Georgia Gas Meter

[mattmann34]

I owe no money but couldn't wait 7 days for them to turn the gas back on so I cut the lock and turned it on myself...should I retain a lawyer or will they simply fine me; no damage was done to the meter. I can't find anything on how the gas company handles this situation.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

I owe no money but couldn't wait 7 days for them to turn the gas back on so I cut the lock and turned it on myself...should I retain a lawyer or will they simply fine me; no damage was done to the meter. I can't find anything on how the gas company handles this situation.

Was this a lock or a seal? What did you use to cut it off?

 

[Zigner]

Have "they" contacted you regarding this matter?

 

[mattmann34]

Was this a lock or a seal? What did you use to cut it off?

This was a barrel lock...I just used a dremmal and metal cutting bit

 

[mattmann34]

Have "they" contacted you regarding this matter?

No, they haven't come back out yet...a few more days

 

[Silverplum]

This was a barrel lock...I just used a dremmal and metal cutting bit

Why was it locked?

 

[mattmann34]

Why was it locked?

Yes it was locked

 

[mattmann34]

Why was it locked?

Apologies - it was locked due to late payment (oversight on my part - I was out of town for a few weeks and overlooked it).

 

[CSO286]

Why was it locked?

Yes it was locked

Re-read the question......

WHY was it locked?

 

[Silverplum]

Apologies - it was locked due to late payment (oversight on my part - I was out of town for a few weeks and overlooked it).

So you were late (months late) and it was locked. You paid up, and refused to wait the seven days to restore service, cutting their lock.

Is that the correct story?

 

[mattmann34]

So you were late (months late) and it was locked. You paid up, and refused to wait the seven days to restore service, cutting their lock.

Is that the correct story?

Yes, that is correct

 

[LeeHarveyBlotto]

When you say, "couldn't wait", do you really mean "didn't want to wait" or is there some actual life or death type of reason?

 

[Mass_Shyster]

I can't find anything on how the gas company handles this situation.

That's because they don't publish what they will do, otherwise people would abuse the system even more.

What they will do really depends on the gas company policies.

When the tech shows up to turn on the gas, he may simply scratch his head wondering why they sent him out to turn of the gas that was already on. Maybe he'll think to himself "Good thing nobody found out I forgot to turn off the gas". Maybe it's too much paperwork and he'll simply report that he turned on the gas.

On the other hand, maybe he gets a bonus for each person he catches tampering with the locks.

There's no way anyone here can predict what will happen.

 

[Zigner]

Or, maybe, they report this to the police.

http://law.onecle.com/georgia/16/16-7-22.html

OP could be looking at prison for 1-10 years.

 

[mattmann34]

That's because they don't publish what they will do, otherwise people would abuse the system even more.

What they will do really depends on the gas company policies.

When the tech shows up to turn on the gas, he may simply scratch his head wondering why they sent him out to turn of the gas that was already on. Maybe he'll think to himself "Good thing nobody found out I forgot to turn off the gas". Maybe it's too much paperwork and he'll simply report that he turned on the gas.

On the other hand, maybe he gets a bonus for each person he catches tampering with the locks.

There's no way anyone here can predict what will happen.

Yea - that's pretty much what I was thinking...don't think they'll put me in jail for a first offense misdemeanor - just thought I'd see if anyone here knew.

Thanks!