30/09/2026
Another emergency call in the books!
We recently responded to an emergency call involving a damaged 400A underground electrical service.
During excavation, the underground service conductors were pulled, causing them to shift inside the cable jacket. This resulted in the conductors rubbing against the connector inside the meter base, eventually causing an electrical arc that melted the threaded portion of the connector.
Accidents happen all the time and it’s how you deal with the situation that matters. Existing Cables were not marked with red tape 8” below grade and homeowner did not know they ran under the driveway. Theses should have been 3’ or more below grade. Thanks god no one got hurt!
We were asked by the utility to install an approved, lockable splice box and replace the service conductors running from the splice box to the meter base. The shed will be pulled to the back of the splice box to give it protection from cars and vehicles 👍
Fortunately, the damage was isolated to the connector. We were able to save the existing meter base and the conductors inside, preventing the need for a complete meter base replacement.
This is a good example of how quickly an underground utility strike can turn into a serious electrical problem.
Always get your utilities located before digging. Even a small mistake can lead to costly repairs and dangerous situations.
