Yesterday, my neighbor was doing a bit of work near his roof, and I was concerned about how close he was working to his electrical service. This got me actually looking at his service, and the wires come in right next to, and touch, one of his metal downspouts.
Is this a code violation? I imagine if there’s a break in the insulation, that whole downspout is going to be electrified.
If so, are these typically homeowner solved issues, or does the power company have responsibility for ensuring the pole-to-meter wiring is safe?
It’s not up to current code. The overhead lines need to hit the house free of obstruction.
If it’s hitting the house(gutter in this case) it is the on the home owner. If it were hitting a tree in the yard or something there is some wiggle room as to who’s problem it is.
often the utility is responsible for the wiring to the point it enters your house (this would be a pipe or conduit at a high point or aerial service). call them see if they will remedy it at no cost.
whenever a person is working they should not be able to come in contact with the wires if they or the ladder fell. person or the ladder should be secured so this couldn’t happen. at least have a person holding the ladder (wood or fiberglass, not metal) and watching to tell the working person if they are moving dangerously close to the wires (if the person working has to look a different direction from the wires).