Service Mast and Meter Base Repair · Savannah, GA
Service Mast and Meter Base Repair in Savannah, GA
Service mast repair fixes the pipe, weatherhead and meter base that bring the utility's overhead line into your home. When storms or falling limbs damage them, a licensed electrician usually has to repair them before the utility will restore power.
- Call now to check electrician availability in your area
- Independent, licensed electricians
- Serving Landmark Historic District, Victorian District, Ardsley Park and more
Why service mast and meter base repair comes up in Savannah
Live oaks hung with Spanish moss shade much of Savannah, and when a tropical storm or a strong summer thunderstorm brings a limb down, the overhead service drop often takes the weatherhead and mast with it. Georgia Power owns the drop and meter; the mast and meter base attached to the house are typically the owner's responsibility, and the utility usually needs them repaired before it reconnects. Salt air also rusts meter bases from the inside, so some are already weak when the storm hits.
In the Landmark and Victorian historic districts, visible changes to service equipment may be reviewed. Permits come from the City of Savannah or Chatham County.
- Rewiring is usually part of a restoration, and the historic review board regulates visible exterior changes such as new meters, conduit and service masts.
- Salt air near the marsh and rivers corrodes grounding connections and outdoor equipment, so the electrician should check the grounding electrode and meter base.
- Permits in Savannah
- Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Savannah's development services; Chatham County and the island communities have their own. Exterior changes in the historic districts need design review.
- Electric utility
- Georgia Power
Signs to look for
- A service mast bent, leaning or pulled away from the roof or wall
- A meter base hanging loose, cracked or rusted through
- A torn or sagging line where it meets the house
- Flickering lights or partial power after a storm
- The utility telling you to have an electrician repair the service before reconnecting
How the work is done
1. Make it safe
Stay clear of downed or sagging lines and call the utility first. The electrician assesses the damage once the area is safe.
2. Coordinate with the utility
The electrician confirms who owns which parts and arranges the disconnect, inspection and reconnect.
3. Repair or replace
The mast, weatherhead, meter base and service entrance cable are repaired or replaced, often to current code, which can mean a taller mast or new grounding.
4. Inspection and reconnect
Where required, the work is inspected, then the utility reconnects the drop and reinstalls the meter.
What moves the price in Savannah
Electricians set their own prices. Historic homes often have wiring from many eras, and the historic district's review board regulates visible exterior changes such as meters and equipment.
- Whether the mast, meter base or both need replacing
- Damage to the roof or siding where the mast mounts
- Bringing grounding and clearances up to current code
- Whether a service upgrade is done at the same time
- After-hours or storm-surge demand
- Permit and inspection fees
Service Mast and Meter Base Repair in Savannah: questions
Do I need a permit for service mast and meter base repair in Savannah?
Usually, yes. Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Savannah's development services; Chatham County and the island communities have their own. Exterior changes in the historic districts need design review. The electrician normally pulls the permit and schedules the inspection.
Is the utility involved in Savannah?
If the work affects the meter or service, the electrician coordinates with Georgia Power, which owns the meter and service drop.
Who pays to fix a damaged service mast?
In most areas the mast, weatherhead and meter base belong to the homeowner, so repair is the owner's cost, though homeowners insurance often covers storm damage. Check your utility's rules and your policy.
Will the utility fix my meter base?
Usually not. Utilities generally own the meter and the line, not the meter base or mast. They make the area safe and reconnect once the repair is done.
Can I get power back before the mast is repaired?
Typically no. Most utilities will not reconnect to damaged equipment on the house.
Is a damaged service mast an emergency?
A pulled-down line or exposed wiring is dangerous. Stay away, call the utility, then call an electrician.
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