SNT forces them to install meters on poles; land owners need to know what to do in this situation. Citizens living in gardening associations pay utility bills to the management of this organization, but not to the companies supplying resources.
Despite the fact that legislative acts have been amended in 2021, the partnership has an obligation to have common devices intended for accounting. If you install meters on the poles, this simplifies the solution to this issue.
Validity of requirements
This requirement is associated with the protection of the partnership as a whole. However, if we consider this issue from the point of view of an individual citizen, it is quite controversial. The main reason is the need for additional financial costs. It is worth taking into account that many such devices give an error when exposed to negative temperature conditions.
As a result of such exposure, an error appears in the devices, for this reason citizens refuse to use such devices. It is important to point out that the requirement associated with the installation of the device in question does not have a legal basis. You need to take into account the rules related to the design of electrical installations and technical regulations. In addition, requirements relating to consumers of electrical installations.
ATTENTION !!! If the requirements of the listed acts are not met, this leads to the fact that the maintenance of electrical installations is not carried out safely and violations associated with the process of metering consumed energy occur. As a result, these values will affect the amount of debt. The rules reflect standards according to which metering devices should be located only in favorable climatic conditions. At the same time, these devices need protection, including from strong wind and rain.
In a situation where the device in question is placed outside the premises, and the rules of use are violated, the result will be incorrect operation of the meter. For example, the rules say that you need to install the device within the range from 0.4 meters to 1.7. In addition, current legal acts reflect liability measures that may apply to device owners. These citizens are given the responsibility to ensure the preservation and integrity. If the device is installed outside the premises, then this will have a rather doubtful effect on the results obtained when using the device.
In addition, the provisions of the law adopted at the federal level under No. 217 of 2021 made adjustments to several existing legal acts. These innovations do not state that the installation of the devices in question should be carried out only outside the premises. Accordingly, the requirements expressed by members of the management board of the partnership regarding the placement of devices on poles are contrary to the law.
ATTENTION !!! On a voluntary basis, a citizen can place the specified device on the street, since legal acts do not reflect a complete ban on such installation. When a person decides to agree to the requirements and install the device on poles, he will initially need to make a choice of device.
At the same time, you need to use one that can be placed outside the premises. When choosing, it should be taken into account that the device should give clearer readings and be able to operate at lower temperatures.
Installation Rules
Before making a connection, you must contact the company that supplies electricity with an application. In this case, you must additionally provide the following documents:
- Those that confirm ownership of residential real estate.
- Situational plan of the place where it is planned to install the metering device.
- Technical documentation for installing an electric meter. It should reflect the following issues: layout of the cable to the meter, the presence of grounding, calculation of the power and other characteristics of the metering device.
Technical documents are prepared with the participation of specialists.
The place where the meter is installed must be chosen in such a way that free access is possible for representatives of the controlling organization. Specific requirements for the installation location are not specified in the regulatory documents.
On a pole
This is important to ensure the ability to easily take readings, check the presence of a seal and monitor the technical serviceability of the device.
Regulatory documents regarding the installation of electricity meters, as well as recommendations from the energy supply company, may have controversial or contradictory issues. Here are some examples:
- The rules for electrical installations state the need to install meters in premises. At the same time, it is more profitable for the electric company to have this done outdoors to ensure an easier opportunity to take current readings.
- The regulatory documents indicate that the maximum height of the box is 170cm. However, the company recommends a height of three meters or higher to ensure the safety of the device.
All controversial issues must be considered and recorded in the text of the document.
Important! When installing outdoors, it is important how protected the electric meter is from the influence of bad weather. If an appliance that was previously used in the house is taken outside, there is a risk that it will not be able to work during winter frosts.
Typically, the places where an electric meter is installed in a private home are the façade of the house or a power line pole. The wiring is located inside a private house. The pole on which the box is mounted must be located in the local area.
You might be interested in this Apartment wiring plan
Wiring diagram
A model that is installed outdoors must be protected from rain, snow, heat and frost. In winter, meter heating must be used to withstand frost. Since this device will be accessible to almost anyone, it is necessary to provide vandal-proof protection for it. An important issue during installation is who will pay for its work during operation.
The rules for installing an electric meter stipulate that after installation the devices must be checked regularly. For three-phase meters this period is 1 year, for single-phase meters - 1 year.
Connection box
Before use, you must ensure the integrity of the seal. If it is missing, installing an electric meter in a private house is impossible; you need to call a specialist from the company that supplies electricity to carry out sealing.
Refusal of the device
As has already been indicated, in 2021 the ruling composition of the partnership does not have the opportunity to require citizens to place metering devices on poles. There are currently no plans for changes to legislation in 2022. In practical activities, SNT quite often requires its members to install meters in the places where they indicate. The reasons that they use as the basis for such an installation are the differences between the readings in the general and personal devices that perform the accounting function.
