Sahib, perhaps you will understand this discussion better if I describe what is typical. I know we do things a bit differently than some other places.
The power to the house comes direct from the transformer. Typically, there are no fuses or cut-outs on the output side of the transformer.
Arriving at the house, the wired go straight to the meter. At the top of the mast, there is a permanent splice made, with no fuse or disconnecting means. From the meter, the wires proceed to the "customer" side of the service.
There are no fuses on the "PoCo" side, in part because the PoCo seals this part. They forbid you to break that seal, under criminal penalty. The purpose is to prevent power theft. You are charged for what electricity goes through the meter. They want to make it hard for you to connect to the wires before the meter. This is also why PoCo's usually object if the mast is not visible -no running it inside the walls.
Only after the meter does the power enter the "customers' side. " These days, it is typical for there to be a main breaker just under the meter, which also serves as a disconnecting means for the house. This has not always been the case.
In the past, especially in older cities with brick buildings, it was common to place the fuse box inside the house, directly behind the outdoor meter. The unprotected wires only entered the house for a few inches before they arrived at the panel. This was considered adequate. This is exactly the situation the NEC was allowing when it spoke of 'nearest the point of entry.'
Very often, there were other restrictions on such an entry; for example, there would be a requirement that the unfused wires be in a pipe less than 6ft. long and the wall be masonry. These restrictions were seen as helping ensure that the wires were not damaged when say, someone hung a picture on the wall.
Yet, those other restrictions were local rules, and not part of the NEC. This was, in part, because they addressed specific types of construction. The USA is a big place, and regional practices vary quite a bit. Rules that make sense for an alpine chalet are pure idiocy in hurricane country. "One size" rarely fits all.
Back to the NEC. As evidenced by my house, some places were pretty accomodating when it came to defining the point 'nearest' the entry, and defining 'entry.' There was also the '6 throws' rule. Combine these two rules, and you wind up with the panel being placed in the closest bedroom closet, and there being no main disconnect at all. Without a local ammendment, the unfused wires are a simple cable.
In this situation, the only ways to kill the power are to either pull the meter or cut the wires at the top of the mast. Ironically, many of these older homes are now in marginal neighborhoods, so the meters are now sealed with tamper-resistant seals. Even cutting the wires is, under the recent application of 'live work' rules, forbidden to the local electrician. This means that only the PoCo can disconnect the power.
My town, together with the PoCo, has ammended the situatio to where they now require an outdoor disconnect, right after the meter. When I do my service change, I will be required to have this disconnect. Until someone upgrades their service, though, the older, dangerous, situation will continue to exist.
For the American readers: In other countries, it is common for there to be fuses at the pole, just before the wires go to the house. In these places, the linesman routinely pulls the fuses for non-payment of the electric bill. The 'meter' for these places resides IN the panel, and is a rectangular thing about the size of your fist. No 'seal' or meter ring, as we know it. That's probably the design Sahib has.
