Quote Originally Posted by Masark View Post
Sending a tech out to climb up a pole to turn it off is more problematic than being able to turn it off with a keystroke. Also more difficult for a merry prankster to do.
That is a lineman's job. They would only have to cut it from a pole if the customer was stealing power or wouldn't give them access to the meter. Normally, they pull the meter out and put plastic coverings over the metal connectors and then lock the meter so it can't be removed.