What to do when a storm tears the meter off your house

Living this close to Lake Erie, you get wind. When a big storm comes through the Southtowns, trees come down on lines, and every so often a line pulls the whole mast and meter right off the side of a house. If you're looking at a meter box hanging by its wires or lying in the yard, here's what to do.

First, stay away from it

Treat every wire on the ground or hanging off the house as live. Even if your lights are out, the line from the pole can still be energized, and so can anything it's touching: a gutter, a fence, wet grass.

• Keep kids and pets inside and away from that side of the house.
• Don't try to push the mast back up or tape anything together.
• Call your utility to report it. Around Derby and Evans that's usually National Grid, but some streets are NYSEG, so check your bill. Tell them the service is pulled off the house, not just that your power is out. That gets it flagged differently.
• If anything is sparking or burning, call 911.

Who owns what

This is where a lot of people get surprised. The utility doesn't own everything attached to your house.

• The utility owns the wires from the pole to your house (the service drop) and the meter itself.
• You own the mast or pipe the wires attach to, the weatherhead on top, the meter socket (the box the meter plugs into), the wire running down into the house and your panel.

National Grid spells this out in its storm guidance, and NYSEG works the same general way. So when the storm takes the mast and meter socket off the wall, the utility can't just come put it back. That part is on the homeowner, and it has to be repaired by an electrician first.

Why the utility needs an electrician before they reconnect

A utility crew will make the line safe, and they'll replace their own meter. They won't reattach to a bent mast or a cracked meter socket, and they're not allowed to rebuild your side of the equipment. Once the damaged parts are repaired or replaced, the utility comes back, reconnects the drop and sets a new meter.

Depending on the town and how much was replaced, the work may need a permit and an inspection sign-off before the utility will reconnect. I know how that goes with the local building departments and I handle it. If you're unsure what your town wants, check with your town's building department, or just ask me.

How fast it can get done

Most of the time a torn-off mast and meter socket is a same-day or next-day repair on my end. The part I can't control is when the utility crew can come back to reconnect. After a big storm they're slammed. What I can do is get my side done right away and call it in, so you're on their list as ready instead of waiting for an electrician.

I take after-hours and weekend calls for this kind of thing. When it's cold and the house is dark, nobody wants to hear "Monday."

What to send me

Text me photos from a safe distance. Get the whole side of the house, a closer shot of the meter area, and one of where the wires are now. From that I can usually tell you what needs replacing and give you a price before I even pull in the driveway.

If your insurance company is involved, those same photos help. I can also give you a written description of the damage and the repair for your claim.

Questions people ask

Is the utility responsible for fixing my meter box after a storm?

Your utility, NYSEG or National Grid, handles the line from the pole and the meter itself. The meter socket, mast and weatherhead belong to the homeowner, so an electrician has to fix those before the utility can reconnect.

Can I stay in the house while the meter is off?

You can, but you won't have power until the repair is done and the utility reconnects. Stay clear of the damaged side of the house and any wires until the line has been made safe.

Will homeowners insurance cover a storm-damaged mast?

That depends on your policy, so ask your agent. Photos of the damage and a written description of the repair from me help with the claim.