Just got home from a week at Noosa and see these things on my
meter box and inside a whole lot of disturbances.
No notice, no explanations no entry permissions. Seems that a
trip away can have consequences !
B
Whenarewethere said
09:10 AM Oct 12, 2023
Get a padlock (or door lock) from a locksmith which is keyed for NMB (Network Main Board) & another key profiled for you to access.
People who read meters all have a NMB key.
Kebbin said
10:15 AM Oct 12, 2023
They may have such a key but they will not open a padlock on a residential property it will be a estimate and estimates are always in favour of the distributor.
Another thing is how do you get access for the Electrician doing work for you?
Whenarewethere said
10:27 AM Oct 12, 2023
We have a MNB lock on our meter room (it is also access to the foundations) as pretty much all blocks of units.
Most electricians have a NMB key & plumbers for that matter. I actually have one myself.
They are very common. You really are only stopping the idiot opportunist from doing damage.
deverall11 said
11:25 AM Oct 12, 2023
Another solution I saw is a 'port hole'. Meter can still be read with no need to open
the meter box. Obviously not suitable if there is a genuine reason to get in the meter box.
Whenarewethere said
12:20 PM Oct 12, 2023
If you do put a window in the box & lock it, still only lock with a NMB key.
At a guess I'd say your meters have been changed to smart meters, so that your energy provider can read your meters remotely.
Kebbin said
01:40 PM Oct 12, 2023
I wouldn't go bragging about having such a key as it more then likely a restricted item and as such illegal for anyone outside of certain people to hold one. So model train Architect might not be a authorised holder of said key.
Onedodger said
01:42 PM Oct 12, 2023
We are with AGL and yesterday a Teck came to our house and upgraded the meter so that it can be read wirelessly. As it was before however it communicated using 3G and is now 5g capable.
So I assume that this is what happened to Brodie.
Cassie63 said
07:55 AM Oct 13, 2023
AGL tried to upgrade my meter told them no thanks, still had old meter.
Whenarewethere said
08:46 AM Oct 13, 2023
Our block of Units, we did a major electrical upgrade, part of which was changing all the meters in 2016 from our 1950s installation.
After 2016 we would have needed approval to change the meters from each retailer. Which was all handled by the wholesaler on behalf of the retailers up till then.
NSW government changed the system to allow more "flexibility" for better deals. A whole lot more paperwork & thus expense which we did not want.
Since 2016 the meter board has turned into a dog's breakfast with all types of meter replacements due to all the new retail suppliers wanting their own meter. Some Unit's meters I have seen replaced multiple times due to each new tenants using different electricity retailers.
Also the installers forgetting to label meters with their respective Unit number, which is a requirement.
Aus-Kiwi said
02:29 PM Oct 19, 2023
Kebbin wrote:
I wouldn't go bragging about having such a key as it more then likely a restricted item and as such illegal for anyone outside of certain people to hold one. So model train Architect might not be a authorised holder of said key.
Home owners are able to have one . The local elect authority can access your board at any time . They own the meters .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Thursday 19th of October 2023 02:31:42 PM
Bicyclecamper said
03:57 PM Oct 19, 2023
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Kebbin wrote:
I wouldn't go bragging about having such a key as it more then likely a restricted item and as such illegal for anyone outside of certain people to hold one. So model train Architect might not be a authorised holder of said key.
Home owners are able to have one . The local elect authority can access your board at any time . They own the meters .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Thursday 19th of October 2023 02:31:42 PM
I have 2 of them, one for the front gate, and one for the meter, the ones you get only fit your locks, you don't get a master key, like the electrician or meter reader has.
JayDee said
07:30 AM Oct 20, 2023
We are with Origin Energy here in Logan and they sent a letter stating that they would be upgrading our meter system. I am guessing that the thing on top of the box is wireless or wifi so that we will not have our meter read physically.
I am waiting for our next bill as I do not know how they will now read our solar input.
Nothing is more constant than change.
modern technology, there is no stopping it.
Jay&Dee
Kebbin said
10:47 AM Oct 20, 2023
I was responding to Whenarewethere who I think suggested that he had a key the same as the Electricians & Plumbers use, that type of key would be a Master Key?
Whenarewethere said
11:17 AM Oct 20, 2023
This is the key residents get for NMB locks. The locksmith said all the locks are the same.
When we had all the windows in our block of units replaced. The installers gave us a bag of keys. I asked which keys, about 100 windows, are for which unit as they were unlabelled. They said they are all the same like every window installed around Australia.
A few years later I replaced an aluminium security door. Both old & new door, & windows all use the same key.
Just got home from a week at Noosa and see these things on my
meter box and inside a whole lot of disturbances.
No notice, no explanations no entry permissions. Seems that a
trip away can have consequences !
B
Get a padlock (or door lock) from a locksmith which is keyed for NMB (Network Main Board) & another key profiled for you to access.
People who read meters all have a NMB key.
Another thing is how do you get access for the Electrician doing work for you?
We have a MNB lock on our meter room (it is also access to the foundations) as pretty much all blocks of units.
Most electricians have a NMB key & plumbers for that matter. I actually have one myself.
They are very common. You really are only stopping the idiot opportunist from doing damage.
the meter box. Obviously not suitable if there is a genuine reason to get in the meter box.
If you do put a window in the box & lock it, still only lock with a NMB key.
Photo of NMB key attached.
I wouldn't go bragging about having such a key as it more then likely a restricted item and as such illegal for anyone outside of certain people to hold one. So model train Architect might not be a authorised holder of said key.
We are with AGL and yesterday a Teck came to our house and upgraded the meter so that it can be read wirelessly. As it was before however it communicated using 3G and is now 5g capable.
So I assume that this is what happened to Brodie.
Our block of Units, we did a major electrical upgrade, part of which was changing all the meters in 2016 from our 1950s installation.
After 2016 we would have needed approval to change the meters from each retailer. Which was all handled by the wholesaler on behalf of the retailers up till then.
NSW government changed the system to allow more "flexibility" for better deals. A whole lot more paperwork & thus expense which we did not want.
Since 2016 the meter board has turned into a dog's breakfast with all types of meter replacements due to all the new retail suppliers wanting their own meter. Some Unit's meters I have seen replaced multiple times due to each new tenants using different electricity retailers.
Also the installers forgetting to label meters with their respective Unit number, which is a requirement.
Home owners are able to have one . The local elect authority can access your board at any time . They own the meters .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Thursday 19th of October 2023 02:31:42 PM
I have 2 of them, one for the front gate, and one for the meter, the ones you get only fit your locks, you don't get a master key, like the electrician or meter reader has.
I am waiting for our next bill as I do not know how they will now read our solar input.
Nothing is more constant than change.
modern technology, there is no stopping it.
Jay&Dee
This is the key residents get for NMB locks. The locksmith said all the locks are the same.
When we had all the windows in our block of units replaced. The installers gave us a bag of keys. I asked which keys, about 100 windows, are for which unit as they were unlabelled. They said they are all the same like every window installed around Australia.
A few years later I replaced an aluminium security door. Both old & new door, & windows all use the same key.
I wouldn't be surprised if caravans all had the same key.
Years ago, I was collecting the mail from the post office for work, reading the addressees on the envelopes, not focusing on the car as such.
Unlocked my white Toyota company car. Got in & started, was a bit unsettled, looked around, my briefcase was missing & the car didn't feel right.
Caught a glimpse of a white Toyota in the rearview mirror. Then it hit me, that was my car.
Felt completely guilty, quickly got out of the car, locked it & got in my car.