Storm Pulled the Wires Off Your House? Weatherhead and Meter Base Repair Explained
Short answer: when a storm pulls the wires off your house, keep away from them and report it to Evergy so the line can be made safe. The service drop (the wires from the pole) is generally the utility's. The weatherhead, service mast and meter base on the house are generally the homeowner's, and a licensed electrician repairs them. After that, the city signs off and Evergy reconnects. Confirm the exact split at your address with Evergy, because utilities draw the line in slightly different places.
This guide explains each part, who usually handles it in Topeka, KS, how the repair usually goes, and what to ask before you hire. It is general information, not a substitute for advice from the utility or a licensed electrician on site.
First: what to do right now
- Stay away. Treat any wire on the ground, on the roof or hanging off the house as live. Keep people, pets and ladders clear.
- Call 911 if there is fire, smoke or sparking.
- Report it to Evergy. Use the Evergy outage map or Evergy's app or website and say the service line is damaged at the house, not just that the power is out. FreeState members can call 1-800-794-1989.
- Take photos from a safe spot for your insurer: the mast, the meter base, the roofline and anything that fell.
- Line up a licensed electrician for the house-side repair. The utility usually won't reconnect a damaged service until it is fixed.
The parts of your service entrance
Overhead service in older Topeka neighborhoods like Potwin, College Hill and Historic Holliday Park usually follows the same path: wires from the pole, a weatherhead, a mast, a meter base and the panel inside. Here is how responsibility typically splits.
| Part | What it is | Usually handled by |
|---|---|---|
| Service drop | The wires from the pole to the house | The utility |
| Point of attachment | The bracket or insulator that holds the drop to the house or mast | Varies; ask Evergy |
| Weatherhead | The hooded cap at the top of the mast where the wires enter | Homeowner, through a licensed electrician |
| Service mast or riser | The pipe running down the wall or through the roof | Homeowner, through a licensed electrician |
| Meter base (socket) | The box the meter plugs into | Homeowner, through a licensed electrician |
| Meter | The device that measures usage | The utility |
| Panel and house wiring | Everything after the meter | Homeowner, through a licensed electrician |
Evergy's electric service standards are generally described as saying the customer is responsible for their own wiring and equipment, and that Evergy doesn't design, install or maintain customer wiring. Treat the table as a typical pattern and ask Evergy to confirm.
How the repair usually goes
- The utility makes it safe. Evergy may disconnect the drop at the pole or at the house.
- An electrician assesses the house side. A bent mast, cracked weatherhead, torn meter base, damaged conductors or a pulled roof flashing all show up here.
- The permit. Service repairs and changes generally need a City of Topeka permit, and the contractor normally pulls it.
- The repair. The electrician replaces or straightens the mast, resets or replaces the meter base and weatherhead, and checks the panel.
- The sign-off. Topeka's 2026 fee schedule lists a $55 "Electrical Service Clearance (Evergy)." It appears to be the city's clearance that lets Evergy reconnect. Ask your contractor whether it is on your quote.
- Reconnection. Evergy reattaches the drop, sets the meter and reseals it. Evergy guidance for electricians, as summarized in search results, says whoever removes a meter must notify Evergy to reseal it.
Never cut a meter seal, pull a meter or work on a mast yourself. Those steps belong to licensed electricians and the utility.
Topeka permits and who to call
Topeka enforces the 2023 National Electrical Code. Most new wiring, circuits, panels and service changes need a city permit; your contractor normally pulls it. Topeka's 2026 residential trade permit fee is $55, and work started without a permit costs a contractor $500 extra.
Outside city limits, in places like Tecumseh or Berryton, Shawnee County Land Use & Development (785-251-5410) handles the permit side. In Lawrence, ask Lawrence Building Safety (785-832-7700). Smaller towns set their own process; check with the city.
Repair, or a good moment to upgrade?
