Who pays to replace meter boxes on a Condo building?

Our condo complex consist of 6 single story buildings with 8 units in each building (2 - 4 gang meter boxs on each building). Each of the 48 unit in the complex have their own electrical meter (bubble) and individual account with the power company. The HOA board stated that the meter boxes are considered limited common areas since the 4 gang meter box services only 4 of the 48 units in the complex. Who is responsible for the cost of replacing the 4 gang meter box on a simple fee condo building that services only 4 of the 8 units in the building?

Your governing documents should have a definition (and list) of the limited common elements for your buildings, as well as all the maintenance responsibilities for common elements and limited common elements. It is not up to the board to come up with a reason for who maintains what, other than what is specifically stated in your docs.

What do your governing documents say about this?

DebbieS5 GA You have correct advice above to counter-check your own Declaration & governance documents instead of any automatic reliance on what your Board says about this.

You may also benefit from tracking down the “Georgia Condominium Act.” 44-3-71 G
http://communityassociations.net/georgia-condominium-act/ What to look for :

1- GA 44-3-71 defines "limited common element".

If - IF- the boxes metering exclusively quartets of units are treated as such "limited" in the Declaration as claimed by your condo corp, then GA 44-3-80 (a) allows it to target each quartet of units with an equal quarter of costs to "maintain, repair, renovate, restore or replace" these unless the Declaration expressly provides otherwise.

GA 44-3-80 prohibits all other slope-shouldering of condo corporation maintenance etc costs except for what the Declaration treats as limited common element serving less than all units..

Thus you have to track down . . ..

2 - That state law itself contains no Reserve Fund reference compelling a condo corporation expressly to reserve fund common elements conventional nor "limited"

Not sure how your documents handle this but in our case the HOA has taken on the cost of replacing these boxes.

As they come in banks of 4 or 5 units including service for common areas in some cases it makes the replacement so much easier and efficient.

To have the unit owners cover the cost leaves the question what if one of the owners cannot or will not cover their share? Who then selects the contractor to perform the work. Who schedules the work? Who verifies the work being done and who go,da the warranty?

Who determines what boxes need replacing.

As pointed out in the end one way or the other the cost will find its way back to the owners.
And if this is simply a cost reducing strategy by the board to pass this cost onto the owners in my view rather shortsighted and complicated.

As to new owners who moved in last month are they not expected to foot 1/4 of the cost to have their electrical service updated if necessary?

Our property is 30+ years old we have started a program to replace every meter box and roof as needed which allows us so far to cover those costs, avoid common charge increase or the need for special assessments.

And, with Jeff, what do your governing docs say about responsibility for your limited common elements. If nothing, you may have to look at GA laws having to do with donors.