Many people are often concerned about what to do if the electric meter stops working and where to go. Unfortunately, no matter what the device is (electrical, mechanical), sooner or later it becomes unusable.
Among the main reasons, several can be identified, for example, overload, mechanical stress or network failures. This article provides guidelines for action in cases where the electricity meter fails.
Service characteristics
Relocating an electricity meter in a private home means changing the location of the device for measuring electricity consumption. Performed at the request of the owner of the premises. Must not contradict the requirements of the PUE.
It may be necessary to move the electric meter in the following cases:
- A major renovation is being carried out and it is planned to place a cabinet or mirror at the location of the electric meter.
- I would like to move the meter from the street to the hallway for more convenient readings.
You should not carry the electrical appliance yourself. It is very difficult. You should contact a professional.
How much does it cost to relocate an electric meter?
If there is a need to carry out the transfer of an electric meter and its subsequent connection, then the first step will be to attract a competent specialist. The reasons for making a transfer may vary. Often, when moving into a new place of residence, property owners discover that the old electric meter prevents the installation of new furniture. In this case, it becomes necessary to move the meter to another wall of the hallway or move it to the vestibule.
In apartment buildings, there are two most common types of meters installed - on the landing or in the apartment. Residents of dysfunctional houses in which the front door does not close securely often decide to move the electric meter into the apartment in order to protect themselves from theft of equipment.
Another important and immediate cause is the failure of the meter. In this case, the device is subject to examination, and replacement is carried out by an energy-saving company.
In many homes, old induction devices, which were produced in the 50-80s of the last century, are still responsible for the function of calculating electricity costs. Today they have been replaced by modern electronic models.
Before transferring an electric meter you need to:
- Call representatives of the energy supply company.
- Obtain permission to dismantle the metering device.
- Unseal and disconnect the old meter.
After completing these manipulations, the specialist will begin installing a new device or moving the equipment.
To transfer a counter, the wizard:
- Will dismantle the old metering point.
- Run the power cable and place it in a fireproof hose on the wall.
- Install the distribution panel at the required height.
- Will install a residual current device.
Accounting points are usually placed in special vandal-proof cabinets with a door that can be locked. To make it easy to take readings, there is a special transparent window in the door. This arrangement allows for maximum protection of the equipment.
The cost of a new device and protective distribution cabinet should be agreed in advance with a specialist.
Features of relocating electricity meters in suburban households
When it is necessary to transfer a metering device in a private house, in most cases we are talking about installing the equipment on the wall of a building or on a pole outside the site. The latter option allows the inspector to take readings without the participation of the site owner.
If you intend to move a device that is located inside the household, you will also need permission to disconnect the old meter. Such permission can be issued by the RES.
If you intend to install the meter on a pole, then you should agree with the foreman about installing a small canopy that can protect the electrical installation from moisture. You should also make sure that the drawer door closes securely.
In order to carry out the transfer or installation of new intermediate electricity meters in outbuildings or a garage, obtaining permission is not required. This type of work can be done independently.
After the transfer is completed, a specialist will conduct an inspection and after all installation work has been completed, a representative of the energy company will be able to seal the point.
In order to transfer an electric meter, you need to purchase the meter itself, a power cable, a distribution board and other consumables. You can also entrust this task to a master. In answer to the question: How much does it cost to relocate an electric meter? There is definitely no answer. On average, private craftsmen charge from 2 to 5 thousand rubles for such work.
Factors influencing price
The cost of moving an electricity meter varies. The price level is influenced by the following factors:
- Workload.
- Urgency of order fulfillment.
- Characteristics of the metering device.
- Difficulty in transferring.
- Performer type.
- Qualification and experience of the master.
- Region of service provision.
- Tariff policy of the performing company.
Algorithm of actions
Even if the device itself was purchased and installed at the expense of the apartment owner and electricity consumer, all actions related to it must be carried out only by representatives of Energosbyt. Employees of this organization can remove the seal from the cover of the old meter, intervene and change the design of the existing device.
