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Overhead power line problem
I live in Maryland where we recently went through record setting snow storms. A large branch came down on my overhead power line and brought it almost to the ground. Luckily, the line did not break and the power company removed the branch. Now I'm left with two problems. First, the line is much lower than usual. It was at about 30' and is now at 8' from the ground. Second, the metal mast on my roof took the brunt of the branch's weight and is now bent at a forty five degree angle. The line runs through the mast to the meter.
Question: It is my understanding that the power company is responsble for the power line up to the meter. Who is responsible for the metal mast that runs through my roof down to meter?
As always, all suggstions are welcome.
Carlos
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U R (post #184676, reply #1 of 7)
U R
might be time to look into (post #184676, reply #2 of 7)
might be time to look into underground... see if your utility company will give you an incentive
then get a quote from an electrician for trenching, conduit & wiring
either way ... you need an elctrician to replace the mast
or you have to replace the mast , then get an electrician to wire to the top of the mast.... then the utility company can replace your feed from their pole to your mast
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
www.mfsmithbuilder.com
Varies by utility/state, but (post #184676, reply #3 of 7)
Varies by utility/state, but generally the homeowner is responsible for the mast, even if the PoCo owns the wires up to the meter.
Sometimes it's possible to put a come-along on the mast and straighten it back up, depending on how badly it's bent.
We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison
all suggstions are (post #184676, reply #4 of 7)
all suggstions are welcome
Dan's come-along is a possibility
as is rotating the mast axially 90 deg to pull the slack from the line.
Is the conduit EMY or rigid? 2", or smaller?
You can get a hydraulic conduit bender for around $100 from HF, could use that to straighten the conduit (without disturbing the wires inside)if it is not kinked.
Pictures???
BIG 1974 storm here did same to my house, just got out a plastic mat, cut the power lines, redid the mast, reconnected myself; however, if you are not knowledgeable about handling live wires in the rain or wet condition (or even dry?), do the electrician thing like Mike said. In my case the poco had a 5 week backlog if power was not out -- poco said even if 120/240 V lines were on the ground but not broken it would be 4 weeks.
Check with your power company (post #184676, reply #5 of 7)
Check with your power company - some will take care of it while other may not. The exact same thing happened to me some years ago, and they came out and fixed it the next day, no charge.
Carlos, Pepco, BGE or (post #184676, reply #6 of 7)
Carlos,
Pepco, BGE or whoever should easily be able to answer this question correctly for you. If it is your reponsibility, it should be covered under your homeowners insurance.
As stated in a previous post, (post #184676, reply #7 of 7)
As stated in a previous post, think going underground. Depending on your neighborhood the upgrade is priceless, no ugly wires.
Constantly amazed at seeing 1-2-3 & more hundred thou additions, and the folks involved don't put their utilities underground. The backhoe is on site.