Charges for new electricity supply

[aa44]

I am thinking about buying a plot of land in Shetland. There is an existing house on the land but it does not have mains electricity and it is about 500 m across open ground from the nearest supply.

I know that it will cost me an arm and a leg to get the supply connected. (I am guessing at least £25k). Does anybody know what the difference in price is between getting a supply routed on poles and getting the supply cable buried? If I dig the trench myself does this make any difference to the cost?

Has anybody got any experience of off-grid systems? There is plenty of wind there so I ought to be able to get more than enough power for the property; it's just a case of how to store it for when the wind's not blowing!

 

[Spark123]

I wouldn't like to guess - half a kilometer is going to be a fair few ££s! The only people who can really answer your question are the electrical distribution network operators.

 

[davy_owen_88]

Check your DNO's website. My DNO (WPD) has a PDF on their site explaining their pricing methods.

Eg:
Installation Of HV Underground Cables
8.0 In trench prepared by customer £24 - £34 per metre
9.0 In highway footpath £61 - £71 per metre
10.0 In highway road £93 - £106 per metre
11.0 In highway verge £35 - £45 per metre
12.0 In unmade ground £33 - £43 per metre
13.0 Jointing of an HV cable £836 - £1,700 per joint

Construction Of HV Overhead Lines
14.0 Construction of HV overhead lines £37 - £60 per route metre

Installation Of LV Underground Cables (inc 3 phase service
cables)
15.0 In trench prepared by customer £11 - £26 per metre
16.0 In highway footpath £48 - £63 per metre
17.0 In highway road £80 - £98 per metre
18.0 In highway verge £22 - £37 per metre
19.0 In unmade ground £19 - £34 per metre
20.0 Jointing of an LV cable £166 - £450 per joint
Installation Of Single Phase Service Cables
21.0 In trench prepared by customer £9 - £12 per metre
22.0 In highway footpath £45 - £55 per metre
23.0 In highway road £77 - £85 per metre
24.0 In highway verge £20 - £30 per metre
25.0 In unmade ground £17 - £25 per metre
26.0 Jointing of service to LV cable £138 - £237 per joint
27.0 Connection of service to LV overhead line
(or pole mounted transformer)
£80 - £295

Termination of LV Service
28.0 Terminate 1 phase service cable at the Exit Point £60 - £295
29.0 Terminate 3 phase service cable at the Exit Point £111 - £9,000


1) Example of a small connection at low voltage.
A customer requires a connection to a new house, built as an infill between existing houses. Lay
a new 20m service cable half in customer prepared trench and half in footway, and joint to
existing LV main.
using Table 6.9, the normal estimated cost of the connection is:-
(a) service line u/g customer trench…………………10 x £(between 9 & 12)/m
(b) service line u/g footway……………………….…..10 x £(between 45&55)/m
(c) Joint to LV cable…………………………………1 x £(between 166 & 450)/m
(d) termination…………………………………….. ..1 x £(between 60 & 295)
(e) design……………………………………………1 x £(between 85 & 355)
Estimated cost of the connection is between £851 and £1,770.


http://www.westernpower.co.uk/servercode/showdocument.asp?ID=209

 

[plugwash]

half a kilometer is quite a long way to run LV and I imagine there will be problems meeting voltage spec at that distance. Therefore I would guess that they will want to run HV to a new transformer near your property.

Is this nearest supply you talk of LV or HV? (if it's overhead HV typically has horizontally spaced wires LV typcially has vertically spaced wires)

 

[rssteve]

could you get a supply at the edge of your property, then run your own submain across your land, you may then be able to get away with alot less current if you only wanted say a 50a supply, may work out cheaper.

 

[aa44]

Cheers guys. Very helpful. Thanks very much.

AA