A homeowner’s unconventional attempt to stop his power company from upgrading his meter has gone viral after he literally chained his old electric meter to the wall — hoping to block technicians from replacing it with a new “smart meter.” The bold move, captured on video, has divided the internet, with some calling it “a stand for privacy” and others labeling it “a pointless stunt.”
The incident took place in a suburban neighborhood, where utility crews had been making scheduled upgrades to install smart meters — digital devices that automatically record and transmit energy usage. When workers arrived at the man’s home, they found his traditional analog meter wrapped in heavy metal chains and a padlock, firmly secured to the wall.
Video shows the frustrated technician attempting to inspect the meter while carefully navigating around the chain. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” one worker can be heard muttering. The man, reportedly standing nearby, insisted that he had every right to refuse the installation, citing concerns about “radiation,” “data privacy,” and “government surveillance.”
“I don’t want some wireless spy device tracking what I do in my own house,” the homeowner said, according to a neighbor who witnessed the exchange. “This is my property — they can’t just replace it without permission.”
However, utility companies across the U.S. maintain that smart meter upgrades are mandatory in most regions, as they improve billing accuracy, detect outages faster, and reduce labor costs. “Customers do not own the meter,” a company spokesperson explained. “It remains utility property, and tampering with it can result in service disconnection or legal penalties.”
Eventually, workers contacted their supervisor, and police were called to mediate. Officers explained that while the man could file a formal complaint, blocking access to utility equipment was against state regulations. After a tense standoff, the man reluctantly agreed to remove the chain — but not before voicing his anger on social media, where his post quickly gained traction.
Within hours, the video racked up hundreds of thousands of views. Comment sections exploded with debate: some praised the man as a hero standing up to corporate overreach, while others mocked his misunderstanding of how smart meters work. “He’s out here fighting Wi-Fi like it’s 1999,” one commenter joked. Another replied, “He’s not wrong — privacy matters. Companies collect too much data.”
Experts say this isn’t an isolated case. Across the country, small groups of homeowners have resisted smart meter installations, often fueled by misinformation about radiation or data leaks. The World Health Organization and U.S. Energy Department have repeatedly stated that smart meters are safe, using radio frequencies far below those emitted by common household devices like cell phones and routers.
As for the homeowner, utility officials confirmed that his old meter was eventually replaced without incident. But online, his act of defiance continues to stir controversy — a modern-day clash between technology, privacy, and personal freedom, all wrapped up in one very stubborn chain.
