Residents and businesses in parts of Northampton and Daventry will receive visits from National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) this month as part of a safety inspection programme.

Customers in the NN3 and NN11 postcode areas will be visited by approved contractors, who will carry out visual checks on electricity service termination points, also known as cut-outs.

An NGED spokesperson said the inspections are designed to ensure the equipment is operating safely. Inspectors will take photographs and record basic details but will not dismantle any equipment or interrupt electricity supplies.

The spokesperson said the programme forms part of NGED's plans to inspect around 400,000 properties each year across the Midlands, South West and South Wales to meet its Ofgem safety obligations.

placeholder image — Library picture, National Grid

Richard Brady, NGED's policy engineer leading the programme, said: "The UK is recognised internationally as having one of the most resilient and safe energy systems and this inspection programme underlines our commitment to the highest safety standards.

"In the unlikely event of a defective cut-out being found, NGED engineers will be sent to carry out repairs at no cost to the customer."

The inspections will be carried out by contractors from A Coole Electrical, who will carry identification confirming they are working on behalf of NGED. Customers can also choose to submit photographs of their cut-out and electricity meter instead of having a home visit, with NGED deciding whether a follow-up inspection is needed.