Want to move electricity meter

misterstingy

I want to get our electricity meter changed for an outside meter. I would also like to change our fuse box for a modern trip switch fuse box, as the one we currently have is the old-fashioned kind with bits of wire that are supposed to melt if there's an overload. I would also quite like to get the house re-wired as there is no earth wire in our lighting circuits, so we can only have plastic light fittings.

I understand that the meter has to be changed by the elec. co., but can the fuse box be installed by any qualified electrician, or would it be as well to get both changed at the same time?

With regard to re-wiring the house, would getting it done by the elec. co. be ridiculously expensive compared to getting a small local firm to do it?

[Deleted User]

get ready for a shock.... when you hear the price of moving the meter outdoors. They charge top dollar. Last time I asked a customer the price charged they said £800..and no haggling is involved

macman

The CU has nothing to do with your supplier, you can do as you wish with it. Everything downstream of the meter is your responsibility.
Why would you ask your supplier to do a rewire? Their business is supply, not domestic wiring, so they'd simply be using subcontractors if they offer such a service.

Carrot007

Meter outside will be your DNO (not supplier). It aint cheap. I got it done about 10 years ago for a few hundred. But for that you are expected to have fitted the outside box and ducting and be ready for them. Some DNO's may offer the full package but I'd doubt their offers would be reasonable for the extra, so expect that part to be a 2 company job unless you can fit a box etc yourself.

As said everything after the meter is yours. Your supplier may offer such services but again they are going to be on the expensive side and often then contracted out to people that are far from the best. Expect a complete rewire to be thousands though. Even more
if you don't want the new wires in duct boxes.

chanz4

macman wrote: »

The CU has nothing to do with your supplier, you can do as you wish with it. Everything downstream of the meter is your responsibility.
Why would you ask your supplier to do a rewire? Their business is supply, not domestic wiring, so they'd simply be using subcontractors if they offer such a service.

you mean upstream of the meter

macman

I thought electricity flowed downstream (in this context)?

misterstingy

Just what I needed.

JC_Derby

The dno may allow you to do all the excavation on your on land. That is the cheapest option, for them and you. The dno may move the meter for you, but they may not in which case the supplier may also be required. You'll also need a sparky.
Some Dno's offer a self quoting system, which is usually cheaper for straightforward meter moves.
Best thing, speak to the dno, see if you can get someone in a local office.
As said expect to pay the dno between 600 and 1500.
A sparky a couple of hundred and possibly someone to excavate too.