Deteriorated Power Line Coming into House from Power Meter

[kevharper]

The power wire going into my brother-in-laws house seems to be deteriorated. The heavy gage gray plastic coated wire going into his meter from the telephone pole seems fine but the wire exits the meter and runs along some of his bricks (horizontally) for about 10 feet before it enters the house. I think it's about 30-years old and it gets a lot of sun exposure. The horizontal stretch attached to the brick has the plastic sheath delaminated away to the point where you can see the woven insulation underneath. I assume the wires inside the woven insulation as also insulated.

Anyway, I assume that the plastic coating coming off the wire is a bad bad thing and needs to be fixed. The problem area is between the meter his hook-up to his breaker box in the house. Since he can't shut off the power at the meter, is this something the power company would be responsible to fix for free (even though it is on the house- side of the meter?

He's in Warren Michigan.

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

[dpb]

A. Probably isn't that much of a big deal from the description. If uncertain, have somebody who knows what they're looking at take a look.

B. No, from his side of the meter it's his, not the PC's, so the nickel's his, too...

To replace would simply require pulling the meter to make the disconnect and the new hookup.

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[hallerb]

hows the line from the wires at pole to the meter?

what happens is its time for a service upgrade, new line from pole wires, new meter can, new lines to main service box and new breaker box, 200 amp prefered. you get upgraded grounding and other stuff, plus add home resale value.

homes require $$ on a regular basis just to keep up.

its possible to have meter pulled and replace line from meter to main breaker box but at 30 years isnt a good idea.

A buddy of mine who hates spending even a dime on his home used RTV auto stuff and smeared it on the detoriating line. Personally I wouldnt do that, but he is in his 70s and said let the next owner fix it:(

around here the line you talk about is the property owners responsiblity but that varies some over the country

[terry]

Here that horizontal run of uncovered/unprotected? cable would not be allowed, even 30 years ago. It should be in conduit; either older style metal or more modern plastic. Again here; the meter itself is the property of the electric utility (they recently changed ours to a digital type) but the provision of the meter socket and the wiring from where the power utility wires connect at the overhead weather-head and from the meter socket to the main panel inside the house are owned by and are the responsibility of the homeowner. Absolutely amazed that open insulated wires on a surface like that would be permitted or safe; in most North American (well Canadian anyway) jurisdictions!

[DerbyDad03]

Perhaps you misunderstood....or maybe you have a different definition of uncovered/unprotected.

The wire he speaks of can be seen here...look at the grey cable clamped to the wall under the text "Jul".

Standard installation in the oft-frozen Western NY-Great Lakes region.

[hallerb]

years ago conduit was required but today in the pittsburgh area regular cable is standard.

after accidently running a tiller unto our service entrance cable I think conduit should be required