Who is Responsible for Repairing the Meter Box?

This is taken from an article we wrote for HA Magazine dealing with the commonly debated point of 'who is actually responsible for repairing the meter box on my property'.

Nearly 40 years ago, when we first designed our door and frame units for the electricity boards, it was quite clear cut: the electricity (and gas) boards owned and were responsible for the meter boxes. However, when the industry was deregulated, these companies were no longer necessarily the billing company and so they no longer had this responsibility.

External enclosures are a convenient solution for locating gas and electricity meters on social housing properties.  Unfortunately, as they are usually plastic, they are susceptible to damage and at this stage maintenance responsibilities sometimes become unclear.  These quotations help clarify things:

• “A barrier or enclosure shall be firmly secured in place and have sufficient stability and durability to maintain the required degree of protection and appropriate separation from live parts....”

Regulation 416.2.3, IEE Wiring Regs. 17^th ed.

• "Where it is necessary to remove a barrier or open enclosure or remove parts of enclosures, this shall be possible only:

(i)            by the use of a key or tool, or...."

Regulation 416.2.4, IEE Wiring Regs. 17^th ed.

• “Under the Gas Act 1996, the domestic meter box is part of the fabric of the property and as such is the responsibility of the property owner/occupier to ensure it is adequately maintained”

Wales and West Utilities

The first two are from the rules that all electricians must work to, and a meter box without a door clearly contravenes regulations 416.2.3. and 416.2.4.  The second states who is responsible for maintaining meter boxes:  at least in the case of gas meter boxes.  Exactly where the responsibility lies for protecting the public from electric shock or gas leakage would certainly be established following a serious accident.

If you have any more information on where the responsibilities lie, please let us know as we are frequently asked this question and it still doesn't seem 100 % clear.