Is your electrical service entrance (mast) safe?
The mast and meter enclosure are the most exposed part of your home — and often the most neglected. Leaning mast, rusted enclosure, bare wires: here are the danger signs, and who’s responsible for what.
Your service mast tells a story
The mast (the overhead service entrance) and its enclosure are on the front line: ice, wind, branches, years. When they fail, it’s not a detail — it’s 120/240 V out in the open, at your home. These signs mean “get it checked, fast”:
A leaning, bent or torn-off mast
Often after an ice storm or a fallen branch: the wire may be under dangerous mechanical strain.
A rusted, cracked or detached meter enclosure
Water getting in means a short circuit or fire is coming.
Bare, frayed or exposed wires at the top of the mast
Insulation cracked by sun and cold: never touch it.
Scorch marks or a smell near the entrance
A sign of an arc or a loose connection: emergency.
It’s not always Hydro’s job
Many people think Hydro-Québec handles everything. In reality, the utility is responsible for its line up to the connection point; the mast, the meter enclosure and the entrance on the house side belong to the owner — and their repair is reserved to a master electrician. A damaged mast is often coordinated with Hydro (disconnection/reconnection), but it’s your electrician who brings the entrance back to Code.
If your entrance is damaged
Don’t touch it
Keep everyone at a distance, especially if a wire is hanging. Treat it as live.
Call a master electrician
We assess the urgency and, if needed, coordinate the disconnection with Hydro-Québec.
We bring the entrance to Code
Mast, enclosure, anchoring, grounding: all replaced to Code.
Reconnection and check
We coordinate the reconnection and give you a detailed invoice of the work.
A damaged service entrance?
Mast, meter enclosure, anchoring: we bring your entrance to Code and coordinate with Hydro-Québec. CMEQ member · RBQ licence · 5-year warranty.
What people ask us
The electrical mast — is that Hydro-Québec’s or mine?+
Hydro-Québec is responsible for its line up to the connection point. The mast, the meter enclosure and the entrance on the house side belong to the owner, and their repair is reserved to a master electrician.
My mast was torn off by ice. What do I do?+
Keep everyone away and touch nothing — treat the wire as live. Call a master electrician: we assess the urgency and coordinate the disconnection with Hydro-Québec before bringing the entrance back to Code.
Is a rusted meter enclosure dangerous?+
Yes. Rust and cracks let water in, which leads to short circuits or fire. It’s a sign the enclosure needs replacing and the anchoring and grounding checked.
Can I repair my service entrance myself?+
No. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in the home, reserved by law to a master electrician (RBQ licence, CMEQ member). The disconnection also has to be coordinated with Hydro-Québec.
How much does it cost?+
It depends on the extent of the damage. At Groupe Quenneville, a regular service call is $150 plus $140/hr (1 hr minimum); an emergency is $495 plus $255/hr. We assess and quote clearly — 514-503-1353.
