I assume they fitted it in an awkward space so

[HelloYouGuys]

They should take responsibility for any accidental injury or worse.

Ok. So my electricity meter was installed (before I moved in) roughly eight foot high.

I'm unable to use a ladder or anything else to read the meter, so I can't ring the numbers into the company's office.

The meter reader chap called in today to read the meter himself.

He would've been unable to see the numbers by not using anything to raise him.

When asked if his employer supplies him with a step ladder - or similar, for situations like this, he said that they didn't because of liability.
He was also told that if he used equipment to enable to be high enough to read the meter, and he fell and caused himself significant injury, then it was his fault.

Surely to heavens if the meter was installed at an unreasonable height, then the reader should be supplied with safe equipment to help them read and record the numbers, and then if the poor person was unlucky enough to come a cropper, someone should be liable to pay proper compensation?

I've asked (more than once) to have the meter moved... outside ideally.
I have always been refused.

If meter readers can't be compensated, then the meters should be moved to a place that doesn't require any equipment in order to read and record numbers, and no or low risk of injury to compensate.

Is there an answer to this dilemma.

My last house had one at the top of a high wall, right at the top of the rather steep stairs. The village had frequent power cuts and brown outs and I had to brace myself every single time I had to climb up and reset the bloody thing.

We often had a guy who was about five foot nothing come to read it. He was probably great at the low ones but struggled with this one!

Any helpful neighbour? I'm tall and get asked to do stuff all the time!
It would only need a low stepladder and I would happily do it
Last time was could I get a kitten out of a tree... obviously. I'm not leaving a kitten up there!

Is there a reason why you can't have smart meters? Then you wouldn't need to read the meters.

Oh, just spotted that you don't want a smart meter.

To be honest, I don't know my neighbours well enough to ask such a thing.
Also more importantly, IF a kind neighbour (or anyone) agreed to come to my aid, how would I feel if they did come a cropper?
I know it would've been their decision to get up on the ladder or whatever, but no I couldn't bear that to happen.

My meter is pay as you go like many peoples, I have to stick a key in it multiple times a month or it cuts off so its greatly inconvenient that its basically on the ceiling out of reach.