ELECTRICITY SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19691, 18 July 1927, Page 10

ELECTRICITY SERVICES.

PERIODICAL INSPECTION.

DUTY IMPOSED ON LICENCEES. A new code of electrical supply regulations, under the Public Works Act, has been gazetted. It displaces regulations issued in October, 1922. The latter comprised 59 clauses; the new regulations are divided into 230 clauses, with an appendix of eleven technical tables. Accompanying them are electrical wiring regulations, comprising 286 clauses and 16 technical tables. One of the new provisions of general public interest deals with the supervision of electrical installations, and imposes on power supply authorities the duty of making periodical inspections. This is set forth in clause 214 as follows:—"For the purpose of ascertaining that a consumer's installation is in a safe condition and in all respects fit for conveying and utilising electrical energy, the licencee shall make periodical inspections and tests of such installation at intervals of not more than five years. The licencee shall, at any time, on request by the consumer, and' on receipt of a guarantee to pay the cost thereof, inspect and test the consumer's installation." These .directions to power supply authorities determine a question that has been discussed on several occasions in recent years, when it has been argued that closer supervision of installation should be established as a protection against fire. The supply authorities have lnDierto disclaimed responsibility for conditions within the consumers' premises, beyond the first inspection of new installations. The regulations naturally place upon the consumer responsibility for maintaining safe conditions and authorise the discontinuance of supply in the cas*a of any dangerous defects. Another clause requires the licehcees to issue to every consumer at least once a year a notice warning him not to allow any unregistered person to make, alterations to his installation; of the necessity for a permit before any such work a is begun; of the need for immediate attention to defects, and of the dangers of using portable apparatus.