If your electric meter breaks, it is most commonly up to the utility company that installed it to fix it immediately. This has very few exceptions, and utility companies will quickly send a technician out to diagnose and repair any electric meter issue you may have. Here at Gulf Coast Electric in Destin, Florida, we believe in education about your most essential home services.
Responsibility for Electrical Meter Repair
Utility companies are largely responsible for your electric meter for many good reasons. Because these companies often install the meters, they will be responsible for how they function after the fact. The company is also responsible for performing regular readings to ensure that electricity is appropriately measured. They will perform any necessary repairs.
The Big Exception: Tampering
While the utility company is responsible for your meter’s well-being, there is a big exception. Sometimes, individuals will try to tamper with their meter to attain a better reading before billing takes place. Not only is this not recommended as you can severely damage the meter, but utility companies aren’t responsible for the damage you cause if you try to tamper with the meter.
The most apparent sign of tampering is cut wires and outside physical damage to the meter. It will ensure the meter is stuck at a particular reading, meaning you won’t be charged fully during the next billing cycle. This is highly illegal and noticeable.
Common Problems With Your Electric Meter
If you think that your electric meter is broken, four types of damage may be to blame:
Mechanical
Mechanical issues are one of the most common problems that electrical meters face and are easily one of the most noticeable. It can be caused by any external interference, which can include:
- – Weather
- – Tree branches
- – Blunt force
- – Damage to the surrounding area
Easy ways to tell if there’s mechanical damage is to look for broken dials, broken gears or damage around the area. Tell your technician if mechanical damage was done directly to your unit and has affected your billing process.
Electrical
Electrical damage is less common than mechanical, but it can cause long-term issues with your electric meter. These can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- – Electrical surges
- – Faults
- – Overloading
- – Corrosion
Electrical repairs tend to be more intensive and complicated, meaning it can take longer. However, electrical damage has ginormous implications on measuring your electricity, which can lead to false highs and lows.
Wear And Tear
Wear and tear can be defined as damage caused by time instead of external factors. This is common in all home services, and your electrical meter is no exception. Noticing signs of wear and tear can be hard to see from the outside, with its most significant indicator being inaccuracy in reading electrical output. The types of damage that you may see with wear and tear are:
- – Corrosion
- – Debris accumulation
- – Physical wear
- – Electrical wear
All of which can contribute to the inaccuracy that you will face. Wear and tear can be solved by installing a new meter, or at the very least implementing new parts. There are plenty of ways to perform maintenance to slow down wear and tear, but the only way to eliminate it is with a new unit.
Call Today For An Amazing Destin Electrician!
In addition to problems with your electric meter, there are a variety of other electrical issues that you may notice in your Destin residence. Here at Gulf Coast Electric, we know how urgent electrical repairs can be! That’s why you can count on us to provide reliable work.
Servicing the Destin and Panama City areas, we even offer 24/7 emergency services so no one is left behind. Call today to schedule a consultation that will ensure accuracy and quality.
