I'm the obnoxious person who has my gate locked. folks have to call me to have it unlocked. My friend's dachsund down the block was killed recently because the Gas company left the gate open. Mine's been locked since then.

FWIW my gas meter is not in the back yard. The phone guys don't really come to my yard, and can access the pole from my neighbors yard.
The Electric company knows and makes an appointment when it's time to mark the trees.