Electric meter inspection....
Discussion
Weird one this. We have two supplies to our house, legacy of the house previously having a granny flat. Two different suppliers now, Bgas and Npower. Npower have the "main" house supply, BG the annexe.
Recently had a meter reader call from Npower at 7.50am as wife was loading kids in car, who was quite agressive saying he needed to do a "safety inspection". She was late, garage locked up and full of junk that would need moving, so she asked if he could call again, (meter in garage).
About a week later when i came home from a trip, I took the reading and called it through. Woman was quite agressive with me saying they would not accept it and needed to take it themselves as they "have never seen the meter". I pointed out I'd only been wiht them a year, (prev both meters with eon), but tried to make an appt for a vist, but they only had a one week window, two weeks ahead, and I was away. I offered to do a week later, but she said the diary had not opened for then, yet. I pointed out in 20 years of having supplies in my name, i have never had such an inspection. She eventually took my customer reading and turns out i am in credit by 220 quid on thier meter.
So today, a BG man calls to read their meter, I show him in. I told him the story of Npower and asked if he could do this "safety inspection". He said "no", but he said it is nothing about safety, they must think you are nicking electric! He said they look at neighbours useage and if your bills are low (we are in credit as they take too mcuh dd, suggesting we are deemed "low" by them), they come to look at the meter seals. All seals are on the meter intact, but electrican did remove the old storage heaters and tails and snipped the fuse seals as a results 5 years ago. Although this is on BG's meter fuses. The main 450amp fuse to the N power meter lead seal is intact, but the fuse tabs where the seal attahes is broken and can be pulled if required.
BG guy said he would not bother reporting the missing seals on his meter fuse, as electricians do have to snip them to do work, but he said they should replace them. My electrican who is part p and a proper fella said they have no means to replace them.
I have pointed out to N Powe that we have two supplies and pay two bills, but they still want to inspect and need me to take a day off to do so.
Should I be worried that N Power will see the brokedn main fuse tab and snipped seals on B G meter fuse and think I have been nicking electric? We havent, I am scared s
tless of electric and have happily paid (more than) my way for many years. I dont want to be charged for a new meter, either, and dont want a smart meter as it is just an excuse to bump prices up and change your tarrifs IMO.
Any sparkies shed any light on all this. N Power have been arses so far, (not our fault we both work and can miss their visits).
Recently had a meter reader call from Npower at 7.50am as wife was loading kids in car, who was quite agressive saying he needed to do a "safety inspection". She was late, garage locked up and full of junk that would need moving, so she asked if he could call again, (meter in garage).
About a week later when i came home from a trip, I took the reading and called it through. Woman was quite agressive with me saying they would not accept it and needed to take it themselves as they "have never seen the meter". I pointed out I'd only been wiht them a year, (prev both meters with eon), but tried to make an appt for a vist, but they only had a one week window, two weeks ahead, and I was away. I offered to do a week later, but she said the diary had not opened for then, yet. I pointed out in 20 years of having supplies in my name, i have never had such an inspection. She eventually took my customer reading and turns out i am in credit by 220 quid on thier meter.
So today, a BG man calls to read their meter, I show him in. I told him the story of Npower and asked if he could do this "safety inspection". He said "no", but he said it is nothing about safety, they must think you are nicking electric! He said they look at neighbours useage and if your bills are low (we are in credit as they take too mcuh dd, suggesting we are deemed "low" by them), they come to look at the meter seals. All seals are on the meter intact, but electrican did remove the old storage heaters and tails and snipped the fuse seals as a results 5 years ago. Although this is on BG's meter fuses. The main 450amp fuse to the N power meter lead seal is intact, but the fuse tabs where the seal attahes is broken and can be pulled if required.
BG guy said he would not bother reporting the missing seals on his meter fuse, as electricians do have to snip them to do work, but he said they should replace them. My electrican who is part p and a proper fella said they have no means to replace them.
I have pointed out to N Powe that we have two supplies and pay two bills, but they still want to inspect and need me to take a day off to do so.
Should I be worried that N Power will see the brokedn main fuse tab and snipped seals on B G meter fuse and think I have been nicking electric? We havent, I am scared s
tless of electric and have happily paid (more than) my way for many years. I dont want to be charged for a new meter, either, and dont want a smart meter as it is just an excuse to bump prices up and change your tarrifs IMO.Any sparkies shed any light on all this. N Power have been arses so far, (not our fault we both work and can miss their visits).
Weird thing is, when one firm I had here removed the sotrage heaters, they left two tails dangling in the garage and just said, oh, they are just left from the eco 7 being removed. Sat there years until recent new sparks who is doing our en suite said, you do realise these are live, straight off the fuse? No, xx firm disconnected them....
They were live, and were massive main cables, just had a bit of black insulating tape over the end of them! Terrifying!
So if I want to get the seals all put back on, do I have to pay for that supplier visit. If a sparks calls for the supplier to come and remove the seal prior to commencing work, does he haveto pay for it, or is it free?
They were live, and were massive main cables, just had a bit of black insulating tape over the end of them! Terrifying!
So if I want to get the seals all put back on, do I have to pay for that supplier visit. If a sparks calls for the supplier to come and remove the seal prior to commencing work, does he haveto pay for it, or is it free?
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