Replacing the electric meter: who should change it and at whose expense is this done in 2021: government program or resource supply organizations?

Housing Code: replacing the electric meter

Electric meters are serviced by the electricity supply company and the management company (abbreviated as Management Company). This rule is regulated in accordance with the actual requirements of the Housing Code.

The issue of replacing equipment at the legislative level is regulated by the following list of regulatory documents:

Civil and Housing Codes;
Government Decree No. 491 of August 13, 2006;
Federal Law No. 261 of November 23, 2009.

According to the documents listed (all of them are also valid for 2021), management companies and energy supply structures are required to monitor the current condition of equipment and timely check and maintain metering devices.

If there is a need to replace equipment, the owner (tenant) of the residential premises is notified about this.

In privatized apartments, costs will be borne by the owners of square meters, and in municipal ones - by local governments. Also, in some cases, the management company may become responsible for replacing devices.

In the morning - repairs, in the evening - money

The Housing Code of the Russian Federation (LC RF) determined back in 2005: the burden of costs for major repairs is borne by the owner. But the Russians only started paying for this in a separate line now, because the Housing Code of the Russian Federation obligated the previous owner, that is, the state, to transfer the housing before privatization to a completely renovated one, if the house at the time of privatization of the first apartment in the house (since 1991) was already in need of major repairs in force of age. According to the Rules and Standards for the Technical Operation of the Housing Stock, a house requires such repairs every 25 years, but sometimes earlier, depending on the circumstances of its operation, explains Elena Panina, President of the Research and Analytical Center for Housing and Communal Services .
News on the topic More than 5 thousand houses will be repaired in two years under the overhaul program By the way, the article obliging municipal authorities to carry out these repairs has not been repealed. But only the most stubborn can force officials to do their duty, through the courts. For example, residents of one of the apartment buildings in Izhevsk fought for 5 years and achieved their goal.

Failure to fulfill capital repair obligations has become widespread. "No money left!" - say the officials. And if residents win the trial, they bide their time as best they can. In the end, the Housing and Communal Services Reform Assistance Fund took on the “accumulated underrepairs” of apartment buildings over 30 years old. Currently, there are more than 62% of such houses in the Russian housing stock. As of January 1, 2014, the fund had completely completed the overhaul of 141,414 apartment buildings. But this is not enough! Experts state that in the next 10 years approximately 400 million sq. m of housing will fall into an uninhabitable condition.

Photo: AiF

Who should install or change electricity meters?

The issue of replacing electric meters is relevant, and as practice shows, a lot of conflict situations often flare up around it. The legislator here prefers to set extremely clear norms and boundaries that define uniform rules.

The equipment will be installed by the owners (if the meter is located in an apartment) and the management company (if the meter is placed in an area that falls into the category of common property).

On the landing

Metering devices located on the landing are entirely under the responsibility of the management company. Consequently, any actions related to the installation (replacement) of equipment on the stairs will be carried out by management specialists.

An exception would be situations where the agreement between the management company and the citizen states that the latter is responsible for replacing devices and bearing the costs of this operation.

In the apartment

The responsibility for installing (replacing) electric meters in apartments rests with the owners of the premises. If the apartment is privatized and is privately owned, all actions will be performed directly by the owner or tenant. At the same time, equipment changes will take place exclusively under the supervision of a professional electrician.

As for municipal housing, municipal authorities will be responsible for the installation (replacement) of equipment, since they are the actual owners of residential premises.

Question answer

Will electricity meters be replaced free of charge in 2021 in Moscow if they break down or expire? And in other regions?

According to the norms of Federal Law No. FZ-522 dated December 27, 2018. Metering devices will be replaced with “smart” ones from July 1, 2021, as they fail or expire. Replacement is carried out at the expense of guaranteeing suppliers and energy supply companies.

Thus, the law clearly states that replacement of meters should be done free of charge. And the law applies to the entire territory of the Russian Federation, not only to Moscow or St. Petersburg, but to all regions. However, judging by information from the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in some of them guarantee suppliers and energy supply companies do not plan to begin applying the law in 2021.

Replacing electric meters on the landing - at whose expense will such devices be replaced in 2021?

The law mentions metering devices, including common ones (for a communal apartment) and collective ones (for a common building). In any case, replacement is provided at the expense of resource supply organizations.

Source

At whose expense is the electric meter on the landing changed?

The current provisions of Article 543 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation establish that replacement is carried out at the expense of the management company . It is believed that the devices located on the staircase belong to common property, and the responsibility for their safety and maintenance rests entirely with this company.

