Service Drops
Service Entrance & Meter Base
Meter base, weatherhead, SE cable, and utility coordination on a single permit.
Licensed in
4 states
MA · NH · ME · VT
Master licensed
Since 2010
15+ years of installs
Google rating
5.0 / 5
5 verified reviews
Based in
Leominster, MA
Serving New England
The problem
The service entrance is the most weather-beaten part of your electrical system. Cracked weatherheads, rotted SE cable insulation, deteriorated meter bases — these aren't cosmetic problems. They're the failure points that take the whole house down in the next storm.
The service entrance is everything between the utility line and your meter — weatherhead, SE cable, riser pipe, meter base. In New England weather, these components fail predictably: 30-40 years for SE cable, 20-25 for the meter base, 15 for an aluminum weatherhead. We replace the whole assembly under one permit, coordinate the utility cutover, and document everything for the inspector.
“We don’t hand off jobs to strangers. Every breaker, every outlet, every permit — that’s us.”
Documented work
Recent service entrance.
Deteriorated SE cable at soffit — common failure point on 30+ year installs. 
Failing service cable at roofline. Replaced under permit with utility coordination. 
New 200A meter base — installed mid-winter with same-day cutover.
Why Northern
What you’re actually paying for.
Utility coordination handled
We schedule the cutover directly with National Grid, Eversource, Liberty, CMP, or GMP. You don't talk to the utility — we do.
Combined service + panel upgrade
Replacing the service entrance while leaving an old panel in place is half a job. We bundle both under one permit when the panel also needs work.
Photographed at completion
Every install documented at close-out. Insurance carriers and real-estate buyers see the finished work in their file.
Same-day power
Most service-entrance replacements complete in a single day. Power drops only during the cutover window — typically 4-6 hours mid-day.
Implementation
What the day looks like.
We coordinate directly with National Grid, Eversource, or your local utility for the disconnect/reconnect. Pull the permit the morning of, install the new components, utility cuts you back over, inspector closes it out. Most service entrance jobs complete same day, power restored by evening.
Often quoted alongside a 200A panel upgrade since both happen under the same permit.
Frequently asked
The questions that come up before booking.
How long is power off?
Typically 4-6 hours during the mid-day cutover window. The rest of the install — staging, prep, conduit run — happens with the power back on.
Will the utility charge me for the cutover?
Sometimes. Most overhead-to-overhead swaps are no-fee. Underground service or mast relocations sometimes carry a utility fee — we'll flag it in the quote.
What about overhead vs underground?
Overhead is the standard New England residential service — wire from utility pole to your weatherhead. Underground is more involved (trenching, conduit), more expensive, but cleaner-looking. We do both.
Can the service mast be relocated?
Yes — common during exterior renovations or roof work. Mast relocation requires utility coordination and a permit. We handle both.
Should I replace the panel at the same time?
If the panel is older than 1990 (Federal Pacific, Zinsco, fuse box), almost always yes. The permit and power-down day are shared, which saves substantially over doing them separately.
Begin a project
Ready for service entrance?
Send a quick note through the intake form, or call directly. On-site walk-throughs scheduled within the week.