If the meter base and mast need replacing anyway, some homeowners ask about moving from 100-amp to 200-amp service at the same time. That makes sense when you plan an EV charger, heat pump or other big loads, and less sense when the old panel is in good shape and the house doesn't need more capacity. Ask for both options, priced separately, on a written quote. Our panel upgrade and replacement page covers the bigger job.
| Job | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| After-hours or emergency | about $150–$200 per hour, plus a call-out fee | HomeGuide |
| Panel replacement, same amperage | $518–$2,193 (avg ≈ $1,347) · $1,400–$2,800 | Angi · HomeGuide |
| Panel upgrade, 100 to 200 A | $1,300–$4,500 | HomeGuide · Fixr |
| City of Topeka residential electrical (trade) permit | $55 | City of Topeka Resolution 9755, 2026 |
Storm repairs to a mast and meter base vary too much for a single figure; ask for an itemized quote. More ranges are in the Topeka electrician cost guide.
Storms that do this in Topeka
Wind, falling limbs and ice are the usual causes. On June 26, 2024, 12,901 Topeka customers were without power in 65 separate outages (WIBW). On July 31, 2024, storms caused about 13,000 outages in the Topeka area, per Evergy as reported by WIBW. The March 18–19, 1984 ice storm cut power to about 100,000 people (NWS). Not every outage means house damage, but big storms bring a run of torn masts and meter bases, and contractors book up.
Insurance notes
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved, if it's safe.
- Ask your insurer whether the policy covers the mast, meter base and any roof damage around the mast.
- Ask the electrician for a written, itemized quote and a short description of the damage.
- Keep the permit and final paperwork with the claim.
Questions to ask the electrician
- What is your City of Topeka license number?
- Can you send insurance and workers' comp certificates?
- Is the quote written and itemized, with the mast, weatherhead, meter base and any panel work listed separately?
- Is there a trip or diagnostic fee, and what is the after-hours rate?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the Evergy service clearance included?
- Will you coordinate with Evergy for reconnection and the meter reseal?
Kansas has no statewide electrician license; cities and counties license electricians (K.S.A. 12-1525). In Topeka, ask for the contractor's City of Topeka license and confirm it with Development Services (785-368-3905); the city also posts a licensed-contractor list. In Lawrence, check with Lawrence Building Safety (785-832-7700). Outside city limits in Shawnee County, Land Use & Development (785-251-5410) handles permits. Ask for certificates of liability insurance and workers' comp.
One more Kansas rule: Kansas gives a 3-business-day right to cancel many door-to-door sales of $25 or more (K.S.A. 50-640), but a repair visit you requested can be excluded. Ask, and get it in writing.
For urgent cases, see the emergency electrician page.
About this site: Topeka Electricians is a free quote-referral service, not an electrician or electrical contractor. It holds no electrical license and does not perform electrical work. You describe the job once, and independent electrical contractors serving Topeka, KS and nearby towns can reply with quotes on their own schedules. Some companies may pay to receive requests or calls. It is not affiliated with Evergy. Request free quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Who fixes a weatherhead pulled off by a storm?
Generally the homeowner, through a licensed electrician, because the weatherhead, mast and meter base are usually customer equipment. Evergy handles the service drop from the pole and reconnects after the repair. Confirm the split for your address with Evergy.
Can Evergy reconnect power before the mast is repaired?
Usually not. The utility generally won't reconnect to damaged house-side equipment. A licensed electrician repairs it, the city clears the work, and then Evergy reconnects and reseals the meter.
Does a storm-damaged meter base need a permit in Topeka?
Service repairs and changes generally need a City of Topeka permit, which the contractor normally pulls. Topeka's 2026 fee schedule lists a $55 residential trade permit and a $55 Electrical Service Clearance (Evergy).
Is service mast damage covered by homeowners insurance?
It depends on your policy. Take photos from a safe spot, call your insurer, and get a written, itemized quote from the electrician to submit with the claim.