Towards safer electrical installations-learning the lessons

By the year 2000 the final door giving full access to the free market in the electricity supply industry will have been opened by the Electricity Regulator. The meeting place of all the new players will be the service terminal position of the person taking a supply. In terms of safety this then begs the question of who does what, with which, and to whom? The developer is spoilt for choice. Having chosen a contractor to design and install the electrical equipment within a building he must then choose who is to install the service cable. He must choose a supplier for the electricity to be consumed. He must choose a meter operator to install a device to register the amount of electricity used, and a data collector to record it. But, "the supplier" is responsible for ensuring that the electrical installation meets the requisite standard. The author discusses the legislation covering this-The Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 (as amended). The author also discusses litigation by citing two cases lodged with the High Court.