Can a new electronic meter go bad and cause no electricity to 200 amp main?

Dreaded · Feb 7, 2021

I ran upon a problem today that is weird and it will be next week sometime before the electric company makes a check of the meter and meter base, By what the owner of the apartment told me.
Problem is meter is showing digital read out as if it is getting electricity from transformer. But I have no 120v on either leg to neutral or a 220v reading at the top of the 200 amp main breaker. It appears to be a direct feed from meter base to main panel. I could have pulled meter but I am not from that area an was not sure which power company he is on, so I was not sure of the proper procedure for that company. So I did not pull the meter. Here in my area we just call them tell them we are pulling the meter, do the work and put meter back in then call them but some companies frown on electrician pulling meters.

I have never seen a meter go bad where it is not delivering power to the main breaker. I don't know if it is possible for them to go bad like that.

Lucien Nunes · Feb 7, 2021

Here in the UK, some smart meters contain a motor-operated isolator that can cut off the output under remote control, sounds like that function has been triggered.

freddo · Feb 7, 2021

I'll also agree with that, especially as both hot legs are dead.

Dreaded · Feb 7, 2021

Lucien Nunes said:
Here in the UK, some smart meters contain a motor-operated isolator that can cut off the output under remote control, sounds like that function has been triggered.

Thank You I did know they had an internal shut off. Then the electronic meter is probably the same here. The man said he had paid the power bills so it must have been a electronics system in the meter that went bad shutting it down.
I am retired and do not do much work in electrical now. Have been retired a few years. Was helping out a friend and run upon this. First time for everything lol. Learn something new everyday.