Short answer
A cracked service entrance cable is not a homeowner repair, and no tape or patch will pass an inspection. That cable stays live on the utility side even with your main breaker off, so leave it alone and call a licensed electrician. The electrician pulls a permit, replaces the cable, and a building inspector signs the work off. Only then does the utility reinstall your meter and turn the power back on.
Work out what has to be replaced before you call
- Stay on the ground and take photos. Never touch the cable, the mast or the meter socket, even with the main breaker off.
- Check whether the meter is still in the socket. An empty socket means the utility has already cut you off and is waiting on an inspection.
- Follow the gray cable from the weatherhead down to the meter. Note every crack, split and taped section.
- Look for bare copper or aluminium showing through the jacket. That is the line between a planned repair and an emergency call.
- Check the meter socket for rust, scorch marks or a burnt smell. Any of the three means the socket gets replaced with the cable.
- Stand back and look at where the mast meets the wall or roof. A leaning mast pulls the cable apart at the fittings.
- Look at the hole where the cable enters the siding. An open penetration lets water into the wall cavity.
If the jacket is cracked and no conductor shows, you need the cable replaced. If bare conductor shows, if the socket is scorched, or if the meter is already gone, you need the full service entrance replaced. Either way the next call is a licensed electrician, not a handyman. This is mains electricity on the supply side of your main breaker, so hire for every item on this page.
Repair or replace
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Jacket cracked, no conductor showing, service under about 15 years | Replace the cable. Keep the meter socket and mast if the electrician finds them sound. |
| Bare conductor visible, or scorch marks at the socket | Replace the cable and the meter socket together. Treat it as urgent. |
| Meter socket rusted through, or the mast bent or loose | Replace the whole service entrance: mast, socket, cable and grounding. |
| Cable sound, only the wall penetration is open | Seal the penetration and remount the backing board. No cable work needed. |
| Meter already pulled by the utility | Hire a licensed electrician who pulls the permit. The utility will not reconnect without an inspection pass. |
What it costs
Runhome contractor estimates for this job, including the trip and assessment. Permit and inspection fees are set by your city and are billed on top.
| Option | Range |
|---|---|
| Seal the wall penetration and remount the meter board, cable sound | $285 to $630 |
| Replace the service entrance cable, with meter socket and mast fittings | $585 to $1,230 |
Can I do it myself?
No. There is no homeowner version of this job. The service entrance cable is energized from the utility side after your main breaker is off, so a mistake here is a fatal one rather than a blown fuse.
Hire a licensed electrician who will pull the permit in your name and meet the inspector on site. Utilities will not set a meter on unpermitted work, so a cash job leaves you with no power and a failed inspection.
What a contractor will ask you
Have these ready and you skip the back-and-forth.
- A wide photo of the cable coming down the wall into the meter, with the siding and meter location in frame.
- The age of the service, from the mast and meter socket down to where the cable enters the house.
- When the utility pulled the meter and what they told you to fix.
- Whether you want the cable only, or the meter socket and mast updated at the same time if the electrician recommends it.
- Whether bare conductor shows through any crack, cut or chew mark in the jacket.
- Your utility's name, because they schedule the reconnect after the inspection.
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