moving electricity meter quote

mary4kids

Hello
I need some help please with the quote we received from our local electrician. We are getting it moved with power grid and pay them £1000 separately for their service but told to get an electrician to do the fitting a box, hockey stick, mains tails and earth supply. I was told by power grid that we have earting of the meter and don't need it but its in the quote from the electrician I found. Not sure all that means but he quoted us £540. Is that an ok price. Also I keep calling but cant get through to the electrician to ask what all that means and if that everything in the quote is included. Thanks.

System

I would say get another Electrician, if he is like this before he gets the job just imagine what he will be like if there's an issue.

Furts

I am wondering if this is a mega job that has not been appreciated by OP? But it has been appreciated by the electrician, hence he is keeping his head low?

I say this because a hockey stick is used in conjunction with cavity walls. This suggests that a new opening is required for the meter box. This will require opening up a wall and associated problems if it is cavity filled. The new meter box should have both a lintel and cavity tray above it. All these are the skills of bricklayer and not that of an electrician. This then prompts the question has OP arranged the correct trade to undertake this part of the works?

Furts

mary4kids wrote: »

Powergrid told me either an electrician or builder can do it. I went for electrician because I was told I will need electrician too on the day of move. This company told me they can do it and gave me quote. Why say they can if they couldnt?

I cannot say with certainty because I do not know your house details. However, your comment adds weight to my observation. The ideal scenario would be a builder, or bricklayer, installing the hockey stick, meter box, lintel and cavity tray. Then the power company come along and install the new meter and cut out, with your electrician present to connect to your consumer unit and test and sign off. You might then get the builder to remove the old meter box and brick in the opening. It might be that the power company require this, but here you would have to check.

My sequence is a typical example which flags up my other concern. Your quote of £540 is low for all the work. Just a new consumer unit at trade price for a decent quality is £60-£100. Plus you have not said whose responsibility it is to obtain the meter box. Without this you will not progress.

brightontraveller

1.Standard practise is Meter box etc installed in cavity wall. *Most electricians aren’t that keen on doing this as it means removing brick work possibly adding lintels etc

2.Electricians installs standard 17th edition cu *fuse board e.g. into Meter box

https://www.edwardes.co.uk/en/products/wylex-nmrs10sslmhi-10way-split-load-metal-consumer-unit?utm_medium=google_shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=google_shopping

Quote may include running existing, new cables, adding earth stake etc Run dead tests issuing cert. or just be Cu tails and earth stake *Meter Board *

They may put 100A Switch Fuse etc e.g

http://www.electricalguys.co.uk/wylex-white-100a-1way-switch-fuse-110m.html?gclid=CK-htueN4MgCFQ7jGwodnr4BWQ
Then feed a sub main board at more convenient location?

3.National grid then provide at new location

• The Mains/Service Cable
• Cut-Out/Service Head
• *Meter Board*
• Main Fuse

https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/help-and-advice/documents/A%20typical%20domestic%20power%20supply.pdf

But not meter * This is responsibility of your electricity supplier

4.Electrician runs cable to new position/ re-test live board?

The price you’ve quoted is normally that of normal straight swap CU? Certainly not many (none I know ) would install meter box and change CU issue cert etc for that price?

Furts

mary4kids wrote: »

I have no idea what the work involves. I've sent also an email this morning but still no reply. I called couple of builders today but they all said they dont do small jobs. I dont know anybody except what I fibd on yellow pages but non wants to do it. I will call the electrician tomorrow and cancel it and also will call powergrid and cancel it too. I dont know if I can get my money back but I guess I have no other options Thank you for all your help. Very much appreciated.

brightontraveller has given you an excellent response. It is much the same as mine but more detailed and more accurate - mine was generic!

I cannot speak for brightontraveller but I expect the view is the same as mine - we are posting because we suspect you do not know what you are doing. This may sound harsh but your reply is worrying, or perhaps shocking.

You are admitting you have parted with £1000 for work on your home without having any idea of what is involved. Of course everyone has there specialism, and it is understandable if this is not yours. In such cases you should be seeking professional advice. There are countless folks out there who are able to help. Yes you may have to pay a fee but this will be peanuts compared with what you may already have lost.

Do not be harsh on your electrician because I suspect he viewed your requirements as a potential disaster area to be avoided. He has a business to run and no business wants to take on problems - unless the price is sufficient to take a punt on this.

brightontraveller

If your not knocking down walls simply box around existing meter , and consumer unit with lockable access. Have done this in numerous secure institutions and hospital type environments there is no need to move them???? If you are knocking walls down then get the builder that’s doing that to install meter box ??????

southcoastrgi

brightontraveller wrote: »

Electricians installs standard 17th edition cu *fuse board e.g. into Meter box

...........

brightontraveller

southcoastrgi wrote: »

...........

Yep strange but we have done it if client or specs specify, You can just about get 2 meter boards in a box and they do mention "tails" in box I suppose they could be either Cu /meter of both but who knows? In theory your box you can stick what you like in it? But in this case don’t know why it’s a cavity wall and not a surface one ?

southcoastrgi

But surely you wouldn't put the CU in a meter box outside ?

brightontraveller

southcoastrgi wrote: »

But surely you wouldn't put the CU in a meter box outside ?

Yes no reason not too? Are head, fuse carrier, meters any different they go outside? There are a number of “benefits” to fitting main isolators or cu’s in meterbox not often for clients though ?

Suppliers fit a main isolator inside meeting requirement to have one position to isolate allows them to start billing instantly? They seal one side allowing customer to fit tails in other problems arise you switch supplier 99% of the time new doesn’t remove it. If it goers faulty the new quote there only responsible for supply to meter and old suppliers that your no longer there client so its billable? But if another contractor breaks there seals they technically can prosecute ?

Ditto contractors CU in Meterbox stage payment? The bonus is brickwork only needs to be few courses high? Doesn’t matter if works progress any further,,, No waiting around at job finish for supplier to connect or if developers told porkies as to supply and nailed you into live cert tests for full and final payment? You can get suppliers out and supply's in literally at start of build when clients tend to have the most money ? So not saying it common but its happens a lot more than it has in the past mainly for above reasons :rotfl: