about meter readers, is it right for them to just open your gate?

Yes, they are entitled to enter your property to do their job, just like the post office is entitled to enter your property to deliver your mail.

(Edit) even though they are entering your property to read your neighbor's meter, that's still allowable. If it's the shortest route to the neighbor's meter, that's the route they will take. Using the post office analogy again, the mail carrier cut across lawns to use the shortest route from house to house. I guess if it really bothered you that much, you could put a lock on your gate.

Opening the gate and walking through the yard to the meter is not breaking in. What do you expect, to be able to make an appointment to have your meter read? They have to read every meter on every house in the area so it would be nearly impossible to schedule meter readings at times to suit the customer. And I'm sure he closes your gate again when he leaves. So just chill out about it, we all get our meters read except for the high tech companies that use some automated data transfer thing.

Those meter readers aren't breaking in, so don't shoot them. They have every right to enter your property to do their job. In fact if you will check your deed, you will probably find that the power, water or gas company has an easement through your property to the meter.

The meter is their property. If they don't see it they might make an estimate which could be WAY over what you actually use. Just let them go about their job and enjoy your hot showers/dinners and electrical gadgets

And its their meter, of course you could have them remove it, and live without gas, electricity and water.