I need to replace a faulty breaker. Here’s a picture of my main breaker box. There’s no master switch that I can see that shuts off power to all of the breakers.
Following the line up and out of the box, it runs along the basement ceiling and out through a hole in the foundation.
Let me know if you need to see something else.
Edit. Resolved! I found a master switch on the outside of the house in a panel adjacent to the meter. Weird that anyone can just walk up to my house and turn all of the power off.
Most places I’ve lived, you’re not permitted to remove the meter. You’ve gotta call in your electrical companies lineman for that. (or face some pretty substantial fines when they find the broken seal)
If the power company went after everyone who cut those seals, they would employ more lawyers than linemen. Nobody gives a shit if you pull the meter just so long as you don’t self-immolate or steal electricity.
The main thing is to make sure there’s no load on the panel (turn all appliances or fuses off). Loads can cause dangerous arcing, especially on reconnect.
Rubber gloves under leathers are standard PPE for meter work. Eye protection is non-negotiable. Anybody who’s comfortable opening a panel is ready to pull a meter. You don’t think the power company hires electricians to pull meters do you?