Are you wondering how to unlock an electric meter lock on your property? If you need to access your electric meter, you will likely notice it has a small lock. While these locks are illegal to tamper with, there may be a time when you need to remove them.
If you want to unlock an electric meter lock, your first step should be contacting your local utility company. In the rare instance you are granted permission to remove the lock, you can typically use a flathead screwdriver to remove the lid.
With 240v flowing through the electric meter, you should remain cautious when removing a meter lock. Keep reading further to learn how to open an electric meter lock and the legal consequences of tampering with it.
Why Do Electrical Meters Have a Lock?
Electric meters have a lock on them as a safety and security measure for the property owner. The high-voltage power from the utility company first makes contact with the electric meter for a property.
With the lock keeping the lid closed, the utility company helps to avoid accidental electrocutions. Many homeowners are unaware of the risks an electric meter poses and may stick their hands in the meter.
Additionally, the lock is a security measure for energy theft. There are reported cases of people unlawfully drawing power from a neighbor’s electric meter. In the United States, there is a reported $6 billion lost to electricity theft.
For these reasons, authorized personnel should only open the electric meter lock. A certified electrician or local utility company employee will have the key for the electric meter lock on your property.
Is it Illegal to Remove a Meter Lock?
Electric meter locks are a critical safety measure and shouldn’t be tampered with unless it’s the only option. Depending on the location, you may be charged with a criminal offense if you remove the lock without permission.
For example, if you tamper with a meter lock in the state of Alabama, you may be charged with a Class C felony under AL Code § 13A-8-23 (2016). However, the consequences are based on the value lost due to the act.
The charges will depend on the severity and consequences of the action. If the utility company believes you damaged critical components, they may require you to pay a hefty fine. Additionally, you will need to pay for a replacement lock for the meter.
While it’s technically only legal for a utility company employee to remove the lock, they will generally be okay with an electrician doing it. As long as the repair is made safely, you will not face backlash for removing the tamper lock.
The Best Way to Unlock an Electric Meter Lock
As we mentioned, contacting your utility company is the top way to remove an electric meter lock. The utility provider will remove the lock and make any repairs necessary to your electrical system.
However, we will provide the safest method if you still want to open the electric meter. Follow these four steps to unlock an electric meter lock.
Locate the Electric Meter
The first thing you must do when removing a meter lock is to find the electric meter. Depending on your utilities, you may have a gas and electric meter on your property. The easiest way to identify an electric meter is by its circular shape.
If you need help finding your property’s electrical meter, it is generally behind the electrical panel at a residential home. Once you locate the electric panel, you should go outside and look on the opposite wall of the meter.
Inspect the Meter’s Housing
Once you have found the electric meter, you should inspect it and identify its lock type. Depending on the utility provider, you may find different lock types on your electric meter.
Some of the most common lock types found on an electric meter are:
- Twist Locks
- Barrel Locks
- Keyed Locks
It is a twist-style lock if you see a screw with a unique head. When you see a keyhole within the meter’s housing, it will be a barrel lock. Lastly, if you see a padlock on the side of the meter, it will be a keyed lock.
Hire a Qualified Electrician
When you need to open the meter for repair, you should hire an electrician in the local area. An electrician has training to safely access an electric meter and make the necessary repairs to the system.
Electrical equipment should only be worked on by trained people. There is a chance of injury or even death when you work on an electric meter unsupervised. The cost of an electrician is worth less than your safety.
Remove the Electric Meter Box Lid
If you need to remove the meter box lid, a qualified electrician will help you. When you want to do it without a professional’s supervision (which we don’t recommend), you can pry it open with a large screwdriver.
Additionally, you can pick the electric meter lock to open it if you have lockpicking skills. The padlocks supplied by the utility company are typically very low security as most people don’t care to access the meter.
Frequently Asked Questions
If an electric meter has a lock, the utility company attaches their authorized padlock to the meter. Property owners are not allowed to lock their electric meter with a personal padlock or tamper with the utility provider’s lock. When you place a personal padlock, the utility provider can’t open the electric meter, and you may be fined for disrupting their work.
The black or red tag on your electric meter is a tamper tag to notify the utility company of a tampered electric meter. When they notice a detached tamper tag, they may investigate the property owner. A tampered electric meter may have the wrong electrical usage reading or be a target of electricity theft.
Depending on the local regulations, you may be targeted for criminal charges if you detach the tamper tag. The utility company may enforce legal action if the person has changed the electric meter’s operation. We recommend you avoid doing anything to tamper with an electric meter or electrical system.
Conclusion
Only authorized personnel should remove an electric meter lock for safety and security reasons. If you want to repair your electric meter, contact your local utility provider or hire a local electrician for the job.
Have you removed your electric meter’s lock? Let us know the reason why in the comments below!