ASL
Your electric meter belongs to the utility, but the meter socket, the panel it is built into and the service equipment around it belong to you, and when they are damaged, corroded or outdated, replacing them is a job for a licensed electrician. ASL Electric replaces meter sockets, combination meter and main panels, and multifamily meter banks across Orange County, and coordinates every step with Southern California Edison or SDG&E.
Meter equipment problems usually show up as flickering lights, power loss on one side of the house, a burned or loose meter, rust and water damage, or a utility notice that the equipment must be repaired before they can restore or upgrade service. We handle the permit, the installation, the inspection and the utility coordination, so your power is restored as quickly and safely as possible.
Meter and service equipment we replace
⚡Meter socket replacement
Replacing a damaged, corroded or loose meter socket, the base the utility meter plugs into. Burned jaws or loose connections in the socket can cause heat, flicker and outages.
⚡Meter and main combination panels
Many Orange County homes have the meter and main breaker in one exterior panel. When it is old, rusted or failing, we replace the whole assembly, often together with a service upgrade.
⚡Service upgrades with a new meter section
Upgrading from 100A or less to 200A means a new meter and main section sized for EVs, heat pumps and modern kitchens.
⚡Apartment and condo meter banks
Multifamily buildings and HOAs often have a meter bank serving many units. We replace aging meter banks and coordinate the shutoff so residents are without power for as short a time as possible.
⚡Relocating meter equipment
Moving the meter and main panel during a remodel, addition or ADU project, when the existing location no longer works or does not meet clearance requirements.
⚡Storm and impact damage
Repairing service masts, meter sockets and panels damaged by weather, vehicles or construction, and getting service restored.
Signs your meter equipment needs attention
Call a licensed electrician if you see any of these at your meter or main panel:
- Rust, corrosion or water inside the meter enclosure
- Scorch marks or melted plastic at the meter
- A buzzing or crackling sound from the meter area
- Lights flickering or dimming throughout the house
- Power lost to half of the home
- A loose or tilted meter
- A utility notice requiring repairs to your equipment
- An old combination panel that is cracked or damaged
- A planned EV, heat pump or ADU that needs more capacity
- HOA or multifamily meter banks showing age or rust
Why meter socket problems are serious
The meter socket carries all of the power entering your home. A loose or corroded connection at that point can generate a great deal of heat, damage the socket and the meter, and cause voltage problems throughout the house. Because the equipment is energized up to the utility's connection, it is also dangerous to work on. Replacement requires a permit, an inspection release and utility coordination, which is exactly what a licensed electrical contractor handles.
Recent work by our electricians
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Real ASL Electric jobs in Orange County homes and businesses.
How meter replacement works
Assess and plan
We inspect the meter socket, main panel, service conductors and grounding, determine what needs replacement, and confirm whether a service upgrade makes sense at the same time.
Permit and utility coordination
We pull the permit with your city or the County of Orange and coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with SCE or SDG&E, depending on who serves your address.
Replace the equipment
We install the new meter socket or combination panel to current code and utility requirements, with correct grounding and bonding.
Inspection and reconnect
After the inspection is passed, the utility sets the meter and restores power. We test every circuit before we leave.
Meter replacement options
Socket replacement only
When the panel is sound but the socket is damaged or corroded.
Combination panel replacement
When the meter and main section is old or failing: replaces both at once.
Replacement with service upgrade
When you also need more capacity for EVs, heat pumps, an ADU or a remodel.
Meter bank replacement
For apartments, condos and HOAs with aging multi-meter equipment.
Who owns what at the meter
In general, the utility owns the meter itself and the service lines up to the point of connection, while the property owner owns the meter socket, the panel and the wiring inside the home. That is why the utility will often tell a homeowner that the socket or panel must be repaired by a licensed electrician before they can reinstall or upgrade the meter.
Most of Orange County is served by Southern California Edison. San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo are served by SDG&E, and some cities including Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach have both depending on the address. We work with both.
Meter banks for HOAs and apartments
In multifamily buildings, a meter bank or meter center houses meters for many units in one location, often with a main disconnect. As these age, corrosion, loose connections and failing components can affect many residents at once.
Replacing a meter bank requires careful planning: permits, utility coordination, and a shutoff schedule that minimizes the time residents are without power. We plan the work with the property manager or board, communicate the schedule and restore power as quickly as possible.
What affects the cost of meter replacement
The main factors are whether only the socket or the full meter and main panel needs replacement, whether you are upgrading the service size, the condition of the service conductors and grounding, whether the equipment must be relocated, the number of meters for multifamily meter banks, and permit and utility requirements. We provide a free estimate after inspecting the equipment.
How it works with ASL Electric
We inspect the meter equipment and give you an upfront price, including any upgrade options.
We pull the permit and coordinate the shutoff and reconnect with SCE or SDG&E.
We replace the equipment, pass the inspection, and the utility restores service. We test everything before we leave.
Electric Meter Replacement across Orange County
Many Orange County homes from the 1960s and 1970s, in Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, still have their original exterior meter and main panels. Decades of sun, and salt air near the coast, take a toll on these enclosures, and rusted or loose sockets are a common cause of flickering lights and partial power loss.
We also replace meter banks for condominium and apartment communities, HOAs and senior communities across the county, including in Laguna Woods. Whether your property is in SCE or SDG&E territory, incorporated or in an unincorporated area like Coto de Caza or Ladera Ranch, we handle the permit, the inspection and the utility coordination.