Who pays
There are two scenarios when the device in question is replaced in a residential area:
- the device is the property of the energy supply company or was originally commissioned by the housing and communal services service. In the above situations, replacement should be carried out free of charge;
- The meter is the property of the apartment owner and is located in the residential premises itself. Then all work must be paid for by the consumer.
These situations prescribe at whose expense the replacement of electricity meters should be carried out.
Sequence of steps
If it has been decided that it is necessary to change the old device for calculating electricity consumption to a more modern one, you should be patient and knowledgeable. And the steps must be performed in the following sequence:
- Prepare your civil passport and all documents with which you can confirm ownership of the residential premises in which the device is installed. If the replacement process is not carried out by the owner of the premises, then a power of attorney issued by a notary will be required.
- Next, you need to visit the energy supplier and write a sample application for changing the device.
- Now it's up to the representative of the electricity supply company. A company specialist is sent to the location of the meter, who checks whether it is necessary to replace the old device with a more modern one, about which a corresponding report is drawn up.
- Next, the specialist removes the seals from the cover of the old meter, recording the latest readings on energy consumption.
From the moment the meter is removed, calculation and further payment for consumed electricity will be made at a separate tariff.
Types of service
The following change in the location of the electricity meter is possible:
- From indoors to the street to the facade of a house or a pillar.
- From the facade to the hallway or dressing room.
- From one wall to another within the room.
You can transfer the following counter:
- Single phase.
- Three-phase.
Depending on the operating principle, the following metering device can be transferred:
- Electronic.
- Induction.
It is possible to transfer the device with or without developing a power supply system project. You can move the electric meter to another location with or without replacing the device.
Depending on the time allocated for work, it is possible to transfer the electricity meter:
- Urgent (done in a short time).
- Regular (performed in order of priority).
Signs of a broken meter
It is quite easy to detect a breakdown of the meter; as a rule, it is visible to the naked eye based on one or more signs:
- Mechanical damage to the outer shell of the measuring device (case, sight glass), including chips, dents or cracks.
- If the body of the electric meter is melted, and marks are visible on the contacts and a burning smell is felt, this means that the device has burned out.
- Amplitude at work. When electrical appliances are turned off, the disk rotates with double energy or, conversely, is practically motionless when a large number of energy consumers are working.
- Makes “extra” sounds during operation.
- Does not show data, although the power supply is normal. Also, the indicator light does not light up, which is typical for electronic versions of meters.
If you discover a malfunction, the main thing is not to panic, since this is an ordinary situation that can be solved without special material costs, it is only important to follow a certain sequence.
The electric meter does not work: reasons
These are just some of the possible problems in the operation of electric meters that can be solved using the following tips.
Estimated cost
In Russia, electricians provide a service to residents of private houses to move the electric meter to the required location for 1000-5000 rubles . Moving the device from indoors to outdoors costs about 3000-5000 rubles, and within housing - 2000-2500 rubles . The prices of different companies are shown in the table.
| Company name | Region of service provision | Price for work in rubles |
| Electrician at home | Moscow region | 2000-3000 |
| MasterPRO | Moscow region | 4300-5000 |
| LenEnergoStroy | Leningrad region | 2000-3000 |
| Electrician Help | Novosibirsk region | 1500-2000 |
| City Master | Leningrad region | 1500-2500 |
Private electricians are ready to move the metering device at a more attractive price - for 1000-4000 rubles , depending on the volume and complexity of the work.
Which organizations to contact
If your meter fails, immediately call your home's energy supply company and notify them of the situation. Assess the possible danger posed by a faulty measuring device; it may buzz, smell like burning, or smoke.
In this case, you should immediately turn off the voltage supply to the input. Next, you will need to come to the energy supply organization and write a statement that will oblige its employees to come to the site to carry out repairs. Immediately check the date and time of the specialists’ visit.