However, in practice, disputes most often arise between management companies and residents. To avoid them, it is necessary to conclude an agreement with the management company, which will spell out all issues related to the replacement of devices. Thus, it will be indicated at whose expense the devices are replaced, and who will be obliged to pay.

In a municipal apartment

The Civil Code obliges owners of residential premises to install or replace electric meters. In the case of municipal housing, the owner will be the municipality. Consequently, all costs must be borne by the municipal authorities, who will ensure that their property is in an acceptable condition.

However, based on practice, most often representatives of management companies require payment from tenants living under a social lease agreement in a non-privatized apartment (using corporate housing).

They justify their decision by the fact that payment should be made by the subscriber consuming electricity. In this situation, there is a clear violation of the actual norms of Art. 539 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, which are based on the postulate that the subscriber is the management company. The only way out of this situation is to file a complaint against the Criminal Code with the housing inspectorate.

In a privatized apartment

The current provisions of the Housing Code establish the obligation of property owners to ensure the safety and integrity of their property. In this situation, if there is a need to install or replace an electric meter, the procedure is the responsibility of the apartment resident.

Citizens' responsibilities include replacing outdated equipment responsible for metering electricity consumption. Consequently, all expenses are fully paid by the owner of the privatized apartment.

Is the owner obliged to change the electric meter at his own expense?

The current norms of the Russian legislative framework establish that the key responsibility of property owners is to carefully comply with all legal requirements, as well as maintain the integrity and safety of their property.

As for the costs of installing (replacing) electrical equipment, everything will be ambiguous and depend on the location of the meter, the form of ownership of the apartment (privatized or municipal), the presence of a preferential category, etc.

If an individual meter is located inside the apartment, it is the property of the owner, and, therefore, the latter will be obliged to monitor the serviceability of the equipment and, if necessary, change it at his own expense.

If the equipment is installed in the entrance, and is located on the territory belonging to common property. The owner will not bear any expenses, since in such a situation the responsibility for replacing the meter will be assigned to the company that manages housing and communal services in your home.

Electrical equipment. Who is responsible for what?

We delve deeper into the concept of common shared ownership and understand what in common areas and apartments belongs to residents (for which they are directly responsible, repair or change at their own expense), and for what the operating organization is responsible. This article will focus on electrical equipment.

To begin with, let us clarify that electricity enters the apartment through a number of special equipment - through electrical wires (cables) that are connected to an electric meter that distributes electricity to consumers through switching machines. The cables spread along risers from the distribution device to all floors in the house. The switchgear is located in the electrical room in the basement of each house. From it, electricity goes to the apartment, going to the input machines (one for each apartment), from here the electricity goes through wires to meters, which determine the electricity consumption in each apartment.

When moving into an apartment, the owner must enter into an agreement with the energy supply organization. The contract is considered concluded from the moment of the first actual connection of the subscriber’s electrical installation to the connected electrical network. If the owner of the apartment changes, he is obliged to contact the energy supply organization to conclude an agreement within 10 calendar days from the date of receipt of the title documents for the apartment or the rental agreement for residential premises.

The photo shows electronic meters . They differ from induction ones by the ability to summarize day and night tariffs, measure power, see the date and time, as well as an archive (when and how much electricity was consumed). All you need to know about them is that they come with a warranty and a calibration interval.

About the guarantee. Depending on the manufacturer, the warranty period may vary. Typically up to 5 years. If the meter fails during the warranty period, then the owner must call a representative of Energosbyt to unseal and take the last readings and only then contact the manufacturer to eliminate the defects (if the house is new, this is usually the developer). If the meter breaks down outside the warranty, the scheme is similar. First, you need to call a specialist to unseal the meter and then decide for yourself what to do next with the equipment: send it for repair to any organization that deals with this type of work, or directly to Energosbyt. In this case, the repairs are paid for by the tenant himself. Electricity during the absence of a meter will be calculated based on the average.

Meters have a calibration interval that residents must comply with. It is 8 years old. After this period, the consumer must contact the energy supply organization to have the meter checked. All conditions are specified in the agreement with Energosbyt. If the meter is faulty, it is installed at the expense of residents. If the meter is working properly, then after verification, Energosbyt employees return it back.

If the owner has doubts about the correctness of the meter readings, he can contact the energy supply organization at any time. After sending the application within 5 days, Energosbyt ensures that the meter is checked and, if necessary, sends the device for an extraordinary verification. If the organization establishes the fact of unaccounted consumption of electricity, then repair, replacement, verification, restoration of electrical wiring, seals on switching devices or terminal blocks installed in electrical circuits, on the doors of cells with measuring voltage transformers, is carried out at the expense of the subscriber.

