EDF Energy - Upgrading supply?

danielite1

I wonder if anyone can help, please.

I live in a block of four Victorian flats in London that were converted around 20/30 years ago.

Recently, we had a small fire, which was caused by having the wrong electricity cable outside of our flats, coming into the hall. This cable was a single phase cable, instead of a 3 phase cable which would carry the correct supply.

After dealing with numerous individuals at EDF Energy, I have been horrified to find out that they seem to imply that we are responsible, (ie. the residents of these flats).

We have been on reduced electricity for two months now, living on 15 amps per flat, until EDF Energy can arrange a proper site survey to work out how they are going to fit a 3 phase cable.

I have been told by EDF that this is a very common problem in London and that loads of flats were wrongly converted and have incorrect and dangerous supply.

Has anyone else living in a flat in London, come up against this problem and how did they deal with it?

Surely, as we have had absolutley nothing to do with the conversion of these flats and have no idea who originally did the work...we should not be paying the bill?

Is there anyone who has experienced the same problem and what did they do.

Thank you for helping.

Pink_fluff

when you say 15amps? normal voltage is 230 and can fluctuate down to about 216. have you taken a reading of the voltage?

Incisor

Pink_fluff wrote: »

when you say 15amps? normal voltage is 230 and can fluctuate down to about 216. have you taken a reading of the voltage?

15 Amps each for the 4 flats equates to a nominal 60 Amp supply for the building as a whole, which sounds about right for the house as a single dwelling. The voltage is not particularly relevant - with a short incoming cable it is vary possible to overload it without dropping the voltage below limits.

Incisor

danielite1 wrote: »

I wonder if anyone can help, please.

I live in a block of four Victorian flats in London that were converted around 20/30 years ago.

Recently, we had a small fire, which was caused by having the wrong electricity cable outside of our flats, coming into the hall. This cable was a single phase cable, instead of a 3 phase cable which would carry the correct supply.

After dealing with numerous individuals at EDF Energy, I have been horrified to find out that they seem to imply that we are responsible, (ie. the residents of these flats).

We have been on reduced electricity for two months now, living on 15 amps per flat, until EDF Energy can arrange a proper site survey to work out how they are going to fit a 3 phase cable.

I have been told by EDF that this is a very common problem in London and that loads of flats were wrongly converted and have incorrect and dangerous supply.

Has anyone else living in a flat in London, come up against this problem and how did they deal with it?

Surely, as we have had absolutley nothing to do with the conversion of these flats and have no idea who originally did the work...we should not be paying the bill?

Is there anyone who has experienced the same problem and what did they do.

Thank you for helping.

At first sight, it looks like the developer of the premises is responsible for not upgrading the supplies, but as it is so far into the mists of time, there is no mileage in chasing them. You could however argue that EDF or its predecessors are responsible for allowing a 4 supply meter installation on the 1 cable.