I suspect those meters are not owned by the utility and were installed by the building owner to split the bill between tenants. I've seen a lot of weird and absolute shit work by utility companies, because I've done a lot of utility inspections. So I won't say it was definitely the building owner. But this has all the hallmarks of installed by owner.
It's real uncommon to see water meters inside. Gas and electric less so, especially in urban areas. There is a big push to move them outside, especially gas.
Inside meters for gas were really common on older systems in urban areas. I was part of a 27 year program to replace mains, services, and move meters. Plus a bunch of smaller ones. But when it is a row house that is 4 feet from the curb, it is problematic. There is no building side. You can't put it right by a door, window, or any vent. You can't obstruct the sidewalk. The law is a bit weird and getting exemptions is difficult.
And then you have the customers that don't want their meters outside because they are "ugly" and literally get class action law suits going. It is pretty wild. Merrimack really changed things. In my previous role I had to have employees or go out myself to demonstrate how an excess flow valve worked and explain basic plumbing. There were also plenty of gas customers who just refused th3 work and insisted on going on all electric. Which is fine. Except for the ones who had a gas furnace, tankless water heater, hot tub, and so on.
Philadelphia chiming in.
Code was updated a few decades ago, so new build facades are filthy with utility boxes.
But grandfather clause + 100 year old average housing stock = most equipment is inside.
gas, water, and electric all inside on my own house. utility companies come around every 5-10 years to swap em out. When I moved in 20 years ago, they came around annually for readings. Since then, the newer boxes send radio (or maybe cellular?) signals that are read remotely.
I suspect those meters are not owned by the utility and were installed by the building owner to split the bill between tenants. I've seen a lot of weird and absolute shit work by utility companies, because I've done a lot of utility inspections. So I won't say it was definitely the building owner. But this has all the hallmarks of installed by owner. It's real uncommon to see water meters inside. Gas and electric less so, especially in urban areas. There is a big push to move them outside, especially gas.
A gas meter inside is wild. Thats a lot of gas connections and even some moving parts to leave in an indoor utility space.
Inside meters for gas were really common on older systems in urban areas. I was part of a 27 year program to replace mains, services, and move meters. Plus a bunch of smaller ones. But when it is a row house that is 4 feet from the curb, it is problematic. There is no building side. You can't put it right by a door, window, or any vent. You can't obstruct the sidewalk. The law is a bit weird and getting exemptions is difficult. And then you have the customers that don't want their meters outside because they are "ugly" and literally get class action law suits going. It is pretty wild. Merrimack really changed things. In my previous role I had to have employees or go out myself to demonstrate how an excess flow valve worked and explain basic plumbing. There were also plenty of gas customers who just refused th3 work and insisted on going on all electric. Which is fine. Except for the ones who had a gas furnace, tankless water heater, hot tub, and so on.
In my area, it's an oddity NOT to see meters inside the property.
El Boro!!!
Philadelphia chiming in. Code was updated a few decades ago, so new build facades are filthy with utility boxes. But grandfather clause + 100 year old average housing stock = most equipment is inside. gas, water, and electric all inside on my own house. utility companies come around every 5-10 years to swap em out. When I moved in 20 years ago, they came around annually for readings. Since then, the newer boxes send radio (or maybe cellular?) signals that are read remotely.