Just like a gas pump or grocery scale, your electric meter is key for making sure that you get what you pay for. But it is also very different in that your electrical connection to Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative holds a high risk of injury or death for anyone who opens the meter base. That is why breaking the meter base seal carries possible penalties and fees.

In some cases, an electrician or homeowner may need to disconnect power to make repairs or do other work inside a home. Please contact us for temporary disconnection of service. During normal business hours, TVEC will send a trained technician who can safely turn off power to the whole house, without leaving dangerous exposed connections at the meter base. Once repairs are complete, we will reconnect the power to get you back up and running.

Opening the meter base or removing the meter leaves an exposed electrical connection that can be deadly.
Installing and removing meters must be done by trained personnel with proper safety equipment. Attaching the meter in a live meter socket can result in dangerous arc flash conditions and risk for burns and electrical injuries.

Along with the legitimate needs for power disconnection, some people have used meter bases as a way to steal electricity. Many thieves pay for the power they steal with their lives—or with the lives of others. Electricity theft also makes the electricity you use more expensive because honest members have to pick up the tab for the stolen electricity and damage to cooperative equipment.

If you need to temporarily disconnect power or access your meter base for any reason, contact TVEC member services at (800) 766-9576.