<rantmode>
- MiL's electricity meter is mounted in a weatherproof box on the outside of her property underneath the kitchen window. The meter was read on 12th June and the individual reading the meter failed to secure the door catch properly.
- MiL (78 years young and with both eyesight and dexterity issues) secures door as best she can using sticky tape, not having a copy of the triangular socket key needed to operate the door catch. Door remains partly open to the elements.
- Inclement weather begats rainwater ingress to the weatherproof box. The main supply fuse holder is mounted in the bottom of the box on a piece of chipboard. Rainwater penetrates chipboard, which is now sodden and offering a potential fault path between live and neutral upstream of MiL's main supply fuse that has the potential to take out the supply to 1/3 of the street.
- 24rd June (Sunday): PWSlack notices the sodden chipboard inside the box, removes the tape and secures the door catch using makeshift tools to prevent further water ingress and limit the damage should a fault erupt. Telephones contracted electricity supplier (name withheld) to report it. Receives message to phone back during office hours.
- 25th June: PWSlack telephones MiL's supplier to report safety concern and request safety inspection, asking for commitment as to date of inspection. Supplier declines to offer inspection, referring caller to distribution network for attention, claiming that they are "unable to report safety defects" and recommending two other telephone numbers instead [Thinks: been here before on another matter at the Bothy; same supplier].
- PWSlack telephones distribution network company (name withheld), who asks why the matter wasn't reported to the supply company instead. PWSlack affirms that it was and relates supply company's disinterest in the matter at the earlier call. All the supply company seems to want do is meter supplies and collect monies due.
And this is the way that electricity supply takes place in a modern electricity supply industry? Whatever happened to good-old-fashioned due diligence, and Customer Service at the first call?
</rantmode>
__________________
There was a time, not long ago, when people were smarter than their phones... (tips hat to CR4 user Harley.)
|
Users who posted comments:
Bevelgearpro (1); Doorman (1); PWSlack (1); truth is not a compromise (2)