"Matt Beard" wrote in message
oups.com...
Many are not accessible from outside.

Maybe when installing new ones they insist that they are, but there
seems to be no requirement to make existing ones accessible. Gas
companies have a statutary right of entry (i.e. you can't keep them out
if they think there may be something up with the gas in your house -
and I dare say they can force entry legally in such cases) and
electricity companies may even have the same rights.

Gas companies do not have a statutory right of entry. If the owner does not
allow them in they have to cut the gas off outside. If the place is in
danger of explosion, then the police will have to force entry.