Overhead electric cables compensation

Pink_fluff

obviously touting for business

chrissy1612

I am presently in talks with our supplier regarding 4 cables+ our own that are running over our property from a wooden pole immediately on our boundary (outside). I have discovered that if you put a written request to have cables belonging to others removed, they have to do so. They ran a further electricity cable over our property without any permission from us over three years ago which large birds congregate on and have fouled our cars and driveway. They have recently apologised but they work on the assumption that everyone assumes they are legally entitled to do this. When I contacted them regarding the huge mess on our property from birds from these cables they have quickly agreed to move the neighbours cables and put them underground but refuse to do the same with our cable. They tell us if we wish underground cables, we have to pay ourselves. They have agreed to move the pole from immediately in front of our window to the other side of the road but I feel aggrieved that they will not include underground cables for us while they are working next door. We will still have the bird problem. I understand that they do not have to by law? Any comments would be appreciated.

Farway

On a human level I would guess the elect co are thinking "s0d him" as you have caused them expense & trouble, all legal of course on your part, but my assumption is people are people, and how would you respond if someone gave you aggro & then wanted something from you later?

wolvotim

We removed a low voltage overhead line from a property a few weeks back. The company did the overhead line for free but the customer had to pay for a new underground supply to their property which was "suitably";) priced. Sometimes it’s not worth rocking the boat:p.

chrissy1612

This is my first posting and I was only asking if anyone had advice??? I had a feeling someone would feel it necessary to have a go!!! You do not know the full circumstances - perhaps if your cars were full of bird crap each morning, and your £2000 driveway also ruined, you would not be so flippant! I did not give them aggro at all!! I wrote to them initially to ask if there was some device they could put on these lines to stop the birds pitching on them, and after advice, I discovered that legally we did not have to have others cables over our property. What's wrong with that? They initially offered some small compensation to leave them there, but we are not after money, just to get rid, or at least reduce, the bird mess.

chrissy1612

Wolvatim,
You are probably right. We have asked for a price to pay for the underground cables ourselves, so we shall wait and see.

filmnoir

This may help:
http://www.powerlinefacts.com/UK%20Powerlines.htm

Dundee11

Hi,

You may well be entitled to compensation as a consequence of power lines crossing your property. I was going to use one of these companies however they charge a percentage + VAT and they also get a fee from the utility company. A neighbour of mine used a company like this but was so disappointed in what they did for the huge percentage they took. They did not even come to inspect his property which is crazy considering the compensation is based on the property value! As such I phoned the utility company to see why I was entitled to compensation.

They advised me that I was entitled to compensation and were happy to deal directly with me. The utility company advised me that I had the right to instruct a surveyor to act on my behalf at any point through the process which was reassuring. They submitted me their assessment of the compensation based on the value of my property following an inspection they did, we negotiated and came to an agreement without the middle man and I received all of the compensation! It’s well worth having a look at what the utility company will offer you directly, then if you want you can always go and instruct a surveyor or one of these companies if you not happy with the offer.

My neighbour was gutted when I received more than him considering he went through one of these companies claiming to be a specialist and I went directly.

Hope this helps

mateyboy

Hmmm... Interesting Dundee my neighbours have gone through one of these company's and they have taken a huge chunk out of the compensation,

Could I ask did you go to your Electricity supplier or the company who owns the power lines ,We have Electricity lines (pylon Type) running over the back end of our garden.

JC_Derby

mateyboy wrote: »

Hmmm... Interesting Dundee my neighbours have gone through one of these company's and they have taken a huge chunk out of the compensation,

Could I ask did you go to your Electricity supplier or the company who owns the power lines ,We have Electricity lines (pylon Type) running over the back end of our garden.

you need to go to your local distribution network operator not the company who supplies your electricity.
http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/AboutElectricity/DistributionCompanies/

slightly out of date now as Central Networks have been bought by Western Power distribution