The following information has been reproduced with permission from the book
‘RURAL‘ (R U Ready for A Life Change), page 52, by author Bernie Webb.
9-Meter-Boxes.pdf (PDF 294KB)
The electrical meter box to your property will usually be up near the front fence, with a second sub-board containing all the individual circuit breakers and Residual-Current Devices[1] (RCDs) located in the house.
It is a good idea to have the meter box sited right alongside the front fence and accessible from the roadside of the fence. From a security point of view always keep the box locked, with suitably approved energy company lock.
A viewing window in the front making the meter visible and therefore easy to inspect and be read but enabling it to remain locked is a must.
If your meter box and the contained meter are not easily accessible you may find that your electrical usage is ‘guessed’ by the meter reader and this may not always be in your favour.
[1] RCDs or ‘safety switches’ are fitted to all new houses and retro fitted to older houses to protect the occupants from electrical shock. An RCD can detect an imbalance in the electrical current and disconnect the power within 10 to 50 milliseconds, which in turn should prevent electrocution and/or fire.