If we talk about equipment ownership and responsibility for it, then:

The shield is the common property of all residents of the house up to the distribution box, but its maintenance is carried out by the housing and communal services department. Specialists perform replacements in case of failure of any mechanism, as well as scheduled inspections once a year;

the meter is the property of a specific resident. Maintenance is carried out by Energosbyt, or by the tenant himself at his own discretion (selects contractors for repairs, etc.)

Despite the fact that all this electrical equipment is the property of the residents, they do not have access to it. The key that locks it is kept by the service organization, since access to the electrical room is allowed only to a specialist with special permission. Residents can only open the top door and turn on the machine if it is knocked out.

— In the electrical control room there may be a specialist of at least the third group of electrical safety clearance. If a resident wants to verify the readings, we do this: we take a photograph and show the photo to the resident, enter it in a journal and then transfer these readings to Energosbyt,” Alexander MELYUK, chief engineer of ZhES No. 15, shared his working methods.

There are various house designs. For example, with shields right in apartments. The housing department is responsible for the condition of apartment panels , despite the fact that the panel is located inside the apartment. This, as the chief engineer explains, is just a house design that creates minor inconvenience for utility workers, because for inspection it is necessary to get into the apartment. But the owner of the property is responsible for the condition of the apartment wiring and other electrical equipment in the apartment (switches, sockets, etc.). Any modernization of equipment is a paid household service, for example, installation of an RCD (residual current device, etc.).

— If something happens to the wiring in your apartment, you can contact service 115 or directly to the housing office with a request for paid household services. The payment amount can be included in the notification invoice, or the consumer can pay it at the cash desk (to the company’s bank account). We always explain to residents that it is better to contact us if something happens, because we give a guarantee on our work, which will be valid even if the person has not saved the order-contract. The control room records all requests, and we can always track the deadlines for completing a particular job. By the way, our masters also monitor the fulfillment of requests. If it was submitted, but not fulfilled for some reason, then this is a reason for further proceedings. The master checks: calls or personally visits the applicant. If the work was performed poorly, we fix it under warranty,” says Alexander MELYUK.

The service organization is obliged to install a separate meter for the elevator if for some reason it is not available.

In addition to apartments and staircases, electrical equipment is located in the basements of houses (or other auxiliary rooms of the house, for example, in the so-called strollers). Electrical control rooms contain meters that calculate the electricity in common areas and consumed by elevators.

For the information of operating organizations : if induction meters are installed in public areas, you can enter into an agreement with Energosbyt for their repair and replacement. But in this case, the meters are the common shared property of the residents, so the Housing Office is obliged to monitor their condition. There is another option - to transfer them into the ownership of Energosbyt. To do this, it is necessary to provide a number of documents, as well as obtain the consent of the residents.

The photo shows meters that calculate electricity in common areas and rented premises.

By the way, a legal entity renting premises in a residential building can connect from the building’s input device and install an electric meter (in its premises), which will take into account the electricity consumed only by its organization.

There is also a meter that takes into account the electricity consumption of all apartments in the house; it is needed in order to compare data, calculate where losses occur, etc. All this is also common shared property, from the input device (in the photo there are two large gray boxes). This is the boundary between the operating and energy supply organization. The power supply organization is responsible for the condition and maintenance of the connections of the input device.

By the way, in order to save on electricity at the entrance , you can contact the housing office with a request to include your house in the energy saving program plan for the subsequent equipping of lamps with noise sensors. Inspection and inclusion of houses in the plan is carried out by specialists of the operating organization and is based on the principles of cost savings in a particular house based on the amount of electricity consumed. It is also possible to equip entrances with such sensors upon application to the housing office through paid household services.

Anna DYAKOVA, photo by the author

02 Dec 2018

ADD A COMMENT

Comments +5 Denis 04/24/2019 14:58 Good day, please explain again, in floor electrical panels, the replacement of non-working incoming apartment and outgoing machines is carried out at whose expense?

-6 admin 04/24/2019 15:49 According to the Instructions on the procedure for planning, carrying out and financing the current repair of housing stock, the list of types of work for the current repair of a residential building, the sources of financing of which are local budget funds, as well as other sources of financing not prohibited by law, includes : replacement of switches, fuses, automatic and batch switches on house input distribution devices and switchboards, in floor electrical distribution panels; repair of electrical distribution panels, cabinets, boxes with household equipment; installation, replacement of automatic lighting control systems.

