elective, planned meter upgrades should be preceded by prior resident notification

My gas meter was 'upgraded' to another meter (not a smart meter) when I was out of town. My house sitter called me and told me we had no hot water for showers, and the stove wasn't working. It turns out that this is Xcel's policy--no prior notification--even people who aren't out of town can return from work after 5 and find out they are without service, with no prior warning. Instead, there is a notice on the door to call xcel to relight pilot lights and to turn things back on. When you can call during business hours, the next day, you can then take a day off of work and wait for them.

There is no reason Xcel cannot notify residents ahead of time of a proposed scheduled meter maintainance visit, so you can plan ahead-but they don't do this, and the employee who eventually got things going for me told me he hears complaints about this all the time. Inconsiderate service.