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larrywwhaley · Dec 11, 2009, 08:28 PM

My electricity was turned of because I inadverternly forgot to pay the bill; before the utility technician left the I paid her and she turned the power back on within minutes. Later after power was restore we notice the lights began dim and get brighter. The next day the TV in one the bedrooms did not give a picture and we thought it was the cable box. The next evening we went out and came back home and the lights we left on were very dim. Upon entering the house we smelled something burning like an electrical wire or something of that nature. We called the power company and the turned of the power and investigated that we had a loose neutral. We have never experienced this before and it only began when our service was disconnected and restored several electrical components do not work as a result. The power company said the loose neutral was on my side of the meter base therefore I am responsible for all damage attributed to the loose nuetral Help me understand how I can be responsible if I never touch this meter and only authorized electrical utility technician or a license electrician.

twinkiedooter · Dec 11, 2009, 09:14 PM

How much damage was done - monetarily that is? Depending on how much you may want to take them to small claims court.

Fr_Chuck · Dec 11, 2009, 09:16 PM

How did they "disconnect" merely pulling the meter out.

stanfortyman · Dec 12, 2009, 04:05 AM

You are responsible because you own this equipment. Everything but the glass meter itself.

Unless the problem was at the top of the service riser or on the pole it is YOUR responsibility. This holds true even if pulling the meter exposed the problem.
Power companies have to pull meters quite often for many different reasons. In some, but not many, areas the power company is responsible for the meter pan. I would call them anonymously and ask them.

BTW, they would NOT shut your power off for missing a bill or two. It takes months and months for them to carry out this last resort.

pistolpieter · Dec 12, 2009, 12:14 PM

Wires expand and contract depending on load/temp. It could have happened when your power was disconnected and then reconnected. These things happen all the time, especially with an older service.

larrywwhaley · Dec 13, 2009, 06:35 PM

Yes, I think the power was disconnected by pulling the meter. The amount electronic equipment damage is over $7K. I will contact the Power company to see if they will do anything.

Fr_Chuck · Dec 13, 2009, 07:02 PM

Not sure about your area, but you get one bill behind and they come shut you off around the atlanta area if you don't work out a payment plan with them. About 15 days after the bill is late, you can expect the electric, gas and water companies to come and disconnect around here.

But you own the equipment, unless you can prove they did something incorrect, I don't see where they will be legally liable. But it is always worth a try

What equipment was damaged ?

jmjoseph · Dec 13, 2009, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by stanfortyman

You are responsible because you own this equipment. Everything but the glass meter itself.

Unless the problem was at the top of the service riser or on the pole it is YOUR responsibility. This holds true even if pulling the meter exposed the problem.
Power companies have to pull meters quite often for many different reasons. In some, but not many, areas the power company is responsible for the meter pan. I would call them anonymously and ask them.

BTW, they would NOT shut your power off for missing a bill or two. It takes months and months for them to carry out this last resort.

Stan, I respect your expertise, but you are mistaken about the cut-off timing. They WILL cut your power off in a timely manner like FrChuck states.

Missouri Bound · Dec 13, 2009, 08:30 PM

Larry... have you contacted your homeowners insurance agent about this? Insurance covers catastrophic events and this may fit into their description. Regardless of fault, unless it is intentional, insurance should help with the issue.

stanfortyman · Dec 14, 2009, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by jmjoseph

Stan, I respect your expertise, but you are mistaken about the cut-off timing. They WILL cut your power off in a timely manner like FrChuck states.

Wow! Real compassion I see.
Around here it takes more than two months behind before it is even threatened.
Even then they do not cut power completely. The put a current limiting base on the meter.