LISTEN for a knock at the door as contractors from National Grid are set to visit customer’s properties in Wellington to implement a safety inspection programme.

From Wednesday, October 22, customers in the TA21 postcode will receive visits from National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) approved contractors to check whether service termination points inside people’s homes are working as they should.

The service termination point, also known as a cut-out, is the indoor location where the main incoming electricity service cable and fuse is found — in most cases close to the electricity meter.

For most properties built since the 1980s, the cut-out is located in a meter cabinet on the outside, though it could be found within the property next to the electricity meter or the customer’s consumer unit.

Inspectors will visually inspect equipment from NGED and energy suppliers, where they will then record basic details. No disassembly work will be carried out and customers’ power supplies will not be interrupted while inspections occur.

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 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.

“These are important safety visits but we understand they could be inconvenient for customers and apologise in advance if this is the case.”

Inspectors will be from a company called A Coole and will be clearly identifiable as working for NGED. They will be able to present ID and authorisation to enter properties.

Customers will have the option of taking their own photographs of their cut-out and meter and sending them to NGED who will decide if a follow-up visit is needed.