On my inspections I routinely check the legal seal under the electric meter. If it is broken, I note it.
Recently some clients of mine were challenged by the electric company that installed a new meter on their house to show why they should not be fined ($500) for tampering with the former meter's broken legal seal. While the clients could not prove that they did NOT fiddle with it, they were able to use my report commentary, and date on
the relevant page, to prove that the broken seal pre-existed their occupancy. The legal seal is the small blue tag under the meter in the photo.
No blood, no foul!
They were not fined! Sure, it's one of a thousand things we home inspectors check on every inspection. But if it is not documented, it is not documented.
I got a very grateful thank you note... one can only hope that they also sent a Nyah! Nyah! note to the electric company!
