Who replace the electric meter box?

sam2015_2

My electric meter box is broken-half of the door is broken and missing. It is outside the house attached to our wall. It is a wooden box and needs to be replaced, well atleast it's lid. Just wondering who is responsible for fixing it? I'm with British Gas but haven't asked them yet.

Davesnave

The utility company may have installed the box (a long time ago if it's wooden!) but the householder is responsible for its upkeep and replacement.

It's not a DIY job, removing an old box and fitting a new one, so the cheapest option is likely to be a repair of the existing one.

sam2015_2

Update......
British Gas came and replaced the broken lid with a new one.

Risteard

Any Electrician will do it for you.

shaun_from_Africa

Davesnave wrote: »

It's not a DIY job, removing an old box and fitting a new one, so the cheapest option is likely to be a repair of the existing one.

I disagree.
An external meter box is normally only fixed to the wall with a few screws and removing and replacing it is generally an extremely easy job.
Replacement enclosures normally have a few cut outs for cables but it's usually the case that these won't align with the cables that are there but as the box is usually made of plastic, it's a simple enough job to make any holes that are required.
Doing this doesn't normally require any disconnecting of the electrical supply so an electrician isn't needed.

I've changed both electrical and gas meter boxes in the past and good quality replacements can be bought for about £40

almost

sam2015 wrote: »

Update......
British Gas came and replaced the broken lid with a new one.

Did they charge you for this or is it part of their service?

HappyMJ

almost wrote: »

Did they charge you for this or is it part of their service?

If the door breaks when the meter reader is reading the meter then they'll repair it even if on the balance of probabilities it was already almost broken.

brightontraveller

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

I disagree.
An external meter box is normally only fixed to the wall with a few screws and removing and replacing it is generally an extremely easy job.
Replacement enclosures normally have a few cut outs for cables but it's usually the case that these won't align with the cables that are there but as the box is usually made of plastic, it's a simple enough job to make any holes that are required.
Doing this doesn't normally require any disconnecting of the electrical supply so an electrician isn't needed.

I've changed both electrical and gas meter boxes in the past and good quality replacements can be bought for about £40

[FONT=&quot] Some have rear of box part /fully open (slide on over or down type ) some fully enclosed the latter can require suppliers board [/FONT][FONT=&quot]etc [/FONT][FONT=&quot]to be removed for replacement. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]You’ve been lucky but not all will be ?[/FONT]

[Deleted User]

My meter box was supplied free by the power board for me to fit myself, and I then rang them up to come and install the meter afterwards. Replacing it won't be a DIY job though as it's flush mounting not a surface one like the photo above, the service cable passes though a hole where it comes up the wall cavity and the meter is screwed to the back of the box.

shaun_from_Africa

brightontraveller wrote: »

[FONT=&quot] Some have rear of box part /fully open (slide on over or down type ) some fully enclosed the latter can require suppliers board [/FONT][FONT=&quot]etc [/FONT][FONT=&quot]to be removed for replacement. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]You’ve been lucky but not all will be ?[/FONT]

One of the boxes I replaced (for external gas meter) was the type you describe with a back board fitted behind the meter.
This still didn't cause much of a problem as the main part of the enclosure was fitted to the back board with clips and screws and when these were removed, the box simply lifted off.

All that was required to fit the new box were a few small self tapping screws through the new box into the brackets on the back board.

I realise that there will be some boxes that can't be replaced without some disassembly of the meter or cables/pipes, but it's certainly worth having a good look to see how easy or difficult the job may be before spending a good bit of money to get someone it to do the job.

Risteard

I can't see how a box can be fitted over equipment without disconnecting it (or completely destroying the box).

Either way, you are not entitled to remove supports etc. from the DNO's equipment. As I said, any Electrician will replace the door for you (and the box if necessary). That doesn't mean DNO involvement won't necessarily be needed.