Meter vs. Meter Base: Who Fixes What?
Most homeowners don’t realize that the equipment on the outside wall belongs to two different parties:
| Part | Who owns it | Who repairs it |
| The electric meter (the round or digital device that measures your usage) | Dominion Energy | Dominion Energy |
| The meter base / meter socket (the box on your house that holds the meter) | You, the property owner | A licensed electrician |
| Service entrance wiring and the main panel | You, the property owner | A licensed electrician |
Dominion Energy describes the meter base as the customer-owned box attached to your home, and it should only be opened by Dominion, an authorized contractor, or a certified electrician. If the meter is broken or reading wrong, contact Dominion Energy at 866-366-4357. If the box, socket, or wiring is damaged, call an electrician. We’re happy to help you figure out which one you need.
Signs Your Meter Base Needs Repair
Call us if you notice:
- A meter box that is loose, leaning, or pulling away from the wall
- Rust, corrosion, or water inside or around the meter base
- Burn marks, melting, or a burning smell at the meter
- Flickering lights or partial power loss across the whole house (see why lights flicker)
- A cracked or missing meter cover or broken seal
- Buzzing or crackling from the meter area
- Damage from a storm, fallen limb, or vehicle
Safety first: never open a meter base yourself. If you see smoke, sparks, or exposed wires, keep everyone away and call 911. Report downed lines to Dominion Energy.
Our Meter Base Services
Meter Base Repair
We tighten or replace loose and burned connections, damaged lugs, and failed seals, and secure the box to the wall so it stays watertight.
Meter Base Replacement
When a meter base is rusted through, melted, or too old to repair, we replace it with a new, properly rated unit and reconnect your service entrance wiring.
Service Upgrades
Adding an EV charger, heat pump, or addition? A bigger service may need a new meter base along with a panel upgrade. See how to know whether your panel has enough capacity.
Storm & Impact Damage
After storm or vehicle damage, we make the service safe, repair the meter base and service wiring, and help you document the work. Prevent the next surge with whole-home surge protection.
How Meter Base Repair Works
- Call (804) 912-6521. Tell us what you’re seeing. We’ll help you confirm whether it’s a Dominion meter issue or a meter base issue.
- We inspect the meter base, service entrance wiring, and main panel.
- You get a written, upfront price before any work starts.
- We pull the permit where one is required and coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with Dominion Energy.
- We complete the repair to code and schedule the inspection.
Related Electrical Services
- Electrical repair for power loss and wiring faults
- Electrical panel repair and upgrades
- Circuit breaker replacement
- Electrical wiring and whole-home rewiring
- Generator installation
- Commercial electrical service
Why Choose The Go-To Crew
- Licensed and insured, certified electricians
- Upfront, written pricing
- Local to Chesterfield County, at 10300 Lifford Ln
- We stand behind our work
Serving Chesterfield, Midlothian, Chester, Richmond, and all of our service areas.
Call a Meter Base Electrician Today
Call (804) 912-6521 or schedule a service online.
