gated access

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rodgernbama

Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

I recently purchased some property that has an old house on it that I want to use on the weekends. I want to put a locked gate the driveway but was wondering how utilies would gain access to read meter since I still have power on.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

You could have the utility company put the newer style meters in that can be read remotely.

 

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Shetland Sheepdog

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Easiest solution is to lock the gate with a chain, and allow the utility to put their padlock on the chain as well as your own!
HTH, Dave (utility lineworker, retired)

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Phone them up and ask THEM.

 

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GordoSD

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

What type of fence is around the perimeter of the entire property?

Gordo

 

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Bill Tom

Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

WE HAVE A 6 INCH ROD WITH HOLES CLOSE TO EACH END.iT GOES THRU THE GATE LATCH AND THRU THE LATCH ON THE POST WHERE THEY LINE UP. Our lock goes thru top hole, electric co. goes thru bottom hole. Been working well over 30 years.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Our local electric coop requested a key to lock, simple no fuss no muss. They did later put in one of the "turtle" meters that they read remotely.

What you might lose is if the township plows your drive in the winter or mows the side of your road.

 

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BCnT

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

coop here useta estimate the usage and send a meter reader out once a year to tally things up...sometimes that year end bill was a shocker...
we've had a self reading meter for last 25 years or so...lite bill is still a shocker but so far its correct.

 

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scotc

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Trouble with a locked gate, is that emergency services aren't allowed to cut the lock if there is a fire. Used to be a guy back east who had a cabin, he put a cable across the drive, locked back onto itself, but under the inner tube that kept the rain out of it, it was just hooked over the top of the post. He talked to the fire department, and that's what they told him to do.

 

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kyhayman

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Ours simply cuts the chain and places there lock in the chain so they can get in. It doesnt affect security or your lock in any way.

 

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RodinNS

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

What they tend to do around here is 'estimate' your electrical usage... typically at your highest month... and then keep sending you bills based on that. It would be to your distinct advantage to have the meter accessable to the meter man. They do have meters now that can be read either by RF or optically from the road. I'm not sure which... but they can be read from the truck anyhow. Might investigate that...
As far as fire/emergency is concerned... a locked gate is a temporary obstacle. Forcible entry for the extinguishment of fires is permitted... at least here... with control of the scene being passed to the fire department the minute they arrive 'on scene'. They do what they deem fit.

Rod

 

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Greenday

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

I can tell you right now that if we are called to a fire and a locked gate prohibits us from entering the property the chain and or lock WILL be cut. In our area once the fire Dept is called and on scene they have priority of the scene.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Our utility company sends us a monthly form where we can read our own meter(s. They require us to allow them access once a year to check our accuracy.

 

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John A.

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Guys, Around here REC will cut in their own lock in your chain to use if and when they need access. Also with their lock in place you do not need to be home when there is repair work to be done on their side of the meter.
Later,
John A.

 

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Bob

Well-known Member

• Feb 27, 2011

• #1

Our REC recently installed new meters along with a remote-read system that can read ALL meters supplied by that sub. They told me it will progress 'til they can read ALL their meters remotely.

Better tell your power co. to "get with the program"!

 

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tjdub

Member

• Feb 28, 2011

• #1

My co-op converted every customer to remote monitoring about 2 years ago. Before that, we had to read it every month and mail the reading in. I already had direct payment set up, so I was wasting a stamp every month to tell them what my meter said. I was sure happy when they installed the new meters. Not to mention the fact that I didn't have to climb through snow drifts to read the meter anymore!

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Feb 28, 2011

• #1

Check if they have attached smart meters, they can read them from the office otherwise I suppose they estimate the bill if they can't get access, but they will send you a letter and moan.

 

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Detmurds

Member

• Feb 28, 2011

• #1

(quoted from post at 10:53:24 02/27/11) I recently purchased some property that has an old house on it that I want to use on the weekends. I want to put a locked gate the driveway but was wondering how utilies would gain access to read meter since I still have power on.

Click to expand...

Call the utilities company and ask them if they are capable of reading the meters from the road.

 

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T_Bone

Well-known Member

• Mar 1, 2011

• #1

What I did was install a automaic gate opener, about $500 total, with a digital wireless keypad. I can program alot of "eletronic keys" for free.

So far it's the best thing I've done to my place as it cut the "unwanted neighbors "out of my yard and I don't have to get out of the truck to open/close the gate.

T_Bone