# Smart Meter Installation of How Did They Do That? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398 "2011-08-12T00:48:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hassler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@Hassler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hassler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/1 "2011-08-12T00:48:54Z")
Our area has gotten smart electricity meters recently. I’m wondering how they are able to install the meters in people’s backyards that have dogs. We have a friend that has four large dogs and they were able to change his meter out. Our two dogs are 80-90 lbs and would not let strangers in the yard (I know this from experience). How did they do that? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/2 "2011-08-12T00:58:06Z")
> [@Hassler](#): > > Our area has gotten smart electricity meters recently. I’m wondering how they are able to install the meters in people’s backyards that have dogs. We have a friend that has four large dogs and they were able to change his meter out. Our two dogs are 80-90 lbs and would not let strangers in the yard (I know this from experience). How did they do that? Simple they just turned off the power to their yard before they entered, thus shutting down those dogs while they worked, and flipped it on again when they left. Make sure your neighbor resets the dogs circadian clock if they don’t have a model with a battery backup. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/3 "2011-08-12T01:51:24Z")
Does the OP assume the workers walked into the yard, or did they repel down the wall? Ya never know. Think outside the proverbial box. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/4 "2011-08-12T01:54:37Z")
How did they read the meters every month before the switch? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/5 "2011-08-12T02:03:59Z")
My meter is outside my fenced backyard. If the meter is not in an area that is safely accessible they’ll leave a card and I have to phone in a reading. I am lazy and thus the meter is in an area that ensures this does not become my problem. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/6 "2011-08-12T02:11:36Z")
Maybe they have one of those suits that they use to train police/attack dogs? Pepper spray? Big juicy steaks seeded with Valium? But seriously, most dogs that aren’t trained guard/attack dogs will instinctively protect their humans, but won’t do a damn thing to protect property from a stranger that doesn’t show any fear or make any threatening moves. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/7 "2011-08-12T02:19:58Z")
Taser or animal tranq gun. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/8 "2011-08-12T03:33:52Z")
I’ve worked with political candidates who have carried a device in their pocket that when triggered, emits a high-frequency noise that is painful to dogs and makes them stay away. The workers could be using something like this. But more likely, if the dogs are threatening, the workers just go away, and have the office call you and say they will not return to fix it until you control your dogs. Postal carriers do this when dogs attack them – no mail delivery. Utility workers also do this – utilities shut off (or threatened shutoff). ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/9 "2011-08-12T06:25:41Z")
When I walk through a certain rough neighborhood here, I always pass by the same suspicious house. Many things about the house scream “gangster”: the shades are always drawn, the trim is red and white (local gang colors), the house itself is black, there’s two expensive vehicles sitting outside (in a neighborhood full of beat up work trucks and rusty Voyagers), there’s a privacy fence around the outside deck that Osama Bin Laden would be jealous of and to top it all off… The hydro meter is right outside, on the front left corner of the house. No disguised police officers sneaking around in that backyard! ---
**Author:** ![Hassler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@Hassler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hassler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/10 "2011-08-12T10:36:05Z")
The meters are all in the yard the the dogs can easily reach. I like the idea of repelling down one story high walls. Vallium-steaks/tranqs would probably upset too many people, although I’ve considered that for my own reasons. They are able to read the meters with binoculars from the alley, no need to access the yard. Maybe my canines are in on the NWO conspiracy to micromanage my kilowatt-hours? ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/11 "2011-08-12T14:07:52Z")
One of my survival jobs was landscaping. My boss was concerned about the dog at one place we were meeting. When he got there, I had the dog on his back blissfully accepting a belly rub. Where dog skills fail, there is mace. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/12 "2011-08-12T14:12:17Z")
> [@Hassler](#): > > Our area has gotten smart electricity meters recently. I’m wondering how they are able to install the meters in people’s backyards that have dogs. We have a friend that has four large dogs and they were able to change his meter out. Our two dogs are 80-90 lbs and would not let strangers in the yard (I know this from experience). How did they do that? They probably knocked on the front door and said, “Hello, we need to install a new meter in your yard. Could you please bring your dogs inside for a few minutes?” ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-meter-installation-of-how-did-they-do-that/592398/13 "2011-08-12T15:17:46Z")
Having worked with emergency power restoration crews in the past I had a first hand experience with two large Doberman breed dogs. They were quite vocal as I walked toward the fence but get somewhat playful when I jumped the fence. The lineman that I was working with asked me to distract the dogs while he repaired the dropped service, So I threw their toys or played tag with them. When the serviceman finished he quickly hopped the fence which caused the dogs to suddenly run to the edge of the fence where he stood. These dogs went from “cute puppy” mode to “evil beast from hell”. I casually strolled to the fence closest to me and as soon as they noticed my possible retreat they whipped around and came running after me. I barely made it over the fence with two sets of snapping teeth just inches away. Some dogs are like the Hotel California. You can check in but you can never leave.