UK Power Networks and the removal of a meter

[u587162]

I have 3 electric meters in my home, inherited from when I bought the place which consisted of two flats and a main home. I am now undoing the work of the previous owner.

I have arranged for Npower to remove one of two meters which sit side by side in the garage. The third meter is on the left side of the house near the front door. If I was to have two out of the three meters removed, am I obliged to have UK Power Networks come out and remove the supply? Or will Npower safely cap off the electricity such that I can leave whatever power supply is there in the garage, without having to pay UK Power Networks a disconnection fee?

If they do cap it off, can they do that on the property underground in the front garden or are they required to do this under the pavement due to some safety rule and regulation?

 

[delmel]

I would recommend you get an Electrician to come and look to see exactly what you have. I am guessing someone has sublet areas and put separate meters in or you may even have economy seven plus something else. It may well be something easily removed, but get someone in to check and quote you correctly.

 

[ey143]

Hi

Yes, that I will do anyway eventually but just for the moment trying to know my options.

Previous owner had elderly relatives living in the annex but sry up the house for separate billing etc.

Back to the original question though, would be interested to know what happens to an electrical supply once a spare meter is removed.

 

[Screech20]

So you've got 2 incoming supplies?

Your electric supplier won't do anything with the service cutout. They can pull the fuse to work on their meter but that's it. The service head belongs to the DNO (ukpn in your case)
When they remove the meter, they will replace the fuse holder and seal it up.

The service head can stay there if it's not in the way, otherwise you'll need to get ukpn to disconnect it in the road.
The new website is pretty good and you can get a quote quite quick.

 

[westie101]

Yes it could be left with the meter removed and the main fuse also.
However in the matter of fire safety it is not accepted to have 2 supplies into the same building where all areas are accessible as that is seen as a risk.

But there is no "number of supplies" police nor will the supplier be telling the DNO that they have removed the meter.

So in effect it's up to you!

 

[ey143]

So you've got 2 incoming supplies?

Your electric supplier won't do anything with the service cutout. They can pull the fuse to work on their meter but that's it. The service head belongs to the DNO (ukpn in your case)
When they remove the meter, they will replace the fuse holder and seal it up.

The service head can stay there if it's not in the way, otherwise you'll need to get ukpn to disconnect it in the road.
The new website is pretty good and you can get a quote quite quick.

Yes, that is correct I have two incoming supplies, one on the left hand side of the property and one on the right-hand side of the property. The one on the right-hand side has two meters connected to it and the one on the left side has one meter.

From what you are both saying then, then I can leave the service head in place. I never knew that, thanks, that will probably save me some money

If the service heads were moved outside the house to one of those white cabinets, I presume that is also equally safe and reduces any fire risk?

Is there any advantage of having two service heads / supplies?

Thanks!

 

[JohnW2]

Is there any advantage of having two service heads / supplies?

Two bills and two standing charges - if you see that as an 'advantage'

Kind Regards, John

 

[westie101]

Is there any advantage of having two service heads / supplies?

No, and some safety issues as I've commented on

 

[ey143]

Is there any advantage of having two service heads / supplies?

Two bills and two standing charges - if you see that as an 'advantage'

Kind Regards, John

I've managed to move to a tariff where there are no standing charges with npower and also switched off the meter. Couldn't understand what was making it increase in consumption when it was feeding a loft.

 

[ey143]

Is there any advantage of having two service heads / supplies?

No, and some safety issues as I've commented on

But it safe if capped in the white cupboard outside?

 

[Screech20]

If you're having them moved outside, then you might as well have one cut off completely?

 

[westie101]

Be cheaper to remove the supply than move! Talk to your DNO

Industry definitions for what they are worth.

Disconnect supply means to pull the cut-out fuse and take the meter away.

Remove supply means the above plus cut the incoming cable clear of the property boundary

 

[ey143]

They quoted me roughly £1200 to have it cut off in the street, less if I had soil and they cut it off on my property. I think to move it 1.5m to an outside wall is half the price roughly.

 

[JohnW2]

But it safe if capped in the white cupboard outside?

Presumably not necessarily 'safe' for fire-fighters who, not knowing there is a second supply, think they have 'accounted for' all potentially live electrical parts in/around the building?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ey143]

But if one supply is capped off outside then surely it is irrelevant because there's only one supply inside that's feeding the house, so where is the fire risk?