0 Oleg Mingalev 05/10/2019 06:06 Own house, you need to replace the switch, but strips of tape were stuck on the switch cover, what should I do?

0 admin 05/10/2019 09:10 What do they say in energy sales?

+2 Vasily 10/18/2019 04:47 Hello. If the electricity meter, which is located on the staircase, suddenly breaks down, but I didn’t see it, because I don’t live at home and only the refrigerator works there, who and how will be responsible for this?

+2 admin 10/18/2019 08:27 Hello. Owner (tenant) of residential premises

-1 Vitaly 10/31/2019 09:57 Hello, I’ll start from the beginning, I moved into a private house in 2021, replaced the meter, switches. I called a private electrician, he installed and connected it all, then I called a representative of Energosbyt, she sealed it, and I used it all this time , spoiled it and didn’t bother. the other day they came from Energosbyt and said the connection was incorrect, they drew up a report, now they’re calling me to court, and a fine of about 40 thousand rubles, How can I protect myself and what documents to collect, thank you,

-1 admin 10/31/2019 11:05 40 thousand rubles?

+1 Vitaly 10/31/2019 16:56 23 tr. on receipt and 15 administrative fine

+2 Alesya 06.11.2019 13:24 Good afternoon! Two years ago, a major renovation was carried out in the house, the old electricity meters were removed and they were told that the purchase of new meters would be at the expense of the apartment owner. But in other houses, where there was also a cap. repairs, electricity meters were replaced free of charge, i.e. the old ones were removed and new ones were installed. Is it legal for apartment owners to buy electricity meters at their own expense?

-2 admin 06.11.2019 14:23 Hello. When carrying out major repairs of apartment buildings, the replacement and repair of individual meters for the consumption of water, heat and electricity, gas (including those located in auxiliary premises, that is, in vestibules and staircases) are carried out by homeowners at their own expense. (Article 97 Housing Code of the Republic of Belarus.)

-1 Alexander 02.12.2019 20:26 “The panel is the common property of all residents of the house up to the distribution box, but its maintenance is carried out by the housing and communal services department. Specialists perform replacements in case of failure of any mechanism, as well as scheduled inspections once a year;” Minsk. In reality, in our (apartment) building (we belong to the housing unit) there are no scheduled inspections either once a year or even once every 10 years. After reading this article for the first time, I learned that inspections should be carried out annually, although I knew that they should be periodically. About 10 years ago, I don’t remember exactly when, I sent a complaint either to the district administration or the housing and communal services of the district that apartment electrical panels in the vestibules were not inspected, the answer came (the letter with the answer seems to still be at home, I haven’t looked for it), the answer said that they say everything is being inspected and it is checked, but this is a deception, nothing has been checked yet, and has not been checked... After my complaint, they sent a Zhesov employee who begged him to sign a piece of paper saying that the electrical panel had been inspected...

0 Alexey 12.12.2019 13:37 Hello. The house is undergoing major renovations. Yesterday, after turning on the power, household appliances burned out for several residents of the building. Tell me the procedure to get a refund.

-1 admin 12/12/2019 1:57 pm Hello. The procedure for considering consumer claims in connection with the failure to provide housing and communal services or the provision of housing and communal services with deficiencies is prescribed in Art. 20 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated July 16, 2008 No. 405-Z “On the protection of the rights of consumers of housing and communal services” (hereinafter referred to as Law No. 405-Z). 1. Contact the emergency dispatch service and service 115 2. The worker who arrived at the scene of the accident establishes the existence and reasons for the non-provision of housing and communal services or the provision of housing and communal services with deficiencies, draws up a claim report and, if technically possible, with the consent of the consumer, immediately provides provision of housing and communal services or elimination of its shortcomings. 3. In the event of a violation of the rights of a consumer of housing and communal services, the contractor shall compensate for the losses caused, harm and pay the penalty provided for by the legislation on the protection of consumer rights and (or) the contract, unless he proves that the violation of the consumer’s rights was not his fault. Compensation for losses and harm caused to the consumer through the fault of the contractor is made by the contractor in full, including additional expenses, unless otherwise established by legislative acts.

+2 jobpatch 08/26/2020 19:59 Good afternoon, I replaced the machines in the control panel; there were 3 machines for 25,16,16.. - They were replaced by a private organization with newer ones of appropriate power. I plan to additionally conduct wiring to loggia 16A. In the bathroom 16A - washing machine, 25A - instantaneous water heater (for the season when hot water is turned off) ... Where do they go to carry out this work, and are special permits required? - describe the procedure.

