THE NATIONAL Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) will visit properties in Redditch this month as part of a safety inspection programme.
Domestic and small business customers in the B98 postcode will receive visits from NGED-approved contractors to check service termination points inside properties are working as they should.
The service termination point, also known as a cut-out, is the place indoors where the main incoming electricity service cable and fuse is situated – in most cases, it is close to the electricity meter.
The cut-out is situated in a meter cabinet on the outside of most modern properties built since the 1980s, though it could be located within the property adjacent to the electricity meter or the customer’s consumer unit.
Inspectors will visually inspect NGED and energy suppliers’ equipment and record basic details.
No disassembly work will be carried out and customers’ power supplies will not be interrupted while inspections occur.
NGED is aiming to complete 400,000 inspections of cut-outs in homes and small businesses across the Midlands, South West and South Wales every year in a rolling programme over the next 20 years.
It has an Ofgem licence obligation to carry out asset inspections to ensure cut-outs at low voltage metered properties are operating safely.
Richard Brady, NGED’s policy engineer who is heading the inspection programme, said: “The UK is recognised internationally as having one of the most resilient and safe energy systems and this inspection programme underlines our commitment to the highest safety standards.
“Inspectors will visually examine cut-outs to check they are working as they should, taking photos and notes for our records.
“In the unlikely event of a defective cut-out being found, NGED engineers will be sent to carry out repairs at no cost to the customer.”
Inspectors will be from a company called A Coole Electrical, and will be clearly identifiable as working for NGED.
They will be able to present ID and authorisation to enter properties.
