Residents across Nantucket are comparing identical warning letters from National Grid that claim electric meters on their properties are not properly secured to their homes and may present a potential electrical hazard.

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In a letter dated May 12, 2026, National Grid informed one homeowner that its meter reader had reported the meter "needs to be properly secured to the house" and instructed the customer to contact a licensed electrician to correct the condition. The letter stated the issue should be addressed "to prevent any electrical hazard." 

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“I received a letter from National Grid that my meter needs to be properly secured to the house,” resident George C. Ellis shared online. “My meter appears to be securely attached... It seems to be more securely attached than many of the National Grid wires on our island. What’s up with this?”

 

Dozens of other residents quickly chimed in with identical stories. Property owners reported receiving the exact same warning, some multiple times, on homes where the meters have sat undisturbed for 15, 20, or even 30 years.

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Concerned about safety and the possibility of future service issues, homeowners have hired licensed electricians to inspect the equipment. But at least one Nantucket electrician says the condition described by National Grid did not exist.

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William Humphries, president of William Humphries Electric Inc., inspected a meter after receiving a request from a homeowner who had been sent one of the warning letters.

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In a correspondence shared with Below Deck, Humphries wrote to National Grid:

"This meter though rusted is secure to the house. Please pay my clients 250.00 bill for having an electrician come out and look at an unwarranted issue." Humphries said he did not charge the homeowner for the visit.

 

The situation has left residents asking why the warnings were issued and how many Nantucket properties were flagged by National Grid. Under utility regulations, National Grid owns the electric meter itself, while homeowners are generally responsible for the meter socket and the structure to which it is attached. Because of that division, customers receiving these notices are typically directed to hire a licensed electrician to investigate or make repairs.

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The central question, however, is not who owns the equipment. It's whether the conditions described in the warning letters actually exist. If electricians are consistently finding secure meter installations after receiving notices that describe a potential electrical hazard, residents want to know what information National Grid relied upon before sending the warnings.

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Several questions remain unanswered:

• How many Nantucket customers received these letters?

• What inspection process led National Grid to determine the meters were unsecured?

• Were the findings based on physical inspections by utility personnel or contractors?

• How many inspections subsequently confirmed actual deficiencies?

• Will National Grid reimburse customers who paid for inspections when no repairs were required?

 

Below Deck has requested clarification from National Grid.