pshaw_raven | Could Have Been Worse (Reply)

This could have been really bad. This is part of out power service box - I don't know the actual name but it is what the meter can plugs into. As you can see, something got hot enough to melt the plastic, and the meter was, of course, partially melted. We're currently on generator power and ... let me back up a few steps here.

Last night after dinner, I was playing Baldur's Gate (I picked dialogue that Gale took as flirting. I wasn't flirting before, but I AM NOW. Gale is 90% g-spot anyway.) I keep thinking I hear something, then the cats flip out and run. Clay Electric is at the door, and the guy says, "We got a notice that your meter is overheating, I'm here to take a look at it. Y'all had any power problems?" Well, Fox did just mention to me over dinner that the UPS on his computer has been tripping today and he wasn't sure why. I'd noticed some lights dimming and then coming back up, but that's nothing unusual way out here. So Fox and I both come outside and when the guy pulls the meter, that's what he finds.

We're lucky we didn't have a pole fire. I guess we're also lucky it's on a pole and not mounted to the side of the house. Anyway, he took the ruined meter and pulled fuses or something so now the power pole is "dead." You can touch it with impunity. He said just to call the service line and tell them we made the repairs, and they'll get us a new meter. Hopefully another smart meter, but we'll see what they have.

It could also have happened at a worse time - like a few weeks ago when it was still deathly hot. Right now the house is running on a small Predator generator, which is keeping the fridge and freezer going, some lights on, and it can run a small appliance when needed. I just made a pot of coffee, and we can nuke food if we need to, but can't run the oven or stovetop. We're also on low water use, since it can't run the well pump, and definitely not the hot water heater.

So if it happens that they can't reconnect the meter today, we'll need to get the big generator out so it can run the well for water. Fox is heading into town this morning to go to an electrical wholesaler as an employee of FastNet (which he technically is) and see if he can buy the needed parts. We shouldn't need to pull permits or anything since we're not upgrading. Time is of the essence if we don't want to go all weekend like this. Absolute worst case, we can pull the camper out and set up, and use its propane tanks for hot showers. But Fox seems hopeful that he can get this knocked out today.

None of this answers the question - what overheated that line? Why? Is this going to happen again?