How to direct meter readers away from my dogs?

[Jenn]

This is not quite a trespassing issue: the electric company keeps switching meter readers so every few months a new guy hunts all over my property for the meter. Last time he left a message to lock up the dogs for when he comes back. I called the company to remind them they don't need to open any gates to read the meter and they said they'd make a note of that. Right.

Today a guy walked in where the dogs are (luckily Killer was inside another fence with me at the time), wrong side of house for meter. Since I was there I redirected him.

So what sign can I put on my gate, or is a lock the only way?

My real goal is to prevent Killer from biting someone (for the first time) and our insurance company paying off for that if necessary but then telling us we can't keep her AND our insurance. I hear "Beware of Dog" sets me up for a worse lawsuit should she ever bite.

Would "no entry" "no trespassing" or "no meters inside any gates dummy!" help? Are there easy open combo locks for chain link walk through gates around? We use two of those gates about once a week, another wooden gate 15 times a day.

How have others solved this?

[jer]

How about a simple sign saying the meter is on the other side of the house. Include a little map if you think it necessary.

[hiswife]

maybe not calling an agressive dog "Killer" would be a good start? We have dogs, and we have a guard dog, so I completely understand the need for one ... but I surely would not name a guard dog something like that ... THAT is much more likely to cause you problems come lawsuit time.

[Oggie]

[Aohtee]

What my electric company and I did was to put a pad lock
on each end of the chain that held the gate closed. One lock was mine and I kept the keys. The other was supplied by the electric company and they kept their keys. The hasp of the locks acted as the last link of the chain. The locks were locked together. When I wanted to open the gate, I open my lock. When the electric company wants to enter they open their lock.

Or you could read your own meter. Call your electric company and speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. Most companies will let you do this either by phone or over the net.

What ever you do, put it in writing and send a copy to your electric company so you're covered in case Killer lives up to her name.

[MaineFarmMom]

Does your company used a gadget called a turtle? Our meter is read once a year to be sure the turtle is sending an accurate report. We can keep an eye on it too. That would solve your problem. The suggestion of asking to read it yourself is great. Before the turtle was put on our meter we had to send a reading with our payment.

[VERN in IL]

Our Electric Co-op is very modern, I have to read the meter each month, and the bill will be based on my meter reading. They come out once a year to check the meter for vandalism, tampering(the special wire lock), and make sure you didn't stick two copper rods in the back of the housing, hehe.

[Joshie]

I'd send them a certified letter that requires a signature telling them the same things you've told them before. I'd mention the date, time and the name of the person you'd spoken with in the past. I'd mention that they said that they would put a note to the next meter reader and the fact that the next meter reader obviously either didn't get the message or didn't follow the directions.

Keep a copy of the letter and a copy of the signed receipt.

I would also tell them that their people should NEVER open any gates on your property.

[mistletoad]

We had a similar problem until the co-op put in a meter that can be read from the road without the meter reader ever leaving his truck. Maybe you could request one of those.

[PulpFaction]

My mother's rambunctious and VERY large, black lab/shar pei mix came bounding up to one meter reader prompting a whack with a pipe that BROKE the dogs nose. She sent a certified letter to the company informing them it was unnecessary for them to enter the yard where the dogs are to read the meter, explaining exactly where it was, and politely telling them that if any employees entered the back yard where the dogs live, not only is she not responsible for any harm the dogs may do in "protecting" their yard from a uniformed person that, as for as they were concerned, had previously acted violently against them, but she would sue the living daylights out of them if they EVER did damage to her property (the dogs) again.

It worked.

[Jenn]

Her name isn't really Killer... Just hope she lives up to it if bad guys ever come. So I haven't trained her to be friendly to every human that comes up to our fence.

Will see about reading it myself most months and see about getting a durable sign pointing to the meter- I like Oggie's but isn't that as bad as beware of dog, or naming her Killer? Maybe "Keep Out- Meter at Carport" Don't think the water guy ever comes up to the house; guess all their meters are on the street.

Thanks everyone!

[Minelson]

LOL! Oggie....(shaking head, smiling)

[wally]

My dogs will not kill them but the next time they come they will not do it again

[tiogacounty]

Once had a meter reader attack my dog with pepper spray after she walked up to him. The dog was laughably harmless, and the meter reader was a spineless little puss who was terrified of dogs. After we had a heated discussion about his assault, I asked to see his Utility Co. ID badge. He refused, giving me some nonsense about not being required to show it. I then explained that I would inspect it, while he was on the ground, after I pulled his sorry little butt out of the truck window. I got all of his info, he missed the beating he richly deserved. The utility sent a real meter reader next month. This guy laughed at my mutt, handed her a biscuit, and found a new friend for life. 99% of the mutts in this world will gladly take a Milk-Bone, and forget about sticking a fang in your calf. It ain't rocket science, you just have to be smarter than the dog.

When I lived in Alabama, I had the same problem until I gave up and read my own meter..it was easier.

[Natural Beauty Farm]

It use to be that Beware of Dog and Bad dog signs were ok to post. Did not set you up for a law suit. It was only the words "Guard", "Protection", "Killer" that you wanted to avoid. Don't know if that is still the case in our sue happy world.

I had a meter reader jump my side fence once and tore it down, cause he was too lazy to drive up the driveway from the neighbors..... he landed right into a sleeping black bear under the bird feeders. He never did that again.

[||Downhome||]

post the fence (no tresspassing) , lock your gates and call in the meter read yourself.

[wogglebug]

Now there's an idea!
Post a sign

"Beware of the bears.
Electricity meter is at carport.
All visitors -
DO NOT get off direct path to house!"

[Shrek]

When I moved here and fenced in the property to contain the dogs my ex wanted the side yard and front yard fenced at the boundary also, but I ended up putting the front fence two feet in from the water meter and ten feet in from the north boundary and closed the loop at front and rear corners of the north side of my house to allow access to the electric meter. This way I can lock all my gates and turn on the fence chargers to keep irritating people from knocking on my door or trespassing on all but 350 square feet of my property while the utility meter readers can still do their job.

[busybee870]

I was a meter reader, a well trained reader woould know to watch where the power line goes from the transformer. It will take you directly to the meter. Most companies are contracting the work out to small businesses who have a large turn over and not training properly. I would call, as well as send a certified letter, to your electric company as well as the businees whos actually reading the meters, stating where the meter is so they can imput that into the hand held computer unit the meter reader has in his hand that tells them any information about location, and dogs. That you will not be held responsible if they continue to go into the dog yard where there is NO meter.The law requires safe passage to the meter, however if the meter is not there and you have notified them by certified mail, and they continue you shouldnt be responsible.