Help needed on EON disaster please

[sasdiscos]

Hi every one, new to the forum, was wondering if any one can help with my predicament.

On the 24th June this year i was digging my drive, by hand and just caught the elec mains with a spade. Enough for a bang. I called eon out and they fixed it. The blokes that came out agreed that it wasn’t worth charging me as the cable was unprotected and only 30 cm down in very rocky ground, it also doesn’t follow any straight lines with the house. I didn’t use and tracing equipment but i did dig carefully and did dig test holes, unfortunately i just caught the side.

I have now got a bill for 400 quid and was wondering if anyone could shed any light on tye depth regs and if they shoud be protected ect as im gonna try and fight it.

Many thanks, steve clark

 

[sasdiscos]

 

[mattylad]

I thought that there was supposed to be a plastic warning sheet over the top of it?

 

[mointainwalker]

....and I believe a minimum of 75 cm down, possibly more where there is vehicular traffic.

If it's only 30 cm with no warning tape ove the top, I would be looking at sueing them for endangerment.

Take advice on this, these utilities don't check work and then (try to) hit the consumer for costs.

 

[plugwash]

One problem is it's often difficult to tell why wiring was so shallow. Was it shallow because the team who layed it originally was slacking or was it shallow for some other reason (e.g. ground alterations since it was layed)

 

[mointainwalker]

@plugwash

If it's only at 30 cm, I think it would be down to the utilityto have to prove/disprove matters.

 

[keego]

Check your house insurance, you should be covered for this on your bricks & mortar policy.

 

[conny]

I was once told by a Virgin media chap that all utility services, (gas, water, electric and cable/broadband etc), should be at least 18" below ground surface level and therefore below the depth of the frost level and depth of a full spade blade..

 

[AndyPRK]

hope you have a better picture shown the depth better.

 

[Stoday]

There are guidelines, published by the National Joint Utilities Group (to which Eon belongs). These guidelines apply to public footpaths and roads, but you could argue that Eon should meet them when laying cables in someone's garden.

NJUG guidelines

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