0 Admin 08/27/2020 10:03 Hello. To carry out the specified work, you can contact a service organization or a specialist licensed to perform this type of work. No special permissions required

0 Denis Belyachits 08.28.2020 16:18 Hello, I live in a village, in an apartment building (2 floors, 8 apartments, common entrance, with stove heating, electric meters are in the apartments, built in 64) I decided to switch to electric heating, technical conditions and received permission for reconstruction. The technical specifications say that I should install a separate electric meter in the ShVU on a support. When asked to change those. They refused to provide me with the conditions to install a meter in my apartment or on the landing, without citing any legal acts. Tell me, on the basis of what legal acts did they refuse me? and in general, in this situation, do I have the right to change those. conditions? I’ll emphasize once again that I have an apartment building with a common entrance and yard. If you answer, thank you very much :)

+1 Admin 09/01/2020 08:24 Hello. Outside the house, electricity metering facilities are located, as a general rule, in relation to single-apartment, blocked-off residential buildings. The house you describe is not semi-detached or single-family. Thus, formally, a refusal to change technical conditions does not comply with the law. However, there may be some technical obstacles to placing the meter in an apartment or on a landing, related to the design features of the house itself and the electrical networks. Therefore, we recommend that you submit a written application asking for clarification of why the meter cannot be placed in the apartment or on the landing.

0 Denis Belyachits 09/01/2020 15:27 Quoting Admin:

However, there may be some technical obstacles to placing the meter in an apartment or on a landing, related to the design features of the house itself and the electrical networks.

there are no obstacles!
I called again today about this issue, they operate with the concept of “balance sheet ownership limit.” if it is really located outside the apartment building, what to do with it? can I operate with this document” of the Electricity Supply Rules, approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers of October 17, 2011 No. 1394, paragraph 137-139, where it is written that common household and individual metering equipment must be located inside the building? Update list of comments

Who is entitled to a free replacement of the electric meter?

All costs related to metering devices are borne by the owners of residential premises, and in some cases, by the management company. Free replacement of an electric meter is provided in extremely rare cases:

A state program is being implemented to install new meters with radically new technical and operational parameters (the old meter is out of current requirements). The state intends to change the current rules for accounting for electricity consumption;
the state is transitioning to a differentiated (multi-tariff) payment regime for consumed electricity;
installation (replacement) of a faulty meter occurs in a multi-apartment residential building that is municipal property.

Replacement of the electric meter from July 1, 2021 - at whose expense will smart meters be installed?

From July 1, a new generation of electricity meters and an “intelligent electricity metering system” will be introduced in the Russian Federation.
This means that so-called “smart meters” will be installed everywhere, which in the future are planned to be used in metering water and gas consumption. Consumers are actively interested in how the electric meter will be replaced from July 1, 2021, and at whose expense they will install “smart” devices instead of conventional ones. Obviously, this situation is affected by the experience of 2012, when all owners were ordered to replace their electricity meters with new ones at their own expense. However, smart meters, according to the law, should not cost consumers anything. Read more about who will pay for the replacement of the electric meter.

Replacement procedure

The meter replacement procedure is mandatory for all consumers. When replacing an electric meter, users must carefully follow the following procedure:

Contacting the energy supply company with a statement about the need to replace equipment.
If the user has provided compelling reasons for the replacement, he will receive permission to replace it, and a special certificate, without which he will not be able to purchase a paid metering device.
Visit the management company and obtain permission to remove the sealing. The procedure will be carried out under the supervision of an authorized representative of the management company.
Visiting a retail outlet and purchasing an electric meter that meets all the standards and requirements established at the legislative level for use in residential premises. You only need to buy a device that has a quality certificate.
Reinstallation of equipment. You can do this yourself, or you will have to wait for a specialist from the management company (HOA) or electricity supplier to arrive. Note that the main requirement for an electrician replacing a device is the presence of electrical safety group 3.
The old meter is dismantled and stored for a certain period of time. This is necessary for a specialist to check its performance at the time of dismantling and placing a new device on the balance sheet.
A new metering device is installed and connected to the network.
Calling the controller to check the equipment and seal it. Routine verification of new equipment and a note of current readings to establish how much the user will need to pay for the light.

Beware, scammers!

Not everyone understands the meaning and order of innovations. And scammers take advantage of this. They try to impose paid services on apartment owners.

Now the service organization notifies the owners in writing about the need to replace the old electric meter, which has reached the end of its service life, with a new one.

It’s easy to buy a database of owners with electric meter data on the Internet. Fraudsters call clients by manipulating laws. The main goal of scammers is to force the owner to change the device at his own expense.

