Wow, didn’t think any company could be this BAD! Nothing like a monopoly to insure crappy service. During the recent heavy rains I noticed a small amount of water was leaking into my son’s breaker box. I checked around the meter and where the line comes in the house and all looked good. The seal on the meter box was missing so I looked in there and sure enough it was dripping wet. Looking further I saw that the rain water was seeping into the top of the box where there is a small cover (assume it is for adding conduit) on the top of the box and then running down the main line into the breaker box. Easy fix just run some caulk around it. BUT I was always taught that the electric company owned the box/meter and you weren’t supposed to mess with it so my son called Dominion Power – WHAT A colossal mistake that was!

They came out this morning while he was at work, the repairman wrote on his form “No evidence of water in the meter box …” So what was his solution – disconnect the power. I just called Dominion and after an hour long conversation I was told that the outside box was my son’s responsibility, only the meter is theirs. I was then told that I would have to get an electrician to replace the box. I explained that 6” of caulk would fix the leak and they reluctantly agreed to restore the power. Now for the real killer, I asked when they would be out to restore the power (that they disconnected) – no later than MIDNIGHT was their answer. BTW for those that are not electrically inclined, the meter is a plug and play device, if the repairman wears a blindfold and takes his time, it will take approximately 30 seconds to reinstall it.

Lesson learned, NEVER call Dominion, THEY SUCK; call an electrician instead!!!

In reality Dominion power is one of the finest power providers in the world and we are damn lucky to have them. A bead of silicone is not a fix that is allowed by the NEC. A temporary fix perhaps but the technician did the right thing by disconnecting the power. Now your son needs to hire a licensed electrical contractor to bring his meter box up to code. Sounds like they did everything right. Hopefully they will not take any chances by restoring the power prior to the fix that meets code.

I am a 48 year old Fairfax resident. I grew up in Chantilly. I now live in Reston.

I am a lawyer. I own a decent sized house, on a decent-sized yard.

I have nothing but good things to say about Dominion Virginia Power. We all lose power now and then, and so are entitled to gripe now and then.

But Dominion, unlike a lot of our neighbors, get's right on things, and keeps its infrastructure up to date.

Based on the last two posts Cary must be proud that Dominion reads this web site. One of the finest in the WORLD LMAO.

sounds like a total bullshit story

only fucking china would make an electrical box that required any kind of seal to prevent water getting in

ie, use of a solid dome that there is no seal on, no replacement or maintenance for, would be the Made in USA thing to do.

Not that it will help you any but it's a little more complicated than you describe.

Other than in some unusual cases, the drop to the house is almost always is theirs. Other than in some unusual cases the meter itself almost always is theirs. Anything on the other side of the meter, breaker box, transfer switches, etc., are yours. That's the easy part.

Who 'owns' things between those points depends on whose equipment it is and who installed it, what repairs/improvements may have been done over the years, etc. That applies from the 'hat' where the drop connects to the main line into the meter box, the heavy line that runs into the meter box, and the meter box itself. If that was done by the power company and it's power company equipment, then they'll maintain it. If it was installed by the builder/an electrician, then it's on you.

If you're nice about it and you don't just happen to pull a hard ass or somebody having a bad day, often they will replace things that aren't really their responsibility.

It won't be to code either but better than silicone get some electrician's putty. You can find a block of it at Home Depot for cheap. Not as much of a mess and it stays flexible. You can mold that better to keep the water out and it won't look as obvious as a big glob of silicone. Easier to get off too.

Live in Maryland for five years and then let us know how you feel about Dominion.

