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Industry documents obtained by BBC Scotland News have raised concerns about the safety of a common piece of electrical equipment found in homes across the UK. The equipment in question is a small box known as a cut-out, which connects the mains electricity cable outside a property with the wires inside. The guidance issued to meter operators highlighted worries about an older version of the cut-out, made from black plastic, potentially overheating in certain situations. While a retired engineer claimed that these units have caused fires, an industry body maintained that when properly installed, they do not present a fire safety hazard.
Typically situated near the electricity meter, a cut-out, or service termination, includes a fuse to facilitate the safe and efficient passage of electricity into people’s homes. These boxes are the property and responsibility of companies called Distribution Network Operators, and altering them without permission is strictly prohibited. The modern versions of cut-outs are usually grey and composed of glass reinforced polyester. However, between the late 1960s and the early 1990s, an older iteration made from black phenolic was installed in homes across the UK, triggering concerns about safety.
Gordon Mackenzie, a former senior electrical engineer with Scottish Power Energy Networks, expressed anxiety about the older black plastic cut-outs failing due to the insulating material breaking down, leading to an escalation of heat and energy and potentially causing serious fires. He emphasized that a significant number of failures reported daily involved the black plastic phenolic cut-outs, underscoring the urgent need to address the issue through a replacement program, starting with properties housing the most vulnerable customers. Documents from the industry issued in 2021 suggested that these black plastic cut-outs could pose a safety risk, citing instances of the casing becoming conductive in certain conditions, thereby increasing the risk of electric shock or excessive heat.
Scottish Power Energy Networks and the Energy Networks Association (ENA) responded to the safety concerns raised by asserting that safety is of paramount importance in their operations. While ENA stated that cut-out failures are rare, it did not disclose the number of defects detected specifically related to black plastic cut-outs. Nevertheless, there are discussions within the industry about conducting a review of cut-out equipment performance and maintenance as part of ongoing safety testing efforts. Both organizations reiterated that when correctly installed by qualified professionals, cut-outs do not present a fire safety risk in the UK
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