They often go around apartments and, using intimidation with large fines, force them to change a working electric meter. Draw up a contract for the sale of an electric meter and services for its replacement. They take money. To install the seal, it is recommended to contact the energy sales service.

Remember: changing electricity meters is now required free of charge. If you are offered to buy a device and demand money, it means they are scammers.

It is impossible to sue for unauthorized actions of a third party. The owner signs contracts and pays for purchased equipment and services voluntarily.

If the owner is forced to provide a service to replace the electric meter, you need to call the organization and find out whether specialists have been sent to your address.

Time frame for replacing an electric meter in an apartment building

The owner of an apartment in an apartment building is obliged to monitor the date when the service life of the electric meter ends. As soon as a certain time remains before the end of the service life, it is necessary to notify the electricity supplier and the management company.

In response to the request, a technical service specialist will be sent to replace the meter in the apartment building. This will be done within 10 days from the date of receipt of the application.

We must warn you that you should not ignore the need to replace equipment. This entails a substantial fine for the payer, as well as other measures, in particular, the user will be recalculated electricity consumption for 3 years at the maximum possible tariff. The state forces its subjects to replace meters in a timely manner, and implements such a mechanism as a forced procedure for replacing the meter.

If the user discovers that the meter has broken down and is now faulty (the device has mechanical damage, the seal has been torn or damaged, the equipment does not display data, or the meter has simply burned out), he is obliged to report the problems to the management company or the supplier, and no longer than 10 days in advance the equipment will be replaced.

Rules and terms

When replacing an electric meter, there are strict rules that must be followed.

If the replacement procedure is violated and the sealing is violated, you can receive a significant fine , and the paid energy may also be re-accounted for at the maximum tariff for the last 3 years.

If you contact the energy supply company accordingly, it to send an electrician within 10 days

Electricity meters whose service life, according to their passport data, has expired must be replaced. Outdated metering devices are also being replaced.

If it's broken

If the electric energy meter is out of order, then under no circumstances should you try to repair it yourself, since the seals of the device manufacturer and the regulatory organization will be broken, which entails penalties.

If a malfunction is detected, the owner or other subscriber must contact the energy supply company and take the following actions:

Write an application for a specialist to visit you, indicating your home address and signs of damage.
Find out the arrival time of the specialist from the dispatcher by phone.
Wait for a specialist who will check the sealing and technical condition of the device.
If necessary, the electric meter should be replaced.

Find out about the rules for using residential premises and common property in apartment buildings from our article.

Can I replace it myself?

Is it possible to replace the electric meter yourself? Theoretically, you can replace the electric meter yourself or with the help of a familiar specialist.

With such a replacement, official permission from the energy supply company must be obtained, and the sealing of the old meter must be removed in the presence of a specialist from the management company.

When replacing yourself, you must strictly follow technical safety rules.

Electric meter replacement notice: law

A notice to replace the electric meter will be sent to the owner if the initiative belongs to the management company or representatives of the electrical resource supplier. As a rule, specialists monitor the maximum permissible service life of equipment, and as soon as the period comes to an end, they send notifications to the owners about the upcoming replacement.

The document indicates the reason why a replacement is needed, and also instructs the owner (tenant) to purchase a new metering device and pay for the services of an electrician to install it. As soon as the owner buys a meter, he is obliged to write an application for installation to the management company or to the supplier, or to install it himself.

Please note that in the first two cases, a specialist will come within 10 days and make a replacement. If you are installing electrical equipment yourself, a professional electrician will be needed to draw up a report, seal the meter and connect it to the network.

Should I change the meter or wait for a replacement according to the law?

If before July 1, 2021, the meter breaks down or its service life expires, the owner decides whether to change it or wait for a replacement by resource specialists. It should be noted that “smart meters”, among other things, are equipped with the function of completely or partially shutting off the energy supply to a specific consumer in the event of debt formation.

In the absence of a metering device, payment for consumed resources is made in the manner described by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of 05/06/2011. taking into account the norms of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1498 of December 26, 2016. For the first three months, the calculation is based on average consumption, then according to the standards established in the constituent entity of the Russian Federation. In this case, it is possible to use a coefficient of 1.5 in the following cases:

refusal to install if technically possible;
lack of timely replacement of a faulty device;
inadmissibility for inspection 2 or more times;
refusal to restore within three months if the service life expired more than three months ago.

Who should maintain technical electricity meters?

The right to install and replace electrical equipment belongs exclusively to accredited specialists of management companies, as well as the organization of the electricity supplier. They have special permission to carry out any work related to the operation of the electric meter.

