Electrical work can be dangerous if done wrong: this is just one example of how crazy some people can be. Never, never, ever tie directly into a meter base like this. There are legitimate ways to take more than one feed off a meter base, but this is not one of them. The list of code violations fills pages, and besides the code violations, this is extremely dangerous. Qualified electricians should perform all electrical work; because of work like this, all home buyers should have a home inspection.
