Continuous Interuption To Power Supply For Engineering Work

Stanthedog

Hi

Can anyone help who knows the legislation around power companies conducting engineering work for domestic supplies. I live in a small village approximately 40 houses and each month for the last 3 months Scottish Power have interupted the power supply for one day each month in order to conduct engineering work. Today I have received a printed notice stating that next Tuesday (1 week forward) they will be doing the same again. This will be the fourth consecutive month that they have done this. Being self employed, working from home 2-3 days per week this is completely unacceptable. Are they issuing enough forward notice and what are my rights as a consumer.

This is causing considerable disruption. Not only is it inconventient but their contractor "Enterprise" have made a considerable mess in the area when they have been conducting work.

Wywth

Assuming you are a residential customer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/latest_utility_tables_pic.shtml

If you feel reason to complain about the mess the contractor is making, complain to the energy provider in your area (not your supplier) in the unlikely event it doesn't tell you on the notice of a planned interruption who to contact.

rogerblack

Wywth wrote: »

Assuming you are a residential customer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/latest_utility_tables_pic.shtml

As I understand it, you are never entitled to compensation in the case of a planned interruption in supply.
OP should consider getting either a generator, or a large UPS.
If this is being gotten solely for buisness use, it may be writeable off against tax.

Ich_2

They are give more notice than required by the various regulations so unfortunately you have no come back.
Obviously they are working to upgrade and maintain the network to make it more reliable. How would you expect them to do this without disconnecting supplies?

Atidi

Ich wrote: »

...Obviously they are working to upgrade and maintain the network to make it more reliable. How would you expect them to do this without disconnecting supplies?

I don't think I can remember ever having received a notice of a planned interruption. (other than back in the early 70's when we had planned blackouts)

Is that because they have never maintained or upgraded the system, or perhaps as I would imagine, they would re-route things were possible to maintain supply to me yet at the same time be able to isolate parts of the network they need to mainatin or upgrade?

rogerblack

Atidi wrote: »

I don't think I can remember ever having received a notice of a planned interruption. (other than back in the early 70's when we had planned blackouts)

Is that because they have never maintained or upgraded the system, or perhaps as I would imagine, they would re-route things were possible to maintain supply to me yet at the same time be able to isolate parts of the network they need to mainatin or upgrade?

It's not always possible to re-route.
I happen to be under a notice of interruption due the 10th IIRC - I have to check.

Ich_2

I don't think I can remember ever having received a notice of a planned interruption.

generally if you are connected to an underground system in a town or city you are far less likely to be disconnected for maintenance purposes owing to alternate feeds.
In more rural areas supplies will be from overhead networks, these lines stand in all weathers so do deteriorate and need maintenance to lessen the risk of unexpected power cuts

[Deleted User]

Yes it is common in the country to receive letters for planned outages. If you don't get one then make yourself know to your DNO and ask to be informed. No compensation is normally payable in these circumstances. We are Scottish Power too and can't say a bad word against them as they took out a row of our trees for free so no more cutting every three years

Ich_2

Oh and this is the specific regulation from The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2665/regulation/29/made

Cknocker

The company are operating within the rules - unfortunately it is impossible to operate an electricity network without sometimes switching people off.

Different DNO's operate very differently, some work on the premise that they will switch the section of network out, get the work done as quickly as possible - others work by installing generators, temporary backfeeds and other methods of keeping power on - even then there is a need for short interruptions (Typically 30 mins) as generators etc are connected and disconnected. The regulator does incentivise DNO's to operate in the latter way, however some DNO's look at it purely in financial terms where the former is cheaper - it doesn't help customer satisfaction though!

For the next 10 years interruptions and disturbance from the DNO's is going to be more noticable than in the past as the network is undergoing a massive replacement programme across the country.

C_Mababejive

No doubt they are improving/renewing/re-enforcing the local network to make it more reliable.