I was lucky to be home when Laclede started digging holes in front of my house

I asked them to find my curb box when they had to dig near where it should be.  They found it a foot below the surface (not good if your house is on fire), but had to replace the hard copper service with plastic since they had it exposed (hard copper has not been a problem, but as long as the hole was already dug it's a policy to replace it).  I asked if the new service could be outside instead of in the basement and they said the new CEO wanted meters moved outside when practical.  The combination of pipe and fittings to make the gas meter fit below the porch floor in the tiny corner next to the driveway is a work of art.