Can't get prepay electricity meter replaced because of 'safety' - ideas?

mangochutney

Hi everybody,

In a weird position with Boost, who I inherited a prepayment electricity meter from in my flat two years ago.

I want it replaced for the obvious reasons, and did ask them to replace with a smart meter (before I knew better!). However when the electricians came to install the new meter they refused to touch the old one, using the logic that it wasn't safely installed and needed to be replaced before it could be replaced (yes, really).

They blamed the landlord for this; landlord (who has no issue with us changing to credit meter) said they'd had nothing to do with installing it and weren't able to do anything because it'd be tampering with the electricity company's property; it went around in circles and long story short, two years later we still have a prepay electricity meter. (We didn't cause it to be installed as it was already there when I moved in.) I would add that the electricians made no effort to make it safe for us to use, seemed to have no concern about our own safety, and we've been using it for two years without incident...

We now, obviously, want to get it changed to a credit meter, and I'm looking at moving the prepayment tariff to nPower (our current gas supplier), getting them to replace it and then looking at the great world of cheaper tariffs. However there is no point doing any of this if nPower send somebody to replace the meter, only for the same to happen again - the people responsible for replacing and making it safe refusing to do so, on the grounds that it's not safe and needs to be replaced.

Does anybody have any idea how to get this actually resolved? I'm completely at a loss and don't want to suddenly incur huge amounts of money trying to get it sorted.

Thanks in advance

Robin9

This may not be a meter issue but one of the Distribution Companies main fuse which the meter changer would have to withdraw.

Could yould send a photo?

mangochutney

Quite possibly - I remember the report the original contractors gave me (they filled out a form) said something to do with the pyro (?) cable being improperly fitted, or not present, or something?

Should also say that this was after they asked me where the main meter into the building was (we're in a council block, private let) and I had no idea one existed. After that, I would not rule out that they just couldn't be bothered!

Robin9

There will be a main intake cable into the building where there may well be a meter for the landlords supplies - corridor lighting etc.

From this point there may well be a service cable to your flat and this may be pyro and this is the distribution company's responsibility.

JC_Derby

Robin9 wrote: »

There will be a main intake cable into the building where there may well be a meter for the landlords supplies - corridor lighting etc.

From this point there may well be a service cable to your flat and this may be pyro and this is the distribution company's responsibility.

The above is a likely reason for this
The mop or supplier will feel that something is unsafe and ask the DNO to replace it. THe DNO Deem it to be safe and don't want to change it - their money is better spent replacing other equipment.
Hence the going round in circles...
Go to the DNO and tell you what the issue is and ask them to come and do it or go back to the Supplier and ask them specifically what the issue is.
Plenty of people on here who can help if needed

Pmwo21

Pyro cable is a particular type of cabling which is out of date and unfortunately most meter engineers are not qualified to work on. Simply put, if given too much stress the insulation of these cables breaks easily; therefore needs either replacing completely or a ‘red link’ needs to be added (basically a new main distribution fuse with new cabling leading to the meter); if you say you would like a switch but need a red link engineer, (something I know npower can request, not sure about boost) they will (hopefully) supply somebody who can address the issue

spiro

Write a letter of complaint to your supplier stating you want it changed asap. If the issue is with DNO kit they supplier will notify them and they have 42 days to arrange to rectify assuming it is not deemed as stopping a smart meter being installed.