'Moving' Supply Utility Pipes

gabriel2u_2

Hi everyoneWe are having a drive built and our gardener has discovered that the electricity (and water) pipes need to moved. In fact they are at an angle and need to be 'dropped'. The supplier (United Utilities) has sent me a 'budget quote' of £763.90 to drop the electricity pipes. (the water pipe was discovered later) I have to sign an acceptance form, then they will send a surveyor. They may increase or decrease the final 'budget quote' depending on the amount of work needed. If the quote rises to over £1000 they want the money up front.I believe that they do not do this work themselves but will use a contractor who charges them considerably less. If I was getting value for money I would 'bite the bullet' and pay them but I think we are being ripped off. Has anyone any experience of this sort of thing or does anyone have any insider information or advice for me?Many Thanks

stimpo

£1000 sounds very reasonable.

AFAIK your supplier will make nothing from this cost. The local distrbutor will charge your supplier and your supplier will charge you. Thats why they want the money upfront.

Terrylw1

This type of work is nothing to do with your elec Supplier.

The local Distributor owns the equipment and will quote you direct. Many of them subcontract the work out if it requiries underground work e.g. Eon used Murphy's for years. It doesn't sounds like much to me as underground work can take some time. Bare in mind they can charge £400-800 just to resite a meter a short distance.

I would wait until the planning engineer comes out to view the property and prepares the quote. I would say that it's probably only a guide price at this stage or they wouldn't need to send someone out.

The subcontractor will charge them less or they wouldn't ever make any money from the underground jobs. It's always been that way.

You can only try and haggle but the problem is local Distributors have a monopoly since it's their equipment.

Allanon

Most of the cost, as you would imagine, is in labour. There's nothing to stop you doing the digging on your own property yourself - but don't damage anything - and saving a small fortune.

Allanon

Terrylw1

I think you should speak to them about the digging side. It depends really, as you would be aiming to cut costs by removing the subcontractor. However, if you did not do enough to satisfy what the subcontractor would do in terms of digging, you would be back to square one.

Suggest you ask the planning engineer when he comes out and see what response you get.

gabriel2u_2

Cheers for this :-) The pipes are now completely exposed (and undamaged) and the water pipe should be replaced anyway because it is lead. I checked the United Utilities site and we can get it replaced ourseves as it is our responsiblity up to the edge of our property. Not sure if the same applies to the electricity pipe though. We now need to find someone to replace and extend the water pipe. The electricity pipe will still need extending so I will get back to United Utilities for clarification on how we are allowed to go about this.

Terrylw1

gabriel2u wrote: »

Cheers for this :-) The pipes are now completely exposed (and undamaged) and the water pipe should be replaced anyway because it is lead. I checked the United Utilities site and we can get it replaced ourseves as it is our responsiblity up to the edge of our property. Not sure if the same applies to the electricity pipe though. We now need to find someone to replace and extend the water pipe. The electricity pipe will still need extending so I will get back to United Utilities for clarification on how we are allowed to go about this.

You won't be able to deal with the electricity pipe as it's owned by the Distributor and touching any of their equipment is subject to legal action. Besides, you don't want to deal with gas & elec anyway as it's dangerous. They will have to disconnect the supply first anyway. If you disconnect the supply on their side (not your fusebox or an isolator switch they fitted to your meter so you can do work at home) it is classed as tampering and is illegal.

The planning engineer will be able to confirm where the elec pip will be moved to, so that may help you dig that area yourself. It's certainly worth asking anyway.

Bare in mind that the HSE have a set depth for elec pipes, so you could check with them. UU may ask you to sign something to state that any digging work has been undertaken by you, however they are liable in court for safety so they will stick to the HSE defined requirements. I can't remember offhand what the required depth is.