“Good work, reasonable, prompt AND pleasure to work with. Highly recommended.”
Job: Outlets, GFCIs, meter box and breakers to bring an old house up to code
ML
Marc L.
Philadelphia, PA
Service Entrance Cable
Service Entrance Cable Replacement in Philadelphia & the Main Line
That gray cable running down your outside wall carries every amp your home uses. When its jacket cracks, water follows it straight into the meter socket and the panel.
Lic. #37352
City of Philadelphia L&I
ICC Certified
Commercial Electrical Inspector
Built to the NEC
Code-compliant installs
5 Service Areas
Philadelphia & the Main Line
Know the Signs
What Is That Cable on the Side of My House?
It is the service entrance cable, often called SE cable. It runs from the weatherhead near your roof, or from an underground feed, down the wall to the meter, then on to your main panel. The National Electrical Code covers it in Article 338. Years of sun, heat and freezing nights break down the outer jacket. Once it splits, rain gets under the jacket and runs down the conductors like a straw. You may never see the damage from the outside. Inside, it shows up as rust in the meter socket, corrosion on the main lugs, or a panel that looks wet at the top. Flickering lights through the whole house can also point to a loose or corroded connection on the service side.
Signs the Cable Is Failing
- Cracked or peeling outer jacket
- Bare strands showing near the weatherhead
- Rust inside the meter socket
- Water stains at the top of the panel
- Whole-house flickering
How We Do It
How We Replace Service Entrance Cable the Right Way
Replacing SE cable is more than swapping a wire. The weatherhead needs to sit high enough for proper clearance, and the cable needs a drip loop so water falls away instead of following the conductors inside. Straps go on at the right spacing, and every entry point gets sealed. At the meter socket, we check the jaws and terminals for heat damage before we reconnect. The service conductors stay live until the utility disconnects them, so we schedule that step with PECO. We hold City of Philadelphia electrical contractor license #37352, so the permit and inspection go through the right office. If the panel or grounding also needs work, we tell you before we start, so you can do it in the same shutoff.
Done on Every Replacement
- Weatherhead set at proper height
- Drip loop formed at the top
- Straps and seals at every entry
- Meter socket checked for heat damage
- PECO disconnect and reconnect scheduled
Why It Pays Off
Fix It Before Water Finds the Panel
A cracked service cable rarely fails all at once. It lets in a little water every storm, and that water slowly corrodes the meter socket and the main lugs in your panel. By the time the lights act strange, you may need a new meter socket or a new panel too. Replacing the cable early keeps the repair small. It also matters when you sell. Home inspectors in Pennsylvania often flag weathered SE cable, and a buyer's agent will use that finding to ask for a credit. When you plan a panel upgrade, it usually makes sense to replace the service entrance cable in the same visit, since the power is already off and the permit already covers the service. Electrical Hazards, Inc. can quote both jobs together, so you see the full picture in one written price.
Why Act Early
- Stops water at the source
- Protects the meter socket and panel
- One shutoff covers both jobs
- Fewer inspection flags at sale
- Avoids emergency repairs
Seeing Cracks in That Cable?
Snap a photo of the cable and the meter and send it to us, or call (267) 977-2106. We will tell you whether the cable needs replacement now, what else we should check while the power is off, and what the full job will cost.
Step by Step
Our Cable Replacement Process
01
Photo Review
Send pictures of the cable, weatherhead and meter. We flag anything urgent before we visit.
02
Service Inspection
On site, we check the cable, meter socket, panel lugs and grounding for water and heat damage.
03
Utility Coordination
We pull the permit and schedule the disconnect and reconnect with PECO.
04
New Cable, Sealed Tight
We install the new cable, weatherhead and drip loop, then pass inspection and restore power.
Why Us
What Sets Our Service Work Apart
Service work happens at the highest-energy point in your home. These are the habits we keep on every job.
Philadelphia Lic. #37352
ICC Certified Commercial Electrical Inspector on our team
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm
NAT-F164781-2 · lead-safe practices in pre-1978 homes
Whole-Service View
We check the meter socket and panel lugs, not just the cable you can see.
Weather-Tight Details
Drip loops, seals and strap spacing get the same attention as the wiring.
Utility Handled
We work out the PECO disconnect and reconnect so you don't have to.
Code-Checked
An ICC Certified Commercial Electrical Inspector on our team reviews the work against the NEC.
Services
Service Entrance Work We Handle
Your service entrance has several parts. We repair or replace the ones that are worn.
SE Cable Replacement
New service entrance cable from the weatherhead or meter to the panel.
Weatherhead Repair
Replace cracked or loose weatherheads that let water into the cable.
Meter Socket Replacement
Swap rusted or heat-damaged meter sockets before they fail.
Service Mast Repairs
Fix leaning or loose masts on overhead services.
Service Upgrades
Larger cable and meter socket when you move to a 200 amp panel.
Reviews
Customer Feedback
“TOTALLY SATISFIED. Great price, work was completed on time and very professional.”
Job: New 220-volt line
S
Sean
Philadelphia, PA
“It's all I was looking for: great price, professional, and done right…”
Job: 220-volt line
S
Sean
Philadelphia, PA · repeat customer
Service Area
Service Areas
We replace service entrance cable throughout Philadelphia and the Main Line, including Lower Merion, Upper Merion, Wayne and Berwyn. Pick your area to see which office handles the permit there and how we coordinate the PECO shutoff.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles the utility side of the job?
PECO controls the meter and the lines coming to your house. We schedule the disconnect and reconnect with them so we can install the new cable safely.
Can I just tape the cracked jacket?
No. Tape does not stop water from wicking along the conductors, and it breaks down in the sun. A cracked jacket means the cable is at the end of its life.
How do I know if water got into my panel?
Look for rust, white powdery corrosion or water marks near the top of the panel. If you see any of these, call us before touching anything inside.
Should I replace the cable and the panel together?
Often, yes. The power is already off, one permit can cover the service work, and you avoid a second shutoff later.
Does underground service need the same work?
Underground services have different parts, but the cable and meter socket still age. We inspect the connections and the entry point for moisture and heat damage.
Request a Callback
Leave your name and number, tell us a little about the job, and one of our electricians will call you back.
- (267) 977-2106
- 145 W Swedesford Rd #1123, Wayne, PA 19087
- Philadelphia Electrical Contractor Lic. #37352
- mal@electrical-hazards.com