Implications of moving a meter board et al

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Sun Oct 03, 2021 9:07 pm

OK...so here's the thing. When our house was renovated back in 1978, typical farmer....put the company cutout and meter in a meter box and then fed a l...o...n...g extension cable to feed our house 1/3 mile away. And yes, they undersized the cable. That is bye-the-bye. Consumer unit in the house.

Farmer hates me coming onto his land to read the meter. Wants to rebuild the wall (blockwork) on which the meter board and box etc) is mounted and replace it with a dry-stone wall. Reposition the meter board on the other side of the wall and so not that obviously on the land by his house as far as he is concerned.

Questions..

1) Would the DNO (NorthernPowergrid) be happy in trying to fit their meter board to a dry stone wall that is basically unstable ?

2) Would they insist that changes were made to bring the whole system into modern standards? Such as insisting meter moved to our house, for example ?

3) How should one feed a house 1/3 mile away from the company cutout ?

Really interested to hear what you folk think.

Running in overhead or underground 11kv to a transformer nearer our place has been quoted at £80k or so. Not a chance unless he wants to prise open his wallet.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun Oct 03, 2021 10:06 pm

Have you thought about a smart meter? Most suppliers will fit one free of charge and as they take the readings wirelessly no one needs to access his land. The meter may be fitted at your property after a survey. The grid people will have to assure themselves if the fitting is sound if it has to be on his wall if there are power issues.

DWD

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:52 am

If a smart meter is still on his land then I have no way of knowing myself what the readings are since the remote display unit will be out of range. Putting a meter at my home has advantages ...it's the practicalities that concern me because as I understand it there are three parties involved - worst case scenario. The DNO to move the incomer and company cutout together with meter board. My sparks to fit a meter box - albeit with no meter inside it. Then the engineer from whoever is installing smart meters on behalf of my supplier coming to my home. My sparks then undoing all his neat work with the feed into the bottom of the consumer unit, splitting out some tails, handing over to the meter man, who connects the meter then who hands things back to my sparks and so on. A whole recipe for disaster IMO.

But as I type this I am thinking if it is possible for my sparks to fit my own smart meter in my home for my benefit/readings.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 7:49 am

Well I would ask your supplier, just say you want a smart meter with no background story and let the surveyor sort it. You have a human right to electricity so start on that tack as a breach of your rights as an argument. Play the mental health card if necessary.

DWD

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 7:50 am

Your spark can’t fit the supplier meter . Only the supplier will fit said meter

Could you post a photo of the existing set up?

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:26 am

Sorry it's out of focus!

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:29 am

How far does the farmer want it moved?

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:33 am

On the other side of the wall. TBH I couldn't care less where he puts it ...just as long as I can put a large metal lockable box around it so he can't turn it off.

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:49 am

So you have more of a logistical problem

1. Where does the supply come from and does it need extending?

2. Where does the outgoing cable go and does that need extending?

3. Somebody to dig the necessary holes or trenches

4. Somebody to mount and fix the new meter cupboard

5. The DNO to reposition the head

6. The supplier to fit a new meter and isolation switch

7. A local spark to fit a new switch fuse and connect it to the new isolator and extend the cable if required

So prepare yourself for costs and a day without electricity

PS what size cable goes to your property and how do you heat it ?

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:57 am

Thanks but we're at cross-purposes I think.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:05 am

From what I understand this is a problem surrounding the existing incoming mains supply. The main fuse is on a board that is situated some distance from the property on the other side of a boundary wall on the adjacent farmers land. Ideally, the OP would like the mains panel on his house so the farmer does not get irritated when the OP goes on his land and reads the meter. The farmer wants to replace the wall with a new drystone wall and put the board on that. My idea of getting a smart meter would resolve the reading problem and when the surveyor calls he may be able to offer a solution for it all.

DWD

DWD

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:44 am

countryman69 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:57 am Thanks but we're at cross-purposes I think.

How can we be at cross purposes?

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:17 am

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:05 am From what I understand this is a problem surrounding the existing incoming mains supply. The main fuse is on a board that is situated some distance from the property on the other side of a boundary wall on the adjacent farmers land. Ideally, the OP would like the mains panel on his house so the farmer does not get irritated when the OP goes on his land and reads the meter. The farmer wants to replace the wall with a new drystone wall and put the board on that. My idea of getting a smart meter would resolve the reading problem and when the surveyor calls he may be able to offer a solution for it all.

DWD

DWD

I couldn't care less whether or not I irritate him when going up to read the meter. After all, I have had the police out twice in the last two weeks as the farmer switched off our supply as harassment. I have a recorded video of him telling me to F...off, to get off his land and that he was going to cut our supply.

My main driver behind the OP is the hassle that we might get into as a result of him wanting the meter board etc moved. Whether or not there will be the ubiquitous sharp intake of breath when the DNO or anyone else arrives. Any costs involved are going to be born by him but I like to have the knowledge beforehand so that, in the ongoing dialogue between our solicitor and him over other issues (such as trespass on our land, deliberately removing fences so that his sheep come into our land/garden etc) suitable words can be sent to him to forestall any hassle if at all possible.

Even if I were to instal a smart meter up there, I still have no way of knowing the readings, do I?

countryman69 · Post by **countryman69** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:18 am

Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:44 am
countryman69 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:57 am Thanks but we're at cross-purposes I think.
How can we be at cross purposes?

It's not me that has the logistical problem. As I mentioned above, I just want to be forewarned and forearmed to try and mitigate any future hassle.

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:36 am

countryman69 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:18 am
Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:44 am
countryman69 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:57 am
Well, your farmer friend can’t prevent your access to your meter so he needs to contribute imho
Thanks but we're at cross-purposes I think.
How can we be at cross purposes?
It's not me that has the logistical problem. As I mentioned above, I just want to be forewarned and forearmed to try and mitigate any future hassle.