Public Works - Electric, Water, Streets, Gargage Collection, ...

[Gösta H. Lovgren]

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[Gösta H. Lovgren]

We recently got a letter from the Electric Departmant that our "meter pan was badly rusted and in a dangerous condition. If it wasn't replaced in 30 days the power would be turned off."

Okay, our "regular" electrician came, confirmed the meter pan was in really bad shape and gave an estimate of $1,000. And the power would be off "about 6 hours".

That seemed unreasonably high so I called several Yellow Page electricians. Over the phone the only estimate I could get was "between $350 & $600" for Lavallette. And it seems "Lavallette is the only town in the area using/requiring copper wires from the pole into the house and that adds to the cost".

The guy came over the next day and looked the job over. He gave an estimate of "probably $1,000 to $1200 and could go as much as $2000 depending ...". The guy impressed me as honest, trustworthy, loyal, ... and I do not think he was padding (as is not uncommon with many small contractors dealing with strangers in a "wealthy" town).

The reason my house was so high was we have a 200 amp service (dating back to when the house had electric heat - long since replaced with gas fired hot water baseboards) and most houses only have 60-100 amp service.

At any rate I gave the job to the "regular" (original) guy and he came today and did the job. Oh and the power was only off about 3 hours (a bonus).

Long story short, take a look at your meter pan and if there is any sign of rust, go over to Lavallette Hardware and get a spray can of Rustoleum(?) and give it a squirt. Actually my guy even painted the new meter pan when he was done. And the one on the cottage too (which is still in fine shape for some reason, even though it's older than the one on the front house I think.)