Who is responsible for moving meter due to main cable in wrong property?

artywood

Who is responsible for moving meter due to main cable in wrong property?

My friend moved into her flat several years ago and also bought the upstairs for her Mom. Around the same time her neighbour bought the property next door as a guest house. The problem my friend is having is that her electric meter is in her neighbour property along with her moms and the neighbour is requesting that they are removed. When she original bought the two flats from a property developer she did not notice the meters were missing until the neighbour informed her once she had moved into her flat. She has contacted her supplier and they are saying that she will need to pay for them to be removed from the neighbour house. The meter is not harming anyone I think it’s just the neighbour has an issue (I can see his point also) and would like them removed.

I have tried to find some information on issues like this but am not very successful as I thought it was the responsibility of the supplier to move this due to the main cable being the suppliers issue and this is in the neighbour property. As I understand that all cables from the meter are her responsibility but from the ground up to the meter is the electricity supplier’s issue.

I would appreciate any help or advice on this matter as my friend is getting worked up about this problem as she cannot afford to get these moved and does not want her mom or herself without electricity.

brysiewysie

I'd guess it's the distribution companies job to move the cable and the meter operators need to move the meter. The supplier will probably book the appointments required or give you the contact numbers for you to get them booked. You're basically right about who's job it is to move the parts, but they will charge and I think it will be expensive.

Pssst

The developer who converted the house into flats should have arranged for new services and meters to be fitted in the newly created individual flats. This would have been at his cost. He chose not to do this. You bought the flats,your survey obviously did not flag up this anomaly so the situation continued. As the meter reader has a right to enter and read the meter,the problem now rests with your neighbour who will be inconvenienced. T hats her problem unfortunately. The distribution cos will not do work for nothing. They are not bothered.

Somerset

I think your friend will end up paying.

It costs to move a meter. I've just done this - it involved digging up the path outside the building to find the main cable, deactivating the 'old' and further digging to trench in the 'new' , as the main cable needs to come through the wall where the 'new' meter will be. All of this was 'outside' work but I was liable as I was the one asking for the meter to be moved.

You could ask to 'share' the cost with your neighbour as neither of you are really responsible for the c**k-up, but the outcome depends on how reasonable all the parties are. In your friend's position I'd worry that, now the situation has come to light and your neighbour has said he wants the meter removed, that he could harass the friend into removing it ie it could suddenly develop a fault whereby it keeps tripping ! Hopefully the costs can be shared and resolved amicably.

artywood

Thanks for all the advice given but regards to splitting the cost I don’t think is an option as the neighbour has already said that he is not prepared to put his hand in his pocket.

In addition to this he is refusing anyone access from my electrical supply to read the meter as he thinks they should be removing the meter from his premises. He is overall pleasant with my friend and has mentioned that there is a switch above the meter (which he has shown her) which if he wished would kill all the electric to there flats. But he has assured her he would not do this as this is not her fault and is adamant this problem is the supplier’s issue.

The electrical company have not been allowed access for almost 2 years now so my friend only gets estimates bills. To add more worry to her now she has received a letter saying the meter needs renewed as it’s passed its renewal date.
:sad:

terryya

Suppliers have a legal responsibility to read/check the meters every two years and IIRC they can do this with or without the occupiers help/permission. So if your friends neighbour continues to be a pain in the a**e then they will just let themselves in, especially if they need to change it.

artywood

This is nice to hear as my friend is really worried about this and feels she is not in control of this situation. She is even contemplating getting a loan to get the two meters changed.

brysiewysie

terryya wrote: »

Suppliers have a legal responsibility to read/check the meters every two years and IIRC they can do this with or without the occupiers help/permission. So if your friends neighbour continues to be a pain in the a**e then they will just let themselves in, especially if they need to change it.

They have a responsibility to attempt to read the meter every 2 years so artywood don't get your hopes up.

I've seen a few crazy situations before where there's no way a meter will ever get read (one in a room thta's now bricked up, one outside in a brick cupboard, locked and surrounded by 8 foot high spiked fencing with no entrance gate). You may be able to get the meter operators or supplier to try to make a special effort to get the meter read but they may end up shrugging their shoulders.

It may be that the meter exchange situation will be treated differently.

spiro

brysiewysie wrote: »

They have a responsibility to attempt to read the meter every 2 years so artywood don't get your hopes up.

I've seen a few crazy situations before where there's no way a meter will ever get read (one in a room thta's now bricked up, one outside in a brick cupboard, locked and surrounded by 8 foot high spiked fencing with no entrance gate). You may be able to get the meter operators or supplier to try to make a special effort to get the meter read but they may end up shrugging their shoulders.

It may be that the meter exchange situation will be treated differently.

In gas there is a 'must inspect' condition in the suppliers licence which means it has to happened every 2 years. This gives them the right to get a warrant to gain entry to the 'meter point address' which in this case would be the neighbour's flat.

If you bought the flat I suggest you check the surveyors report to see if this was mentioned especially if you had a full survey.

Pssst

I would contact/write to your supplier and explain the situation. also clarify the issue with regard to estimates. It could well be that your friend is building up a massive debt due to underestimation over a period of time!

If they fit her a card/key meter to recover that debt,she'll never get any electric!
Perhaps when remote metering starts to come into play again,that could be an answer. Ask her to ask her supplier if they do or can provide remote meter reading in this case? The person who she talks to might not have a clue what shes on about.

brysiewysie

spiro wrote: »

In gas there is a 'must inspect' condition in the suppliers licence which means it has to happened every 2 years. This gives them the right to get a warrant to gain entry to the 'meter point address' which in this case would be the neighbour's flat.

If you bought the flat I suggest you check the surveyors report to see if this was mentioned especially if you had a full survey.

But the OP only mentions electricity.