Residents of Russia use modern technology in everyday life, which consumes a large amount of electricity. Due to increased load on the power grid, the meters may not be able to cope and there is a need to replace the equipment with new, more advanced ones.
Therefore, replacing meters is a standard procedure that should be performed regularly. In this regard, residents of apartment buildings have pressing questions: who should change the electricity meters in the stairwell and where to go if the equipment fails?
Necessity
Planned replacement of the electricity meter must be carried out by representatives of the organization supplying electricity. In some cases, the electric meter needs to be replaced ahead of the time specified in the regulations. This may occur due to outdated accuracy class indicators.
For new electrical appliances it should be 1.0, and for old ones the accuracy indicator should be 2.5. Such equipment must be replaced as it provides inaccurate data.
There is also an urgent need to replace electrical meters that are outdated or out of order. Old electric meters are not designed for the use of modern electrical appliances, since they cannot withstand significant loads.
Every year more and more electrical appliances are used in apartments of residential buildings, the transition resistance of which increases with prolonged use. This may cause wires to spark and short circuits to occur, resulting in a possible fire.
ATTENTION! Replacing outdated models of electric meters is required to ensure the safety of property and the lives of residents of the house.
What to do
If the electric meter breaks down in an apartment in a multi-storey building or in the entrance of a residential building, the owners must take the following actions:
- The electricity consumer must contact the sales company with a request to replace the non-functioning equipment. To do this, residents of the building can call the hotline or fill out an electronic application on the organization’s website.
- After 3 days, an invoice for payment should be sent to the email address that the property owner indicated in the application.
- Within 10 days after receipt of payment, a technician must arrive at the site and replace the electric meter.
If the electricity meter fails, you can speed up the procedure for replacing the equipment. To do this, you need to buy a new electricity meter and replace it yourself. Then you need to call the sales company's employees to seal the device.
The consumer may not install an electric meter, then the energy consumed will be calculated according to the accepted norm. However, if the inspector recounts all the meters in the house, he will issue a fine.
Procedure
Replacing the electric meter is carried out as follows:
- An application is submitted to the electricity supplier, which specifies the reasons for the replacement.
- The company will issue the appropriate permit, as well as a certificate, which will need to be presented at the place of purchase of the meter.
- It is also necessary to issue permission to remove the seal from the Criminal Code. The action will be performed in the presence of an observer.
- Then they purchase a new meter, but not just any one, but one approved in terms of technical parameters by the energy supply company (with a mark, class 2) and having a quality certificate. The owner has the right to purchase a meter from the supplier. Moreover, if he does not have the entire required amount, he can arrange a 5-year installment plan at interest by concluding an agreement. If the housing is municipal, the tenant can purchase a meter at his own expense, but his expenses must be reimbursed.
- An electrician with electrical safety group 3 can be called from an energy supply organization or found independently. If the replacement is carried out by a third-party organization, then it is necessary to conclude an agreement with it, which is then submitted to the energy supply class=”aligncenter” width=”644″ height=”475″[/img] Sample application
- Old equipment is not thrown away, but left so that the data can be verified at the time of dismantling.
- Install a new device and connect it to the network.
- After installation, you need to check the correct operation.
- They call the inspector to carry out the inspection and sealing. The controller will make a note of the current readings.
Primary sealing is mandatory and is performed free of charge, although there are cases when you are required to pay for it. This demand is unlawful.
Housing Code
Electric meters of a residential building are maintained by the management company and the organization that supplies electricity. This rule is regulated by the law of the Russian Federation in accordance with the requirements of the Housing Code. Replacement of electricity consumption metering equipment is regulated at the legislative level by regulatory documents:
- Housing and Civil Code.
- Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 530 of August 31, 2006
- Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 261 of November 23, 2009
- Decree of the Government of Russia No. 491 of August 13, 2006
According to the documents listed above, the management company and energy supply organizations are obliged to constantly monitor the current state of electricity meters in the house entrusted to them . Also, the company that installs the electricity and the management company must carry out inspection and maintenance of the equipment in due time.
ATTENTION! If a planned replacement of the meter in an apartment is required, the owner of the property must be notified about this.
Who should maintain technical electricity meters?
Electrical work has the right to be carried out by employees who have studied the safety rules and received at least the 3rd qualification category. Maintenance includes:
- removing dirt from the front panel and equipment body;
- monitoring the reliability of the power circuit connection;
- performance check.
The frequency of actions is fixed in the schedule of planned preventive activities of the service company.
At whose expense
According to the law, in a privatized apartment the costs of replacing electricity meters are borne by the owners of the property. Local governments usually pay for meter replacement in municipal buildings. However, in some cases the management company is responsible.
The pressing question of who should install and change electric meters causes a large number of conflict situations. According to the law, there are clear rules that define certain rules:
- If the meter is located in an apartment, the owner must install and change it.
