Flickering electricity supply - please help.

jimpix12

Hi all

For the last 10-12 weeks I've had a flickering supply of electricity, whereby the lights flicker every second or so. It may sound like I'm moaning about nothing but - trust me - it is VERY irritating. If it's really bad we turn all the lights off and sit in darkness

I've been in contact with Eon who I pay my bills to, and they are saying that it's a problem with EDF Energy (who are their suppliers?). I'm lead to believe that they cannot get access to where the fault is (I was told this in June). The problem is still very much here.

It's getting to the point now where I'm not going to sit back anymore, tomorrow morning I'm going to be on the phone and complaining to managers/supervisors/anyone who'll listen.

Can someone give me advice on what's best to do/say? They have hinted that it's a large fault so I am not the only one suffering, yet their complacency is ridiculous. It shouldn't take 12 weeks+ to fix this, right? The thing is, I don't think switching suppliers will change anything so from their point of view there's no impetus to get off their !!!!!! and fix it.

Any advice appreciated.

dunloadin

Ask your neighbours if they have the same problem, if so then the problem lies with the incomming supply and is the responsibility of your Distribution Network Operator (DNO), from the sound of it thats EDF energy.

If it is only your property that is affected it could be down to a number of reasons, the most likeliest being a loose connector at the meter or in your consumer unit (fuse box).

If you suspect this DO NOT wiggle wires around or try to find the fault yourself, ask your supplier (Eon) to send an engineer round to check it out....if it's the meter they should sort it out.

If it's the consumer unit you'll have to get an electrician in and pay for any work done as it's not the suppliers responsibility to do so.

dunloadin

Apologies, just noticed your location is Aberdeen, in which case your DNO is Scottish Hydro.

Not sure if Eon have any engineers in the Hydro DNO, but if you contact Hydro they may have a better idea and/or send someone out to have a look at it.

Kane99uk

If the fault lies with major cabling, then it could indeed take some time to rectify a fault like this. Cables can be of huge lengths, and if they've been run under roads, through fields etc over a number of miles, then they have a lot of ground to cover to find the exact spot, and then require planning permission from local authorities for the work to take place (digging, road diversions etc). Have known major cable faults with BT to run on for months some times when they were in the middle of a busy built-up area - unfortunately, it might just be a case of having to wait it out.

tinkerbelle

If it is Scottish Hydro who own the cables in your area then phone them on 0800 300 999 & tell them that you have a voltage complaint which means that your lights are flickering. They will come out as an emergency and check the electricity coming up to your meter.

Chris357

When you phone Scottish Hydro, they should warn you that you will be charged if it turns out the problem is you fault (eg faulty wiring). So make absolutely sure it isn't. If your neighbours are having the same problem, then there is nothing to worry about.