Under no circumstances should you attempt to repair the electricity meter yourself. Even if you just need to “correct” the contact, you will have to open the seal, which is prohibited by law and subject to a serious fine.
Having arrived at the site, the inspector will prepare and write a report that will testify to the malfunction of the device measuring electricity consumption. Before this, he will check whether there has been any interference with the operation of the meter and write off its last readings. Don’t forget to ask the inspector about the cause of the breakdown and make sure that he writes it down in the report. This will help avoid further problems when determining who is responsible for the breakdown.
Checking and repairing the electric meter
How to pay yourself using a two-tariff meter
Rewrite the day and night readings taken from the display. In the payment receipt, enter the readings for the day in the “Current” column, and enter the daily data of the previous month in the “Previous” column.
With the next line, repeat this procedure with night readings. In the “Consumption” column, enter the difference between the readings T1 and T2. This will be your actual expense. In the “Tariff” column, enter the cost per kilowatt at the selected tariff. Multiply the consumption by the tariff and add up the total for the day and night. This will be the amount due.
A blank receipt form can be downloaded from the official Mosenergosbyt website. You can also receive a receipt for payment in any convenient way: electronically, by mail or in your personal account.
Reasons for replacing the electric meter
In practice, replacement of devices on the basis of which utility bills are calculated rarely occurs. However, all homeowners – both city apartments and private houses – face this problem.
The replacement of the device can be carried out by the management company or by the homeowner himself. Representatives of the management company or electricity supplier usually carry out the replacement as planned, notifying the owners of apartments or houses in advance. And owners more often buy new equipment (or contact the management company with a request to replace it) due to a breakdown of the device.
The electric meter installed in a floor, apartment or house switchboard must be in good working order, like other electrical installation devices: circuit breakers, RCDs, stabilizers, sockets
If, for some reason unknown to you, the device stops or, on the contrary, begins to spin much faster, you need to urgently call a specialist.
Sometimes a small repair is enough, but more often, in case of such a malfunction, a conclusion is issued to replace the old electricity meter. According to it, you need to either install a new device yourself or contact the management company.
Here are some of the reasons for replacement that you may encounter during the operation of the electric meter:
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Inconsistency with current network parameters
The electric meter has exhausted its resource
The seal is broken or broken
Technical breakdown or mechanical damage
Registration of a new meter for its commissioning
After checking the correct connection of the installed new electric meter, it is necessary to put it into operation. And for this you will need to contact the electricity supplier again.
A visual inspection of the device has been carried out, now you should write another application requesting the sealing of the new meter. A company employee will inspect it, install a seal, and after that a date will be set for drawing up a certificate of acceptance of the device into operation.
An authorized service inspector draws up a report; it must contain information such as the serial number of the installed meter and the type of device. If the connection was made independently by the owner of the apartment, then the inspector must (this is his responsibility) check the correctness of the connection. After this, a seal is installed and readings are taken from the device.
As can be seen from the given sequence of necessary steps to independently replace an old electric meter with a new one, you can perform this operation yourself, or you can invite a specialist. He will immediately dismantle the old device and install a new one, and also draw up a report on the correct connection. In this case, you can be sure of the correctness of all his actions, because only specialists in electrical engineering who have undergone the necessary training can be allowed to perform this type of work.
Governing laws
Maintenance and replacement of electricity meters is regulated by Russian legislation:
- Art. 543 and art. 210 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation;
- Housing Code;
- Federal Law No. 261 of November 32, 2009;
- Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008;
- decision of the State Standard of the Russian Federation;
- Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 530 and No. 491.
How to correctly take readings from a two-tariff meter
The meter has a display on which the readings of the “day zone” and “night zone” are alternately displayed. To switch between them, just press the enter button. Rewrite the T1 readings, press “Enter”, rewrite the next readings. Compare these numbers with the previous ones. Their difference is the actual consumption. It must be multiplied by the tariff for each zone separately.
