The parts, from the street in
Power arrives by an overhead line or underground cable at the point of supply, where the network meets your installation. From there the consumer mains cable runs to the meter box. Inside are the meter, which records what you use, and usually a service fuse, both owned by the network. Then comes the main switch, which turns off everything after it, and the circuit breakers and safety switches that protect each circuit.
A sub-board is a smaller switchboard fed from the main one, often in a garage, extension or granny flat. In apartments and some units, the meters are grouped in a meter room or cupboard and each home usually has its own board inside.
Who owns which part
From the point of supply on, the property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the installation. That includes the meter box enclosure, the consumer mains, the switchboard and the wiring. The meter and service fuse belong to the network, so only your distributor, or someone it authorises, removes or refits them. Powercor lists a defective meter box among the customer's responsibilities.
Why the difference matters for work
In a home, Energy Safe Victoria says prescribed work generally means work on wiring and equipment that can't be switched off, usually the wires up to the switchboard. Its examples include the consumer mains, main switchboard, meter box and main earthing system. That work has to be inspected by a Licensed Electrical Inspector, and it can't be switched on until it has been.
Lights, power points, air conditioning and hot water are non-prescribed work within your installation. They still need a licensed electrician, and every job comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Services that can help
Read more in our guides
Related questions
- What is a sub-board, and do I have one?A sub-board is a smaller switchboard fed by its own cable from a circuit breaker on your main switchboard.
- My meter box door is broken or won't close. Who fixes it?The property owner.
- Will my fridge and freezer be OK during a switchboard upgrade?Usually, with some planning.
- Do I need to be home for a switchboard upgrade?Someone should be there at the start and at the end, and the electrician needs access to the switchboard and to the rooms inside for testing.
Sources for this answer
4 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Energy Safe Victoria: The point of supply is the changeover point from the electricity distribution network to the electrical installation, where the property owner becomes responsible for the maintenance and repair of the electrical… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2.CitiPower & Powercor: Customer installation defects fall under customer responsibility and require prompt rectifications to ensure either the safety of the electrical installation, unhindered access to our assets by our employees or that our… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 3.Energy Safe Victoria: A prescribed certificate is for all major electrical wiring work in all types of premises. In a domestic property this covers all work done on wiring and equipment where the electricity cannot be switched off. This… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 4.Energy Safe Victoria: 'Prescribed' certificates are for electrical installation work that requires inspection by a Licensed Electrical inspector. This includes (but is not limited to): Consumer mains cables, main switchboard, meter box and… Accessed 30 September 2026.
General information for homes in Victoria. Every installation is different, so treat this as a starting point. Where this answer refers to Victorian safety or rental rules, the sources above have the current requirements.