Exterior Electric Box

suzettelage

Tenant's electric was disconnected. They tried to change name on account to reconnect electric. FPL came out and removed the clock.

Informed owner that the clips were burnt as well as the wiring.

Cannot reconnect electric until problem is resolved with wiring.

What happened?

Billy_Bob

Was the "seal" on the electric meter (what you call clock?) tampered with - cut?

suzettelage

FPL says that the clips of the electric box where the clock is located was burned and when the agent came out to reconnect he removed the clock because he was unable to connect the electricity. He said that the wires were also burnt.

Being the owner they notified me.

Billy_Bob

I would call the power company and ask if the "clock" had been tampered with by someone. These have "seals" which need to be cut to remove them. If this was cut, it would indicate someone had tampered with it.

Anyway someone my have removed the meter and attempted to reconnect the power on their own. And this might have caused the damage. I don't suppose you could "prove" who did this, but I could imagine!

Might want to get a written statement from the electrician and power company as to what they think caused this (if someone tampered with it.)

Billy_Bob

P.S. Might also want to ask the neighbors if they saw anyone "working" on the meter or heard any loud "popping" noises - saw any bright flashes...

suzettelage

The tenant claims he didn't try to do a bridge. He tells me that the clips burned by themselves. and the wiring as well.

His girlfriend had the account in her name and they didn't pay the electric bill and the electric got disconnected yesterday morn.. He tried to put the account in his name but when the power co came out to reconnect they saw the clips burnt and when they removed the clock they saw the wires burnt as well.

Do I call and do a police report for tampering if that is what happened and call my insurance co.

The power co says that I need to get a permit from the county and have an electrician repair the problem.

Billy_Bob

If I did that and I was renting, I would of course deny doing anything.

It is possible the tenant did not do anything, thus the reason for gathering information from the power company, neighbors, and the electrician.

I'm not a lawyer, so don't know if tampering with this would be against the law or not. Plus I would want evidence that someone did something before calling the police. -> Gather evidence first.

Maybe it is just a case of retaining a damage deposit? But still I would want documentation.

Yes call an electrician and he may get the permit for you or advise you on how to proceed.

joed

Sounds like a loose connection on the meter base has caused the wires to over heat and damge the calbes and meter base. Time for a new service drop.

Termite

Yup.

AllanJ

The meter generally snaps or presses into the base with springy friction contacts.

Could rain water have entered the meter box? That could speed up oxidation of the meter contacts and the overheating occurs soon thereafter.

rgsgww

Sounds to me that the connections were loose or oxidized, caused overheating, and melted the wires. Probably accompanied by some arcing, creating the burnt marks.

Wonder if the tenant experienced dim or bright lights...