Sparkyy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not that it will help you any but it's a little
> more complicated than you describe.
>
> Other than in some unusual cases, the drop to the
> house is almost always is theirs. Other than in
> some unusual cases the meter itself almost always
> is theirs. Anything on the other side of the
> meter, breaker box, transfer switches, etc., are
> yours. That's the easy part.
>
> Who 'owns' things between those points depends on
> whose equipment it is and who installed it, what
> repairs/improvements may have been done over the
> years, etc. That applies from the 'hat' where the
> drop connects to the main line into the meter box,
> the heavy line that runs into the meter box, and
> the meter box itself. If that was done by the
> power company and it's power company equipment,
> then they'll maintain it. If it was installed by
> the builder/an electrician, then it's on you.
>
> If you're nice about it and you don't just happen
> to pull a hard ass or somebody having a bad day,
> often they will replace things that aren't really
> their responsibility.
>
> It won't be to code either but better than
> silicone get some electrician's putty. You can
> find a block of it at Home Depot for cheap. Not
> as much of a mess and it stays flexible. You can
> mold that better to keep the water out and it
> won't look as obvious as a big glob of silicone.
> Easier to get off too.


Spot on, ole boy!

I live in Great Falls and we are constantly losing power. Trees falling on lines, etc. Dominion Power has been fabulous - quick and responsive. Can't say anything bad about them.

Oh, and, the box IS your son's responsibility. Teach him to use a caulking gun after you teach him to deal with his own homeowner problems.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2015 05:12PM by FormerlyRangerRikki.

OP Va. Power did the right thing. You and your son need to get off your lazy asses and maintain yopur property. Obviously the electrician that did the original install didn't do a good job but instead of putting the blame there you bitch about the power company. Try being with out power for a week or more then report back when you see the big white trucks rolling through the neighborhood. I'll bet you send the wife out to give those guys head when they restore power and they will deserve it and you will sit there quitely and watch while she takes on the crew and swaloows all their spunk.

Hope this helps clear things up for you.

Nip

Sparkyy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not that it will help you any but it's a little
> more complicated than you describe.
>
> Other than in some unusual cases, the drop to the
> house is almost always is theirs. Other than in
> some unusual cases the meter itself almost always
> is theirs. Anything on the other side of the
> meter, breaker box, transfer switches, etc., are
> yours. That's the easy part.
>
> Who 'owns' things between those points depends on
> whose equipment it is and who installed it, what
> repairs/improvements may have been done over the
> years, etc. That applies from the 'hat' where the
> drop connects to the main line into the meter box,
> the heavy line that runs into the meter box, and
> the meter box itself. If that was done by the
> power company and it's power company equipment,
> then they'll maintain it. If it was installed by
> the builder/an electrician, then it's on you.
>
> If you're nice about it and you don't just happen
> to pull a hard ass or somebody having a bad day,
> often they will replace things that aren't really
> their responsibility.
>
> It won't be to code either but better than
> silicone get some electrician's putty. You can
> find a block of it at Home Depot for cheap. Not
> as much of a mess and it stays flexible. You can
> mold that better to keep the water out and it
> won't look as obvious as a big glob of silicone.
> Easier to get off too.

Thanks.

FormerlyRangerRikki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I live in Great Falls and we are constantly losing
> power. Trees falling on lines, etc. Dominion
> Power has been fabulous - quick and responsive.
> Can't say anything bad about them.
>
> Oh, and, the box IS your son's responsibility.
> Teach him to use a caulking gun after you teach
> him to deal with his own homeowner problems.


+1

Dominion Power has always provided good service, in my book. It is curious why roads (especially main thoroughfares) needed to be closed for over 24 hours. As a lifetime resident, I haven't seen that before.

Move to People's Republic of MD and be a customer of Pepco...then you will know what terrible customer service and shitty infrastructure is like.

VA Power sucks. It's a monopoly everywhere else in the state other than NOVA...
Poor customer service 1,000 times worse than Comcast...

F the evil empire..

I had to live in Russia for 6 months back in the 90s. Outages 5 or 6 times a month often for several days. I love dominion power!

I had to go without power for 2 days! Had to cook all my frozen burgers and pork chops plus a leg o lamb. I am glad the power is back on because I am stuffed.