Electricy cut off by NPower

Gosia

Hi

I am looking to rent out my property up north to tenants. However it has been standing empty for a couple of months and today I received a telephone call from the Letting Agents to say that there is no electricity - so it must have been cut off.

Now I don't know how or why this happened. NPower do have my address details here but admittedly I haven't heard anything from them in months - so maybe they've been writing to the other address and silly me didn't even give this any notice.

What I do wanna know is the following:-

• Is it gonna cost to get the electricity (maybe even gas) turned back on?
• If so how much?
• Is there any way around those charges - i.e. can I switch to E.on for example.

Please please please any help would be much appreciated. Had none stop problems with this place.

Pink_fluff

Is it a key meter that perhaps needs credited?

Gosia

Hi Pink-fluff

It's definitely not a key meter that needs to be credited.

withabix

If they've cut the electricity off, the main cartridge fuse in the meter cupboard will have been removed.

This may have been done by the DNO/REC (the company which controls the network in that area - ie the regional electricity supplier from before deregulation, or their current owner) due to there being no registered customer.

It is often done for safety reasons (and to prevent electricity theft) at empty properties.

If it has been cut off due to non payment of an outstanding bill, this will have to be paid to the most recent electricity supplier before they will allow the main fuse to be replaced.

Gosia

Hi whithabix

Just to ensure that I get this right - how would they have been able to enter the property to remove the cartridge fuse from the inside the house meter cupboard?

calleyw

Gosia wrote: »

Hi whithabix

Just to ensure that I get this right - how would they have been able to enter the property to remove the cartridge fuse from the inside the house meter cupboard?

Because they break in that is how, well actually they use a lock smith.

British gas have done it. See here more info here and it is legal.

Yours

Calley

Gosia

Hi

We've got someone who does check the house occasionally and they've never mentioned any signs of break in!

Well that's interesting - especially as all the doors (both front and rear) are doubleglazed I don't think it's actually that's easy to break into these.

Anyhow thanks for all the advice. Will definitely be looking into this further!

whatatwit

If they have cut it off due to an unpaid bill, they may require a security deposit from you before they re-connect.

Pink_fluff

Is it perhaps a power cut? Do you know how long the power has been off for? Perhaps the main fuse has blown?

withabix

OK, the other possibility may be that your Letting Agents are just thick and the electricity has tripped (if MCBs are fitted to the consumer unit) or it's just been switched off at your consumer unit?

calleyw

Gosia wrote: »

Hi

We've got someone who does check the house occasionally and they've never mentioned any signs of break in!

Well that's interesting - especially as all the doors (both front and rear) are doubleglazed I don't think it's actually that's easy to break into these.

Oh yes they are, if you have Euro Profile Cylinder locks on them. They can be opened with everyday tools in seconds.

Look here

Yours


Calley