Putting it in your calendar might not be a bad idea.  Over time one will just start ignoring signs and stickers. They become 'familiar objects' and stop getting read. 

Mon May 11 2026 22:04:32 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

  On the new one, I put a label on it, "installed April 2026, replace anode rod in 2029"

 

As I might have mentioned before, we're consolidating two electric meters down to one, because it was an illegal two family house in the past, and it's not now.  It's not an enormous house, only about 2000sqft, but it's got two panels in two different parts of the house.  Can't do the work myself because it involves a service change.

Today at lunchtime I got a panic call from my electrician.  poco called him and said "we're doing the shutoff today" -- as in right now.

He advised me to let them do it, otherwise we'd end up back in the queue and could be waiting weeks or more.  So the lower level service (right side of the photo) got cut at the pole, and the electrician showed up a few hours later to "jumper it back in" until they can come back tomorrow and do the permanent job.  That disconnect on the left is getting replaced with a trailer panel that will feed the two other panels inside the house.

I love the way this looks.  It has the vibe of someone stealing power in India.

Ya gotta love how the utilities treat us little people. For most people, its not like we can realistically flip them the bird and go elsewhere, its a monopoly. 

Tue Jun 02 2026 22:07:03 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar Subject: Electric fun!

 

Today at lunchtime I got a panic call from my electrician.  poco called him and said "we're doing the shutoff today" -- as in right now.

 

Related. got an email from our gas company.

"we will have contractors out 7 days a week  the next few weeks to look at your meter and will need access to your back yard" "if you are not there we will come back later"    No, no scheduling at all, not even a hint of what day it might be. ( or even which week.. ) Just "you have to stay home and wait for us"  ( and out on the weekends bothering us for non-emergency, really? )

And being a contractor, not actual gas employees, why do i get the feeling we will start getting targeted flyers " we can do x remodels and home improvements " here soon.   Or even while they are there "ooooh, you need to replace xyz right away, we can do it for x dollars"

( and yes i know, i have lost all faith in everything. Its all a scam if there is a single dollar involved.  And while i may be on the extreme end of this, i keep being proven right every time. And just getting fed up )