Even if the owner intends to replace the meter himself, he cannot do it without a professional electrician. Only an authorized specialist is involved in operations such as putting the device into operation and connecting to the network. The specialist’s responsibilities will also include checking the correctness and safety of the installation and sealing the device.

When replacing old equipment with new one, a special report is drawn up, which will indicate the data of the metering device. This is necessary in order to determine the exact readings of resource consumption at the time the new meter is launched.

Procedure

The procedure for replacing an electricity meter has a clear sequence and occurs in several stages.

First you need to fill out an application and call a specialist from the service company. After this, the old device is dismantled and a new device is installed. Then a seal is installed on the meter. At the end, a certificate of replacement of the device is drawn up.

Call a specialist

To initiate the procedure, the owner must contact the company that supplies electricity. To do this you need to fill out an application.

The text of the appeal states the following:

Name, address of the service company and details of its manager.
Information about the initiator - last name, first name, patronymic, place of residence, contact phone number, date, month, year of issue, as well as series and passport number, email, if available.
Reasons for replacing the device.
Presented technical requirements.
Installation address.
List of attached documentation.
Date of application and signature of the initiator.

When appearing, a person must have with him an identification document, as well as confirmation of the legality of ownership of housing - a certificate of ownership or inheritance, a contract of sale, gift, exchange. The initiator will also have to pay for the work and provide a receipt for the payment of funds.

In practice, the initiator delivers the information package independently. However, the use of a legal representative is permitted. The latter will be required to have a power of attorney in hand, which confirms his authority to complete the transaction. Subsequently, an agreement is concluded between the initiator and the service company to replace the meter. Based on such a document, the parties determine the date for completion of the work.

Installation of the device

At the appointed time, a specialist from the service company must appear at the address where the equipment is installed. He must have a certificate with him, as well as a document confirming the right to carry out this type of work, since the cost of electricity meters is quite high.

The device must be changed using special tools that meet all safety requirements. To begin with, all electricity is turned off and the old meter is dismantled. After this, a new one is installed. Upon completion of the work, the specialist must start it. This is done to ensure that the device is functioning properly.

Sealing

After the device has been installed, it must be sealed.

This is necessary to prevent unauthorized interference in the operation of the meter with the aim of falsifying readings. Only a specialist from the service company can install the seal. This service is provided free of charge. This rule is established by paragraph 8 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 4, 2012 No. 442 “On the functioning of retail electricity markets, complete and (or) partial restrictions on the consumption of electrical energy.”

Drawing up an act

At the end of the procedure, a certificate of replacement of the electric meter is drawn up. The text of the document must indicate:

Date and place of registration.
Information about the parties to the transaction - the name of the service company, last name, first name, patronymic of the initiator, addresses of both participants. The details and position of the specialist who performed the replacement are also indicated here.
Place of installation of the device.
Technical characteristics of old and new meters.
The quality of the work performed.
Functionality check.
The moment the meter is put into operation.
Number of the installed seal.
The customer’s agreement with the indications and performance of the device, as well as responsibility for its safety and integrity.
Number of copies of the act.
Signatures of the parties.

As a rule, the act is drawn up in two copies, one for each participant in the transaction and certified by the seal of the service company.

Which meter is considered “smart”

As Rosstandart told RG, a smart meter must be able to transmit data on the volume of electricity consumption and its quality, the amount of losses in the network section from the point of measurement to the point of delivery, as well as “protect” this data. Consumers should be provided with free access to information via the Internet. However, the final minimum set of counter functions has not yet been determined.

The functionality of metering devices can be very broad, including controlling household electrical appliances through them, notes Natalya Nevmerzhitskaya, chairman of the board of the association. But such options are quite expensive. Requirements for universally installed meters should not be excessive, in her opinion, so that supplier companies do not incur unnecessary costs.

For example, in private houses it makes sense to install meters that count electricity in both directions - in case the owner of the house, say, buys solar panels and engages in microgeneration. For apartment buildings, this meter function will be clearly superfluous. But for now it is proposed to establish uniform requirements for devices both in high-rise buildings and in the private sector.

A new meter will be installed if the previous one is broken or outdated

“And although manufacturers say that the cost of these meters differs by 30 rubles, we see that on the market they are sold with a price difference of up to 2 thousand rubles,” says Nevmerzhitskaya.

