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).
Only your electricity supplier should remove the seals, the electrician you call out is supposed to call in your supplier if they want the fuses removed to do work,
As I think you know the seals have a tendency to fall off especially if board changes or other work needing the power to be completely off has taken place- just deny all knowledge and say it has always been like that, like that when you bought the place
new smart meters are supposed to be getting installed over the next few years
so they will have to get access to it at some point, until then they will probably just re-seal the meter- if they are bothered
op why have two supplies and two bills- not easier to get rid of one especially as one is quite a large supply by the sound of it 450a? or do you want to keep the two supplies?
As I think you know the seals have a tendency to fall off especially if board changes or other work needing the power to be completely off has taken place- just deny all knowledge and say it has always been like that, like that when you bought the place
new smart meters are supposed to be getting installed over the next few years
so they will have to get access to it at some point, until then they will probably just re-seal the meter- if they are bothered
op why have two supplies and two bills- not easier to get rid of one especially as one is quite a large supply by the sound of it 450a? or do you want to keep the two supplies?
I'm sure they'd be able to tell if you'd been fiddling with the meter - fresh screwdriver marks, no dust on it, that sort of thing.
Let 'em in to do the inspection - just make sure the place is well ventilated so they don't smell the cannabis farm
Oh, and the chances of getting a utility co out to remove and replace seals before your electrician retires are slim, to say the least.
Let 'em in to do the inspection - just make sure the place is well ventilated so they don't smell the cannabis farm
Oh, and the chances of getting a utility co out to remove and replace seals before your electrician retires are slim, to say the least.
Whilst part of the meter reader's job is to do a safety inspection, it's mainly just to make sure wires aren't hanging out and that there are no obvious signs of tampering.
As said, only your supplier, or their agents are allowed to remove the seals. They are there for a reason, one of which is that they are not just seals, but also ID tags of the bloke that fitted the meter. They are starting to take this more and more seriously as they can take you/your sparky to court for it. However, I wouldn't worry overly if it was done some time ago as they will struggle to prove who did it or when.
With regards to not wanting a smart meter, the gov't says tough on this one. We (E.On) will start fitting them within the next 18 months as the gov't have decreed that everyone should have one by 2020. I don't think you'l have much of a choice in the end I'm afraid.
Also, are you sure it's a 450 amp fuse? A normal household main fuse should be 100, 80 or 60 amps.
As said, only your supplier, or their agents are allowed to remove the seals. They are there for a reason, one of which is that they are not just seals, but also ID tags of the bloke that fitted the meter. They are starting to take this more and more seriously as they can take you/your sparky to court for it. However, I wouldn't worry overly if it was done some time ago as they will struggle to prove who did it or when.
With regards to not wanting a smart meter, the gov't says tough on this one. We (E.On) will start fitting them within the next 18 months as the gov't have decreed that everyone should have one by 2020. I don't think you'l have much of a choice in the end I'm afraid.
Also, are you sure it's a 450 amp fuse? A normal household main fuse should be 100, 80 or 60 amps.
I will quote the poster I'm replying to in order to give him a chance to amend his post.
Is it wise to post on a public forum that you knowingly employ a sub-contractor who breaks the law? Your profile has a link to your business' website (which also contains your full name and address). There are worse things to do than cutting the seal on the meter and/or service fuse to replace a consumer unit. It is unlikely he will get caught if you keep quiet but posting it on a public forum will not help.
Is it wise to post on a public forum that you knowingly employ a sub-contractor who breaks the law? Your profile has a link to your business' website (which also contains your full name and address). There are worse things to do than cutting the seal on the meter and/or service fuse to replace a consumer unit. It is unlikely he will get caught if you keep quiet but posting it on a public forum will not help.
We've been in our house for 24years and the meter and its connection cover have have been unsealed all that time.
We've had several different electric suppliers and it's obviously been read many times (I work from home so I'm usually here when they call) and it's never been commented on.
We've had several different electric suppliers and it's obviously been read many times (I work from home so I'm usually here when they call) and it's never been commented on.
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?
Ganglandboss said:
I will quote the poster I'm replying to in order to give him a chance to amend his post.
Is it wise to post on a public forum that you knowingly employ a sub-contractor who breaks the law? Your profile has a link to your business' website (which also contains your full name and address). There are worse things to do than cutting the seal on the meter and/or service fuse to replace a consumer unit. It is unlikely he will get caught if you keep quiet but posting it on a public forum will not help.
if this is quote is in reply to the flippant remarks i made earlier on this posting then i am very sorry that someone has tock it for more than a joke .Is it wise to post on a public forum that you knowingly employ a sub-contractor who breaks the law? Your profile has a link to your business' website (which also contains your full name and address). There are worse things to do than cutting the seal on the meter and/or service fuse to replace a consumer unit. It is unlikely he will get caught if you keep quiet but posting it on a public forum will not help.
i would never encourage or allow anybody to break the law in my professional world nor my privet
the posting i replied with was a tongue in cheek remark ,
i allso will Not Be looking after his lady at any time
i allso dont think he will be locked up for two years
if he is thats not due to me if hes not thats not due to me .
this is not my professional opinion as i dont have one on this matter
please forgive me if i have upset or miss lead anyone my intentions were only to entertain my self not to give advise.
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