Electricity question - supply and equipment

gemstars

Sorry for the long post.....

I'm buying my first house (currently living with parents) and the house has electric overnight storage heating, there is no gas supply to the property - I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea but I'm happy with it.

I have received the Homebuyers survey report which states:

Mains electricity is connected and the meter is located in the garage and the fuse box in the entrance hall. Where visible the installation is generally of modern switches, sockets and grey PVC sheathed cable. However, the system was not tested, and in line with recommendations by the Institute of Electrical Engineers regarding domestic wiring, which recommends testing every five years or upon change of ownership, it would be prudent to have a test carried out by a qualified electrician (preferably one registered with the NIC/EIC) to ensure that the installation fully conforms to current IEE regulations.

You are advised, before exchange of contracts, to obtain a written quotation from a qualified (preferably one registered with the NIC/EIC) for re-wiring or re-equipping as necessary to ensure that the installation fully complies with current IEE regulations.

So my first question is. Should I get a check done? I get the impression from the forums that this is just a standard thing that goes into all reports?

The house was built in 1979 and has had no extensions etc and there's been no problems reported in the survey apart from a bit of felt in the roof needs sticking back down and a bit of wood on the front of the house will need sanding and repainting soon. I don't want to cut corners if this is something that really does need to be done, but on the other hand money is becoming a bit stretched with all the other various fees I've had to pay so I'd like to skip this if I can. What are your views?

My second question is: What should I do about suppliers? Having never lived on my own before I've got no idea how much electricity I'll use or even when I'll use it (peak or off-peak) so my plan is to sign up with a 'simple' energy supplier such as Ebico for a few months as they don't have a contract period unlike most suppliers (have I got this right) until I have a better understanding of my needs and then work out what will be the cheapest option for me and change then. Does this sound like a sensible idea?

If you've gotten this far, thanks!
Gem

keith969

Personally I wouldn't bother to have it tested, its not that old. This is the usual getout clause put in so that if there ever should turn out to be a problem, the surveyor has covered his behind.

No idea on the second one, can you ask the sellers what they were paying before?

gemstars

They were paying about 80 a month and they're on the overnight storage tarriff thingy.

I don't know how their lifestyle equates to ours tho so I've got no idea which tarriff will be best until I've lived there for a while I don't think.

not_loaded

According to the Part P electrician who did my kitchen work, modern domestic wiring has a predicted life of 100 years. Modern being PVC insulated of course.

However, according to safety electrical standards that I’ve read, the design life of this type of cabling is 20+ years, based on the cable being at it's maximum current rating, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. That’s crazy, as of course with properly installed ring mains the cabling is never at maximum loading and most domestic circuits are not operated continuously.

In the Wiring Regulations it states that cable should be ‘periodically’ inspected, so that’s no help.

I think that most rewiring gets done at the behest of Building Societies who put stipulations on the loan, and a lot of perfectly good wiring is thrown into skips. It’s quite feasible that a poor performing electrician could make the new installation more dangerous than it was before it was touched.

For the age of your property I’d leave it alone, unless you can clearly see dodgy looking work.

gemstars

not_loaded wrote: »

For the age of your property I’d leave it alone, unless you can clearly see dodgy looking work.

Thanks for your reply. I won't be able to check if the wiring looks dodgy until we're in it, but considering there's nothing wrong (fingers crossed) so far I can't imagine there'll be anything major.

not_loaded

I think your biggest risk is cowboys who’ve tweaked the wiring along the way.

When I checked my visible wiring after a job was done in my loft, I was appalled by how poorly the work had been done.

If you’re in doubt, ask friends/neighbours for recommendations for an electrician and get him to check things out.

Fire_Fox

gemstars wrote: »

My second question is: What should I do about suppliers? Having never lived on my own before I've got no idea how much electricity I'll use or even when I'll use it (peak or off-peak) so my plan is to sign up with a 'simple' energy supplier such as Ebico for a few months as they don't have a contract period unlike most suppliers (have I got this right) until I have a better understanding of my needs and then work out what will be the cheapest option for me and change then. Does this sound like a sensible idea?

If you've gotten this far, thanks!
Gem

You will be stuck with the current electricity supplier for the first month or so on what is known as a 'deemed contract'. You need to read the meter on the first day and ring that in to the supplier DO NOT rely on someone else to do this or you may get fleeced. When you ring in ask to go on their cheapest Economy 7 tariff immediately as they will automatically put you on 'standard' (expensive). You are not in a long contract with any supplier unless you get a fixed price tariff.

After a month take meter readings again and plug your readings into a price comparison site then switch via a cashback site. Bear in mind you won't use much night rate in the summer, so take readings regularly all year round and keep an eye on prices. Most comparison sites have a standard split for E7 users - something like 55%/ 44% - which you can use to make a rough guess.

Processes that eat electricity produce heat - so heating is far and away the most expensive, then power showers/ hot baths, tumble dryers, and to a lesser extent washing machines and dishwashers. Lighting and leaving things on standby don't make that much difference to your bill at all (tho good for the environment to sort out). Check your loft insulation and consider cavity wall insulation (if not already in place) before winter sets in so you don't heat the street.

gemstars

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You will be stuck with the current electricity supplier for the first month or so on what is known as a 'deemed contract'.

Is this true? That I am stuck with the supplier of the current owner of the house? Whoever they may be. If so, how long for?

waynehayes

According to Guidance Notes 3 of the Wiring Regs, a full periodic should be done at least every 10 years and dedinitely on change of ownership. But of course, most people don't bother. The property is 20 years old, so an inspection is a good idea, and it will expose any shoddy work.

Fire_Fox

gemstars wrote: »

Is this true? That I am stuck with the supplier of the current owner of the house? Whoever they may be. If so, how long for?

Is this true??? Why ask questions if you are not going to believe the answer?

You will be stuck with the current electricity supplier for the first month or so on what is known as a 'deemed contract'.

How long depends if you bother to read advice properly and follow the instructions to the letter. :rolleyes:

gemstars

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Is this true??? Why ask questions if you are not going to believe the answer?


How long depends if you bother to read advice properly and follow the instructions to the letter. :rolleyes:

Because although this site is great for advice, a lot of it is down to personal opinion (great example relating to this subject here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=562974)

surely I'm 'allowed' more than one answer, not that I'm saying you're wrong