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Shrubbery (and more) blocking your electric meter is nothing to shrug about – please help us keep everyone safe

A Tampa Electric meter mechanic gets the job done with an easy-to-access customer meter.
A Tampa Electric meter mechanic gets the job done with an easy-to-access customer meter.

Tampa Electric’s commitment to safe, affordable and reliable service includes the everyday work our company team members do to read customer meters. And even though about 97 percent of TECO (Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas) customers have automated meters – enabling us to securely record readings through radio waves from inside vehicles that regularly pass by on the street – we still need access to meters to handle things like routine repairs. When meters are blocked, it limits our effectiveness. And in some cases, blocked meters can pose dangers to customers and meter readers.

An example of a customer meter that's difficult to get to because of the shrubbery (and other things not readily visible).
An example of a customer meter that’s difficult to get to because of the shrubbery (and other things not readily visible).

“We need customers to know how important it is for us to have access to meters,” said Gordon Hudson, supervisor of Field Operations. “Safety First is our top priority at TECO, and to ensure that takes a cooperative effort between TECO team members and the customers we’re proud to serve.”

Hudson cited a variety of barriers TECO team members encounter at meters. Shrubbery, especially in the summer, is a big one. Wasp nests are another threat, as are dogs.

What you can do to help ensure TECO team members have access to your meter

  • Have the vegetation around your meter trimmed on a regular basis by licensed experts. You can contact TECO to let us know if growth is coming into contact with electrical equipment (or about to) and we’ll send contractors to your location. Never try to trim vegetation around electrical equipment yourself.
  • Have pest control experts remove wasp nests around meters.
  • If you have a dog that stays outside near your meter during the day, contact us online or at the phone number for your area to arrange a time when the TECO meter reader can get the reading safely without worrying about the dog.
  • See the diagram in the Storm Safety section of this website (click on the your electric service system link) for where customer responsibilities around the electric meter ends and TECO responsibilities begin.

“TECO team members are trained to be as efficient, courteous and un-invasive as possible on customers’ property,” Hudson said. “By working together, we can maintain a smooth process for repairing meters and a good company-customer experience.”

See what else we’re doing to provide safe and reliable service.

1 Comment

  • BJ Hayes

    I need to know what may be blocking my reading. I have no way of cutting all of my shrubbery
    of more than 30years. Please allow me to know if you have problems with my readings.
    You are welcome to move my box.

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