Electricity meter casement

cyrano55

Dear sleuths, our leccy meter is outside on the front of the house encased in a plastic frame and door.The door is a bit knackered and blows off in a gale.
Southern Electric state that the protective case is my concern and property and my onus to maintain and upkeep. The meter is their property. The door wasn't closed on the last inspection and the damage caused has now become an issue due to a broken latch and hinge.
Can I just get rid of the casing and leave the meter to the elements or am I obliged to provide protection? Or, can I request Southern Electricity to repai or replace?
I'm thinking, if a third party dumped a statue in my garden would I be obliged to keep it clean etc?
Apologies if this is the wrong site and if there are better places to ask please inform me.
Cheers.

JC_Derby

You own the meter box and it is your duty to maintain it. If you are lucky Southern, may replace the meter box door for you, no harm in asking.
If you leave the meter to the elements by and your power goes off, that will be your fault and may be chargeable to you.

cyrano55

Hmm, ok, I suspected so much but , what if I ask Southern Electric to place their meter in a more protected environment as the meter is exposed to all and sundry, do I have any rights? If SE decide to place a meter in an unprotected environment why is it my concern to provide protection? it's their meter, they might as well have just dumped it on the ground outside and expect me to look after their property surely?
I'm not trying to be antagonistic here but they own the meter, why are they not responsible for its upkeep, I never asked for it to be there?
Please be patient with my naive questioning.

macman

But it was protected. You have allowed the meter box to become damaged and ineffective, so it's your sole responsibility to repair or replace it, as it's your property. If the door wasn't closed, why did you not just close it?
If you want it moving, then you 'll have to pay.

cattie

I see loads of meter cupboards without a door on them in London, so obviously it is a common problem & nobody has ever been forced to supply a new door or other protection.

If It were my meter, I wouldn't want it exposed to the elements or to all & sundry & would get something done about it, but appreciate that due to financial restraints, this might not be an option for a lot of people.

Ich_2

Plenty of sources for a viewing cabinet door on the internet & at builder's merchants.

If you are not prepared to provide suitable watertight protection for the meter, they DNO/supplier is entitled to just remove it from site. i.e. disconnect your supply

JC_Derby

cyrano55 wrote: »

Hmm, ok, I suspected so much but , what if I ask Southern Electric to place their meter in a more protected environment as the meter is exposed to all and sundry, do I have any rights? If SE decide to place a meter in an unprotected environment why is it my concern to provide protection? it's their meter, they might as well have just dumped it on the ground outside and expect me to look after their property surely?
I'm not trying to be antagonistic here but they own the meter, why are they not responsible for its upkeep, I never asked for it to be there?
Please be patient with my naive questioning.

you can ask southern electric if they will replace the meter box door, they may do that as an offer of goodwill.
Southern Electric HAVE placed it in a protective environment, which is why its in a meter box. You however own the meter box, its part of your property and is therefor your duty to maintain it. As has been said, if you don't you run the risk of ultimately having an unsafe supply disconnected.


You never asked for it to be there?did you have the service installed, or was it there when you moved in?AS for asking them to move the meter, feel free, they will tell you precisely how much it will cost you.

chanz4

The builders allowed for it, op you will fuse your house and blow things if water gets in. Also you be will liable for the dno fees and meter operator costs.

The door would cost about £30, worth it?

[Deleted User]

cattie wrote: »

I see loads of meter cupboards without a door on them in London, so obviously it is a common problem & nobody has ever been forced to supply a new door or other protection.

If It were my meter, I wouldn't want it exposed to the elements or to all & sundry & would get something done about it, but appreciate that due to financial restraints, this might not be an option for a lot of people.

I ll second that, they must be pretty waterproof as I see plenty open to the elements for years, some rough streets have half of the box doors missing or have flapped themselves off in gales. Occupiers are always going into them with prepay meters. Its not usual to see an electric meter door damaged as they have better latches than the shoddy ones on gas meters.
Its worth trying a complaint to the supplier, they will mend a broken latch but not a whole door

cyrano55

Ok, seems like I'm a minority here.
1) SE put the meter outside, their choice not mine,so if I park my car by a sea wall I can expect somebody else to provide salt damage and flood protection, hmm, ok, if the law says so, the law being an (donkey) that is.
2) The lock was broken, presumably by an SE employee from last taking a meter reading, still my fault though right?
3) My failure to properly enclose someone else's property they placed in a carelessly exposed position is my fault?

I'm not being obtuse here but am I the only one who thinks this situation stinks or are these legitimate concerns?

[Deleted User]

cyrano55 wrote: »

Ok, seems like I'm a minority here.
1) SE put the meter outside, their choice not mine,so if I park my car by a sea wall I can expect somebody else to provide salt damage and flood protection, hmm, ok, if the law says so, the law being an (donkey) that is.
2) The lock was broken, presumably by an SE employee from last taking a meter reading, still my fault though right?
3) My failure to properly enclose someone else's property they placed in a carelessly exposed position is my fault?

I'm not being obtuse here but am I the only one who thinks this situation stinks or are these legitimate concerns?

Take it from me mate, the locks on the gas meters ( newer they are the cheaper ) fall apart in our hands . They are so flimsy and cheap they have no chance of lasting long. The low quality plastic ones eventually shear off with the slightest touch. Cold weather makes them brittle also. We dont go around brutally attacking them . They should be able to withstand a 90 degree turn a million times.Make them out of aluminium and they may do that. Some boxes have build up of dirt and plant material in them stopping them being shut properly once opened.
Get a new latch and box key from Ebay for just over £2 inc postage