UK Power, Earth cable theft in Rainham Essex

crazyguy

Not sure if I posted in the right place,

http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/breaking_news_nearly_300_homes_in_rainham_lose_power_after_theives_cause_electrical_fires_1_1104627

I have searched online and cannot find a straight answer for this.

Basicaly a friend of mine is in the area where this happened and has a shed purposely built and used as an office space, now due to being a shed he could not get insurance on the items kept in it.

The Company UK Power are only offering £200.00 damages per house hold now if he can prove that the actual cost of the damages amounted to nearer side of £1000.00 plus this includes a damaged desktop pc a laptop and a fax machine can he claim the full amount from them.

I would have thought that UK Power's insurance policy must cover things like this and it looks like the £200.00 payment is a gesture of goodwill for the issues caused and to cover the excess on most house holders insurance policies.

Another link here:
http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/update_compensation_doesn_t_cover_cost_of_problems_caused_by_rainham_cable_thieves_say_residents_1_1105673

Does anyone know if it is possible to make a legal challenge against UK Power to cover the full cost of items damaged.

NeverInDebt

I wonder if the thieving gits got electrocuted

Optimist

If you can prove negligence there might be a case i.e. the substation was left unlocked, but otherwise I cannot see how you can hold UK Power at fault. It was hardly their fault that some thieving scrote decided to help themselves to the cable.

Insurance probably will not be involved on the UK Power side as like most large organisations they will most probably self insure.

custardy

crazyguy wrote: »

Not sure if I posted in the right place,

http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/breaking_news_nearly_300_homes_in_rainham_lose_power_after_theives_cause_electrical_fires_1_1104627

I have searched online and cannot find a straight answer for this.

Basicaly a friend of mine is in the area where this happened and has a shed purposely built and used as an office space, now due to being a shed he could not get insurance on the items kept in it.

The Company UK Power are only offering £200.00 damages per house hold now if he can prove that the actual cost of the damages amounted to nearer side of £1000.00 plus this includes a damaged desktop pc a laptop and a fax machine can he claim the full amount from them.

I would have thought that UK Power's insurance policy must cover things like this and it looks like the £200.00 payment is a gesture of goodwill for the issues caused and to cover the excess on most house holders insurance policies.

Another link here:
http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/update_compensation_doesn_t_cover_cost_of_problems_caused_by_rainham_cable_thieves_say_residents_1_1105673

Does anyone know if it is possible to make a legal challenge against UK Power to cover the full cost of items damaged.

what if they turned round and said these items should have had surge protectors fitted?
how far do you take a power company's liabilities to actions caused by theives?

crazyguy

I understand it was caused by thieves but am wondering if there is a chance of a legal challenge over this as per Optimist's post surely this Earth cable should be secured in a way that a thief cannot gain access to it.

custardy

crazyguy wrote: »

I understand it was caused by thieves but am wondering if there is a chance of a legal challenge over this as per Optimist's post surely this Earth cable should be secured in a way that a thief cannot gain access to it.

well how far do you take cannot?
most stuff can be stolen with enough effort
If my locked bike gets stolen is it my fault because it was still possible to steal?

crazyguy

Yes I aggree with what you say, may just be a case of suffering the loss, I do feel sorry for the house holds who did not have any insurance as £200.00 will not go anywhere for them.

custardy

crazyguy wrote: »

Yes I aggree with what you say, may just be a case of suffering the loss, I do feel sorry for the house holds who did not have any insurance as £200.00 will not go anywhere for them.

I dont blame them for wanting the company to cover it
nobody wants to have to pay that sort of money out for no fault of teir own.
doesn't hurt to push for more

Owain_Moneysaver

You won't get anywhere suing for negligence.

You can try suing for breach of contract. The electricity supply would appear to be dangerously overvoltage and outside the voltage range specified in the The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002

27. (2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the distributor, the supplier and the consumer (and if necessary between the distributor and any other distributor likely to be affected) the frequency declared pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be 50 hertz and the voltage declared in respect of a low voltage supply shall be 230 volts between the phase and neutral conductors at the supply terminals.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, unless otherwise agreed in writing by those persons specified in paragraph (2), the permitted variations are—
(b)
in the case of a low voltage supply, a variation not exceeding 10 per cent above or 6 per cent below the declared voltage at the declared frequency;

It's likely that the £200 is an initial goodwill offer not requiring any claim to be made. It doesn't stop you making a further claim and energy suppliers have established procedures for this.

crazyguy

custardy wrote: »

I dont blame them for wanting the company to cover it
nobody wants to have to pay that sort of money out for no fault of teir own.
doesn't hurt to push for more

The local paper is involved now and there is a meeting in Rainham next week with some people from the Company so you never know they may get more out of them.

crazyguy

Thanks Owain Moneysaver, will pass that info on to him.