Are landlords required by state law to label apartment electricity meters?
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Are landlords required by state law to label apartment electricity meters?
I am living in an apartment building and the electricity meters are not labeled they just have serial numbers. The electric company says the landlord is responsible for labeling the meter for which apartments they belong to. By law are the landlords responsible and is the law they have to label the meters? I have been paying ridiculous electric bills but they are charging my bill to a meter they don’t even know is the right apartment.
Asked on October 29, 2010 under Real Estate Law, North Carolina
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Is the labeling for your benefit because the serial numbers should be linked to the apartment for which they are used. Who told you that "they don't even know which is the right apartment?" and who is they? The electric company? If you have doubts as to which meter is which then I would call and have the electric company come down and trace the electric meters to the appropriate apartments. although they are telling you that the landlord has to label them - and so will probably tell you that the landlord has to pay for an electrician to come down and do it - tell them you fear that there is electric being stolen and that you need to verify your meter. That will get them own there. Otherwise, see if you can challenge the landlord in landlord tenant court to do it. Good luck.
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