YEDL- Dispute over damage to electrical cable

Ginger-Dumpling

Has anybody had any success in disputing a claim made by YEDL for damage to a mains cable.

The reason is, is that in putting in a fence post I went through a mains cable. On discovering that i may have gone through a cable i called and reported the incident.

YEDL very kindly came out and made good the repair and then informed me that i was liable for the repair.

I am aggreived at being liable as the mains cable feeds the property to a neighbouring property and hasn't anything to do with me. What angers me more is there is no need for the cable to be in my garden and could have gone a different route.

Secondly albeit that the cable was at the correct level it did not have any protective marking and as i was digging close to a conifer believed it was the root to the tree.

Anybody any ideas

DVardysShadow

Ultimately, you will probably end up referring it to your insurer under public liability.

But you could try challenging YEDL to produce the wayleave for the cable

Ginger-Dumpling

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Ultimately, you will probably end up referring it to your insurer under public liability.

But you could try challenging YEDL to produce the wayleave for the cable

I'm i right in thinking as the cable is on my property providing electricity to another property, not mine, there should be a wayleave in place? What does it mean if there is or if there isn't???

spiro

Ginger-Dumpling wrote: »

The reason is, is that in putting in a fence post I went through a mains cable. On discovering that i may have gone through a cable i called and reported the incident.

Was this is for a boundary fence? If so its possible that the boundary has 'moved' slightly over the years so instead of the cable running up the boundary line its now one side or the other.

JC_Derby

Ginger-Dumpling wrote: »

Has anybody had any success in disputing a claim made by YEDL for damage to a mains cable.

The reason is, is that in putting in a fence post I went through a mains cable. On discovering that i may have gone through a cable i called and reported the incident.

YEDL very kindly came out and made good the repair and then informed me that i was liable for the repair.

I am aggreived at being liable as the mains cable feeds the property to a neighbouring property and hasn't anything to do with me. What angers me more is there is no need for the cable to be in my garden and could have gone a different route.

Secondly albeit that the cable was at the correct level it did not have any protective marking and as i was digging close to a conifer believed it was the root to the tree.

Anybody any ideas

What were you digging with? If you were using a mini digger, then its unlikely they will let you off. If you were using a spade or digging manually then you might have a chance.

C_Mababejive

Bottom line,you damaged it,you have to pay. You may be able to offhand it to your insurers. When excavating anywhere,you should carry out a full plant location servuy using appropriate equipment. Obviously a diy/member of the public wouldnt have this equipment.

Ginger-Dumpling

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Bottom line,you damaged it,you have to pay. You may be able to offhand it to your insurers. When excavating anywhere,you should carry out a full plant location servuy using appropriate equipment. Obviously a diy/member of the public wouldnt have this equipment.

Fantastic bit of advice, really really helpful. I'm not looking at the bottom line more near to the top.....

JC_Derby

utter rubbish mababejive.

ginger can you answer my question....or pm me and ill give what advice i can

Ginger-Dumpling

Thanks Derby, i was digging with a fence post spade near to the corner border of my property. The cable in question runs parallel to my bottom boundary about 2ft my side. I have put up a fence to the left of the bottom boundary and because of how the fence post worked out my second to last post ended up on top of the cable(unaware at the time).

JC_Derby

sent you a pm....

C_Mababejive

JC_Derby wrote: »

utter rubbish mababejive.

ginger can you answer my question....or pm me and ill give what advice i can

Not really..i have experience of utilities and it is common practice both for utilities to charge eachother,to charge contractors/fencers/road layer or anyone else who excavates and damages and it is also common practice to directly bill householders where either they or someone working on their behalf,damages a utility.
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Here is a link to the type of equipment used by those in the business for survey work prior to exacavation.

http://www.radiodetection.com/menu_map_level_3.asp?sec_id=2690

Damaging utilities can be very expensive apart from the danger of injury/death