to customer.

I would just have the customer call the power company complaints department and see if the Power company will accept any responsibility.If so they may be willing to foot at least part of the bill and if not it's up to the homeowner.

Growler, In AL, we're under the same parent POCO as you in GA..Southern Co. so the same rules will apply.

I think I'll go back to the HO with the suggestions you guys came up withb but for all I know right now he's slapping sheetmetal screws in the can, which will really slow down a fire dept. if they need to pull the meter.

 

[ultramegabob]

All the power company has to do is to say that your equipment is unsafe and turn your power off and there is not much a customer can do. If you want your power turned on then you get your equipment up to their standards.

I would agree with that if they inspected it first and requested that you have it repaired or replaced so they can do thier upgrade, but when they take it upon themselves to start turning screws on equipment that doesnt belong to them they are in my opinion responsible for anything that they break, what I would do if I were the customer in this case is pay for the repairs so I could get my power back on, but then take the PoCo to court if they refused to reimburse me for the repairs.

 

[LarryFine]

That equipment is the homeowners responsibility to maintain and keep in good working order.

Even though they lock out the owner?

 

[mxslick]

I would agree with that if they inspected it first and requested that you have it repaired or replaced so they can do thier upgrade, but when they take it upon themselves to start turning screws on equipment that doesnt belong to them they are in my opinion responsible for anything that they break, what I would do if I were the customer in this case is pay for the repairs so I could get my power back on, but then take the PoCo to court if they refused to reimburse me for the repairs.

I concur. It is the responsibility of the POCO crew to leave the equipment in good working order..if they damage it, they have to fix it regardless of who actually owns it.

We have 5 old "A" base meters here at my palatial estate..the POCO's gonna have their hands full upgrading that mess. Especially as one of the services is 120 volt only.