Do I have 3 phase in my 1930s built house?

[aesmith]

Does one buy a house and take over the contract for the electricity supply to it without doing any checks on what is or isn't permitted / possible ?

I think the posts on here show that everybody does exactly that. Possibly with the exception of yourself.

 

[JohnW2]

I'm sure I've seen something somewhere referring to a need to notify (if not necessarily ask permission) fixed appliances over a certain kVA rating. I can't remember either the context or the figure, 3kVA rings a bell and would make some sort of sense.

That would include all electric showers, for a start. I have seen (very reasonable) suggestions that one should seek DNO permission (or maybe 'notify') if one wants to install more than one electric shower (which could be used simultaneously), albeit I've never seen any 'chapter and verse' about that - but I have never heard a suggestion that such permission (or notification) is required in relation to a single shower.

If a single shower does not require specific permission, the same figure would (in simple 'running power' terms) include virtually anything likely to be installed or used in domestic premises.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Showers are explicitly listed under a different heading to "Disturbing Loads", so clearly (WPD at least) don't regard them as that.

It would appear that it is indeed things which have significant inrush currents, motors, welders etc, particularly as they can be loads with multiple starts per hour.

 

[JohnW2]

2...If, on the other hand, the DNO receives complaints about 'disturbances to the network' and the cause of those disturbances is traced to use of one's equipment, then the DNO will presumably say (under threat of disconnection) that the equipment should not continue to be used - and would say that even if they had previously been asked for (and had granted) permission for its use (as well as if they had not been asked for permission).

I should perhaps have added that, even if they had previously 'given permission' and then found that the equipment in question was 'disturbing' their network, they might well be able to effectively revoke that permission, and quite probably thereby free themselves of any liability that some might think they could have, by invoking ....

....3. Network constraints. Our obligations under this agreement are subject to the maximum capacity and any other design feature of the connection.....

That would definitely be 'lawyer territory' to decide, and I'm no lawyer.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Indeed.

But one would hope the courts would look sympathetically on a customer who had asked for and received permission to have a "disturbing load" (as long as he had not misrepresented it), and had been using it, only to have the DNO, later down the line, say "we've changed our minds". IANAL either, but that seems to be edging towards an unfair and therefore unenforceable, contract.

 

[JohnW2]

We'll never know unless we actually find some people who have actually requested, and been granted, permission, but I would not be totally surprised if, when given, the permission is 'subject to it not disturbing our network, or something like that.