- If the meter is located on an area that falls under common property, this should be handled by the local management company.
On the landing
According to the current provisions of the Russian Federation, Article 543, the management company is responsible for electrical metering devices located on the landing. It follows from this that any actions related to the installation and replacement of metering devices on the stairs must be carried out by employees of the management company.
The management company is changing the meters in an apartment building, which are located on the landing.
It is believed that these metering devices are common property. Therefore, the responsibility for the safety of equipment and maintenance of metering devices rests in full with the employees of the management company.
Exceptions are situations specified in the agreement between the owner and the management company. It may indicate that the owner of the property is responsible for installing and replacing electrical appliances. The owner must also pay all related expenses.
In order to avoid disputes between residents of an apartment building and representatives of the management company, the owner must enter into an agreement with the organization. It is necessary to specify all the nuances that relate to the replacement of devices.
The document must contain information about who pays for the replacement of the electric meter of a multi-story building.
How to replace the electric meter in an apartment
Sooner or later you will have to change the meter and it is important to understand what needs to be done to do this. Regardless of whether the equipment is the property of the resident or not, a service company will have to be involved in replacing the meter, since seals will need to be removed, and this can only be done by an authorized person.
You will have to visit the service organization with several papers:
- Passport.
- A document confirming ownership of the premises where the equipment will be changed.
- Application for replacement.
The organization will send an authorized person who has the appropriate qualifications and can correctly change the equipment.
Peculiarities
According to the Civil Code, the responsibility for installing and replacing electricity meters in residential apartments rests with the owners of the property. If the apartment is privatized and privately owned, the equipment can be changed by the owner or tenant under the supervision of a professional specialist - an electrician.
In the case of municipal housing, the actual owner (proprietor) of the residential premises is the municipality. Naturally, the costs of installing and replacing the metering device are borne by municipal authorities . Authority employees must ensure that their property is in working order at all times.
Representatives of management companies often demand that payments be made by tenants living under a social tenancy agreement in non-privatized (corporate) housing.
In their opinion, payment should come from the subscriber consuming electricity. This is a violation of the actual norms of the Russian Federation, Article 539 of the Civil Code, which are based on the postulate that the subscriber is a management company. To resolve this issue, you need to file a complaint with the Criminal Code.
The current provisions of the Housing Code establish the obligation of owners of privatized real estate to ensure the safety and integrity of their own property. Therefore, if it is necessary to replace an outdated or faulty electric meter, carrying out this process and paying all expenses is the responsibility of the apartment owner.
Is the owner obliged
The actual norms of the legislative framework of the Russian Federation establish that the responsibility of property owners is to comply with the requirements of the law to maintain the integrity and safety of property.
Payment of costs for installation/replacement of a meter depends on many factors, including the location of the equipment, the form of ownership of the apartment and the availability of a preferential category.
If an individual meter is located in an apartment, it is considered the property of the owner, who is obliged to monitor the current condition of the equipment and replace it at his own expense. If the electric meter is located in the entrance, it is located on the territory of common property. The responsibility for replacing the device is assigned to the organization that manages housing and communal services in the house.
Free replacement
Costs related to installation and replacement of the meter are borne by the homeowners or local management company. In some cases, the electric meter is changed free of charge:
- If a special state program is being implemented to install new models of meters with improved operational parameters.
- In case the state makes a transition to a multi-tariff or differentiated payment regime for electricity.
- Installation or replacement of a failed residential building in a multi-storey building that is municipal property.
Checking and sealing
After installing a new electricity meter, the owner or subscriber of the energy supply company must, as soon as possible, call a specialist who will check the operation of the device and seal it.
Without these procedures, the new electric meter will not be put into operation.
To call a specialist, you should contact the management or energy supply company and pay for this service according to the receipt provided.
Deadlines
Residents of an apartment building are required to take into account the service life of the electric meter. When a certain amount of time remains before the end of the device’s service life, it is necessary to notify the management company and the electricity supplier. If you ignore the need to replace the meter, then the consumer faces a large fine and a recalculation of electricity consumption for a maximum of 3 years.
We can conclude that the meter is not working correctly or has broken down in the following cases: it has mechanical damage, the seal is broken, it does not accurately display data or does not take into account electricity consumption. In these cases, the owner must report a problem with the meter to the management company or the supplier. Within 10 days the equipment will be replaced with new one.
What documents are issued?
Documents are issued after the meter is installed and sealed. First of all, we are talking about a special act in which the data of the metering device is indicated. This document must be taken to the management company so that the cost of electricity can be recalculated. A passport is attached to the new meter. This is also an important document. It indicates the date of initial verification of the device. And the technical passport indicates the frequency of meter checks.
Admission is confirmed by an act of acceptance for operation. It is issued in two copies: for the electricity supplier and the owner.
