Electrics in extension query

Bluebell1000

We are having some work done to add an extension, which includes moving the electric meter. We have paid for the meter box to be relocated. The builder says he presumed that the wiring from the meter box to our existing fuse box would be provided by the electric company (which it isn't), and is trying to charge us for the additional work. We have signed an agreement with the builder for 'all relevant electrics'.

Can I ask whether people feel we are being unreasonable in expecting that this part of the work (inside the new extension) would be covered by the agreement?

Carrot007

As long as this is the first time he has every done such a meter box fitting it sounds reasonable.

Howeever anyone regularly dealing with that sort of thing would know the electric companys responsibility stops at the meter.

Surely it is not a lot. The cable to the consumer unit is not cheap. (I remeber this from when I had my meter box moved, but I also got the the consumer unit moved to the wall the other side of the box at the same time) As such it makes no sense to have the meter a long way away from it.

Bluebell1000

It's already over 3m away and will be moving further so will need a breaker. The wiring to the consumer unit from the existing meter box was re-done in 2011 and we don't wish to move the unit. We haven't yet had a price - the electrician visited today.

We don't know whether the builder has done a meter box move before, but he filled out the paperwork for us, and had all the T&C from the power company handed to him at the time, which included details of the wiring needed.

Also when we have agreed an 'all inclusive' price for the full build, including interior decoration, carpeting etc, we tend to feel that anything extra is rather unreasonable.

DevCoder

If its already over 3m then you should already have an 80amp double pole KMF switch to protect the tails so surely its just the cost of the longer cables?

So assuming Vd etc is ok then 25mm would be fine (you don't say what the new distance is).