UKPN New connection quote too much

dariune

Hi all

I was wondering if I could get some advice.

I am converting a house situated on a walkway into two flats.

I have had a new water supply (After 9 months arguing the price with some advice from this very forum) and a new gas supply but am struggling with the new Electricity supply.

Because the nearest mains is along the walk way by three houses UK Power Network are charing me £8600 + VAT for the new supply.

They say there might be a nearer mains, not on the map but the only way to check that is to start work and hope. Much of the cost is because they will have to close the walkway, getting a permit from the council.

When I fought South East Water on this I argued that the walkway is their responsability and I read all of the Water Legislation to find loop holes in whath!were telling me. Eventually they agreed to split the pipe therefore saving them and me money.

I have asked UKPN to split my onnection and thehave said no. I have mentioned that it should be their responsability on the walk way and they have said no to that too.

The break down of the quote is as follows:

Assessment and design: 396.00

Jointer to attend site whilst excavation is being completed to
check if useable cable is available directly outside property: 284.90

Disconnection of existing service: 217.35

Contestable works –
installation of new cut-out; jointing of new service to existing
LV network.: 836.24

Civil Contractor costs –
off site excavation and reinstatement; cable laying on site;
closure of footpath; suspension of pay & display bays;
additional costs for removal of spoil.: 6424.44

Second comer contribution - a charge for connection to
network previously installed (Funded by Others) that is
subject to the Electricity (Connection Charges) Regulations
2002: 517.70

V.A.T.: 407.95

Total charge: 9084.58

Are any of you able to help me? I can't find the Elecricity legislation, I'm not sure who to complain to etc.

Any help would be hugely appreciat!d as this price is far higher than anticipated (I phoned them when I first bought the house and they guessed 2k, and may put an end to this project (Which would be disastrous for me).

Thanks in advance

dariune

No one able to help with this?

ihateyes

i live in a rural village, and gas mains has been laid in last 7 mths, and the prices they are quoting to pipe up driveways is ludicrous, though your quote blows the £3.5k i have heard them quote!

matelodave

One assumes that if you do all your own digging, get your own permits, footpath closures, take away the spoil and re-instate etc. etc. You could also lay the cables between your premises and the splicing point then all you've got to do is pay them for the splice connection and test. That would save you most of the cost and a big heap of VAT as well if you actually did the work.
However the local council will probably make you use an approved contractor to dig and re-instate as any works in the road or footway have to be done to a particular standard taking into account H&S as well as any planning or building regs that have to be adhered to.

Standing back and letting someone else do it all might actually be a lot less hassle and possibly not much more expensive.


I'm intrigued as to why you think that the walkway is their responsibility. It would be if they have to dig it up if there was a fault, but as you want the walkway dug to provide you with power, why should the rest of us contribute to it. You will be profiting from the work so it's not unreasonable that you pay for it to be done.

dariune

I don't understand why you think it would be you paying. They don't get tax payers money they are privately owned.

And I wondered that because SE Water and Southern Gas take responsability for public property.

Currently I am working on a way to just split the supply/ Loop the supply I have as their is enough electricity coming in for two flats (Gas heating/ovens)