There are several types of electric services, and it’s important to understand which equipment belongs to the member and which belongs to the Cooperative. The Cooperative always owns the transformer pole and the wires feeding power to your building or pole — this is called the service drop. The meter is also always owned and maintained by the Cooperative.
A typical member-owned overhead electrical service includes the weatherhead, upper service-entrance cable, meter base, and lower service-entrance cable that feeds your panel box. All of this equipment belongs to you. Your service equipment may be mounted on the side of your structure, installed on a member-owned pole, or placed on a member-constructed pedestal. Member-owned services cannot be attached to a Cooperative-owned pole.
Some farms may have a CT meter or a meter loop installation. These installations are installed on a member-owned pole, with overhead wires feeding outbuildings. As with all services, the Cooperative owns the service drop to the pole, and the member owns the remainder of the equipment, including overhead wires to other buildings and any transfer switches.
Many members choose to install an underground service. In these cases, the member is responsible to excavate the trench, install the specified conduit to the cooperative specs, and backfill the trench from the transformer pole to the meter base. If the underground line fails, the Cooperative will repair or replace it at no cost to the member, as long as the member completes any required excavation work.
To ensure safe, reliable power distribution, the Cooperative conducts periodic inspections of electric services. Any issues found on Cooperative-owned equipment are repaired by our crews. If we identify damaged or deteriorated member-owned equipment, we notify the member. Common problems include missing insulation on service-entrance cables, rusted meter bases, and rotten or broken member-owned poles.
Please refer to the links below for more information, or contact our engineering department with any questions.
Image
Beware of Meter Tampering
Members often have electrical work performed by a contractor or service professional. Installing generators and transfer switches, replacing your panel box, or upgrading your service entrance equipment are all tasks that most members hire someone else to do.
Please make sure that no one, including you, your contractor, or anyone who works for the contractor cuts your meter seal and removes your meter. Because your electric cooperative is committed to providing you with safe, reliable electricity, we have policies in place to discourage this practice. Regardless of what anyone tells you, as the member, you are liable for the $500 tampering fee that is assessed when meter seals are cut or missing.
Anytime that you are planning to have electrical work done, make sure your contractor knows that cutting your meter seal is dangerous and will result in a fine to you. A checklist explaining the required steps for disconnecting your service is available below, or you may call the engineering department for more information at 1-800-326-9799 or 570-265-2167.