Advantages of smart electric meters

The introduction of new rules for the replacement and installation of smart electricity meters in Moscow is associated with many advantages of these devices:

High class of data acquisition accuracy.
Endurance to heavy loads.
The ability to pay exclusively for the energy actually used, without overpaying due to errors.
Dishonest citizens will not be able to deceive instruments by artificially reducing their readings using technical devices.
If necessary, it will be possible to select the optimal payment system for the service.
Data transfer will be carried out monthly without the participation of the homeowner, automatically.

Thus, replacing electricity meters in Moscow will allow Mosenergosbyt to timely and fully receive all the information necessary for processing. At the same time, these measures will allow the state to save on labor costs by eliminating monthly rounds of apartments to take readings.

Provisions of the law on smart meters

Innovations of Federal Law-422:

a new concept “intelligent accounting system” has appeared in the legislation, which means “automated”, “fully independent”, “working remotely”;
a gradual transition to the use of new generation devices that provide recording and independent transmission of readings is envisaged;
the costs of switching to a new accounting system are borne by resource supply organizations (guaranteed suppliers and energy supply companies). Moreover, it is not allowed to include them in the tariff;
Meters are replaced as they become worn out in the event of a breakdown or expiration of their service life. Premises and buildings put into operation from July 1 must already be equipped with new devices.

Thus, the announced free replacement of electricity meters from July 1, 2021 will be free in the full sense of the word. Resource providers will not be able to compensate for their replacement costs through the tariff; this is expressly stated in Federal Law-422. However, experts are confident that they will always have the opportunity to pass on the financial costs of devices to the consumer.

Where else can I go to replace my electricity meter?

In an attempt to save money, consumers often try to find ways to replace electric power. counter in Moscow through intermediaries. There are many companies that are ready to perform this procedure. The list of the most popular ones includes “ZhKH-Service”, “MosOblEIRTS”, “10 Kilovolt”. In the offices of these companies they will tell you in detail how to change the electric meter, what is needed for this and how much it costs. You can also familiarize yourself with the rating of companies that install electricity meters.

Remember that if you search on your own, you risk encountering scammers.

Sources

https://pravo.estate/kvartira/zhkh/zamena-elektroscetcika/
https://StrojDvor.ru/elektrosnabzhenie/kto-dolzhen-oplachivat-zamenu-schetchika-elektroenergii-v-kvartire-i-dome/
https://poverka-elektroschetchikov.ru/zamena-v-moskve/
https://J.Etagi.com/ps/kto-dolzhen-menyat-ehlektroschetchik-v-kvartire-sobstvennika/
https://rg.ru/2020/03/13/letom-zhiteli-perestanut-platit-za-zamenu-elektroschetchikov.html
https://zakon-navigator.ru/zamena-jelektroschetchika-s-1-ijulja-2020-godu-za-chej-schet-budut-stavit-umnye-schetchiki/

Replacement of equipment at the initiative of the enterprise

In certain situations, the initiative to install new PAs comes from the energy supplier.
In such a situation, apartment/house owners receive notifications. The document indicates the timing of the visit by the electrician team, as well as the conditions for carrying out the work. Property owners are required to cooperate with the company. Hint: the exchange of instruments occurs due to the end of the verification period. Not allowing the crew into the apartment will lead to a recalculation. Equipment is not always changed at the expense of the owner. For example, from July 2021, some large cities will be installing new types of devices. They will be purchased by local authorities and installed free of charge. The government plans to transfer the entire housing stock to a new type of device within several years that will allow more accurate monitoring of the volume of electricity use.

When will they change it?

From July 2021, according to the law on the electricity sector, the costs of purchasing and installing electricity meters will be transferred from citizens to energy workers. Devices will not be changed at once, but as needed - if the meter is out of order, its service life or verification period has expired, or it is simply missing.

At the same time, the resident himself may find out about the replacement of the device after the fact - if the meter is freely accessible, for example, on the staircase, then, apparently, they will not even disturb him with notices about the need to install a new energy meter. At the same time, according to the Association of Guaranteed Suppliers and Energy Sales Companies, it would be more correct to change electricity meters in all apartments of high-rise buildings at once - companies could save on electrician services.

Subsequently, after 16 years, it will be enough to check the “smart” meter (this will also fall on the shoulders of power engineers), and not change it. Starting from 2022, power engineers will be required to install only “smart” metering systems, and new buildings will be equipped with them starting from 2021.

In 2023, it is expected to introduce fines for suppliers and network organizations if they installed an outdated meter or did not provide a resident with access to its “smart” functions. As the supplier association clarifies, a violation will be considered if the company does not replace an outdated or faulty meter. And if its verification period or service life has not yet expired, there is nothing to fine for.