By placing the device on the street, it is planned to organize access for all interested citizens to the indicators. Often, SNT management points out that a citizen who refuses to move the meter is hiding the real readings. There may also be charges of theft of electrical energy.
How to resolve the conflict?
If a controversial situation arises, a certain sequence of actions must be followed.
Including:
- ask to be notified in writing that the device needs to be installed outdoors;
- indicate that the SNT administration will be able to receive a response only if such an act is available;
- refer to the rules, which state that it is illegal to install metering devices in the specified places.
The requirement must be signed by the Chairman of the partnership. In addition, it is necessary to clarify the issue related to whose funds will be used to install the device. Often, the partnership insists that the equipment be installed exclusively at the expense of citizens. However, this is far from true. Citizens may refuse to pay for such services. An important point is that members of the board of the partnership do not have the authority to force citizens to install devices at their own expense. These demands are illegal. If they exist, a person has the right to contact the authorized bodies and appeal such actions.
Where is the best place to install an electric meter on the street?
In a cottage or country house, the device can be mounted on a pole, support, or building facade.
There are certain standards for installing the device outdoors and parameters for attaching the hanging line:
- The distance from the mounting post to the input module should be no more than 25 m.
- At the lowest point, the height of the branch should be more than 6 m in traffic areas, and above pedestrian paths - more than 3.5 m.
- The lowest point where cables are attached to the structure must be more than 2.75 m.
Installation of the device on a pole is carried out after receiving permission from the electricity supplier. All work must be performed by a licensed professional.
The building is connected to the support using a cable. On the outside, it is insulated and protected from the effects of adverse weather conditions.
Electrical devices on poles and supports are placed in metal or plastic boxes. The wires entering the room are laid in a metal pipe. To prevent electric shock to a person, all metal structures are connected to a grounding circuit.
The post to which the meter must be securely installed.
When installing a metering device on the facade of a building, the same standards must be observed as when installing it on a support.
It is necessary to have permission from the electricity supplier.
What actions are possible for SNT management?
Essentially speaking, the board of the partnership does not have the opportunity to influence in any way any of the members regarding the installation of the device. In practice, certain techniques are still used.
These include:
- frequent calls demanding that a meter be installed on the street;
- written notices;
- disconnection from the use of electrical networks;
- imposition of penalties.
IMPORTANT !!! It is worth understanding that the measures listed are classified as illegal. This means that if necessary, they can be easily appealed. For this purpose, you need to contact employees of the judicial authority or prosecutor's office.
In addition, it is permissible to gather all members of the partnership and raise the question of the legality of applying such measures.
They are forced to take the electricity meter outside: is this legal?
Placing electricity meters on street poles is the main solution of some energy companies, whose representatives motivate it with more convenient conditions for checking them and taking readings.
Among other things, this is explained by the desire of organizations to make money on the error of meters (sometimes reaching 10 percent), which fail faster at temperatures below 0 degrees than ordinary household ones. This decision also plays into the hands of sales companies, whose services citizens are forced to turn to for repair, installation, resealing and reinstallation of equipment.
Against this background, residents are increasingly asking the question: are actions of this kind on the part of energy supply companies legal?
The answer is no, by law organizations are prohibited from forcing their clients to install meters outside their homes.
Attention! This measure contradicts the contents of the following legal acts:
- clause 1.5.27 PUE (electrical installation rules). This act contains information that meters must be installed exclusively in premises suitable for maintenance with extremely low humidity levels and temperatures in winter not lower than zero degrees. Placing the meter outside the house is fraught with detrimental consequences for the device due to the impact of climatic conditions on it;
- clause 1.5.27 PUE (electrical installation rules). This act establishes a kind of ceiling above which the meter cannot be installed: the acceptable level varies from 0.4 m to 1.7 m. Advice from energy company employees to place electricity meters at a higher level not only contradicts the contents of this regulatory act , but also causes enormous harm to individuals who, as a result, are unable to properly take readings from the device;
- clause 1.5.27 PUE (electrical installation rules). Each owner is responsible for the safety and normal functionality of his property, however, in the context of the company’s requirements for placing meters on the street, this responsibility is impossible. Any random passer-by can affect the performance of a street meter, even to the point of completely destroying it, which is often used by vandals and hooligans.
The company's clients have the right to write an official refusal and demand the right to place an electricity meter at home. However, this right can be revoked if the decision to install the device outside the home was made at a general meeting of the SNT.
When a citizen agreed to install a meter
It is quite possible that a citizen will agree to install an accounting device. In this situation, experts recommend complete control of the installation process. This is necessary to ensure that there are no violations of current legislation. In particular, you should check the level of reliability of the pole where you plan to place the device.
It is also necessary to clarify who will have access to the testimony. The ideal option is that the device in question will be placed in a box. At the same time, the key is transferred only to a certain circle of citizens. You should choose devices that are capable of operating without error when exposed to sub-zero temperatures. If these requirements are violated, the readings are not accurate.
