Thank you to UK Power Networks

matt_drummer

I want to post something positive about our DNO, UK Power Networks.

They have been brilliant this year, they have approved two solar panel and battery installations at our house, really quickly, with no fuss and no limitations.

They also quickly approved our ASHP installation, again with no fuss.

Two weeks ago I applied to get our 60 amp main fuse upgraded, thought I would only be able to go to 80 amps.

In less than two weeks from the application an appointment was made and the job was done.

They turned up today, a call beforehand to let me know they were on their way, they turned up on time and were really polite and professional.

They thought I only wanted an 80 amp fuse but checked and said I could have 100 amp. 

In less than an hour I had a 100 amp main fuse installed.

And for no charge!

I think it warrants a thank you and well done!

debitcardmayhem

Hmmm, I agree with some of your points. e.g. my solar install was approved within 2 weeks , albeit 2 weeks before the shortest day,

but I have been told by Octopus that they applied for my export MPAN on the 4th April having been supplied with my DNO docs from UK Power Networks but now more or less 5 weeks on no news. So yes thumbs up on 1 hand and thumbs down on the other one.

Any way and can't give a tha for your post nor a nks so I give you a thanks for now, may re-visit that later

matt_drummer

I forgot about my export MPAN, they also did that really quickly.

UK Power Networks have a good reputation.

After a month I had to call Octopus as nothing was happening, it still said on my account that they were waiting for the export MPAN from my DNO.

It was quickly resolved with the call to Octopus, they had missed the export MPAN, it was sorted out in less than 30 minutes and I started receiving export payment the next day.

UK Power Networks are really good, well worth their part of the standing charge!

matt_drummer

debitcardmayhem said:

Hmmm, I agree with some of your points. e.g. my solar install was approved within 2 weeks , albeit 2 weeks before the shortest day,

but I have been told by Octopus that they applied for my export MPAN on the 4th April having been supplied with my DNO docs from UK Power Networks but now more or less 5 weeks on no news. So yes thumbs up on 1 hand and thumbs down on the other one.

Any way and can't give a tha for your post nor a nks so I give you a thanks for now, may re-visit that later

Give Octopus a call, I bet they have the export MPAN, they just don't realise it.

The rep at Octopus was really good, he checked on the national database and found it was there already, Octopus just hadn't realised it!

debitcardmayhem

I will call the tentacled ones (again) and see I can get any joy now, TX

Edit oh and I checked yesterday with UK PN but they only show 1 MPAN

dunstonh

We are getting our fuse upgraded to 100amp and just waiting on power networks now.   Their communication has been good so far and hoping for a quick turnaround.

UK Power networks have a good reputation around here.   We get about a dozen power cuts a year.   They are nearly always quick to resolve them.   

EDF was the surprising one.    I phoned them on the Thursday to arrange to change the meter tails to allow the upgrade to 100amp and they were out next day and did it free of charge.

matt_drummer

dunstonh said:

We are getting our fuse upgraded to 100amp and just waiting on power networks now.   Their communication has been good so far and hoping for a quick turnaround.

UK Power networks have a good reputation around here.   We get about a dozen power cuts a year.   They are nearly always quick to resolve them.   

EDF was the surprising one.    I phoned them on the Thursday to arrange to change the meter tails to allow the upgrade to 100amp and they were out next day and did it free of charge.

It's not all bad with these companies is it!

debitcardmayhem

matt_drummer said:

debitcardmayhem said:

Hmmm, I agree with some of your points. e.g. my solar install was approved within 2 weeks , albeit 2 weeks before the shortest day,

but I have been told by Octopus that they applied for my export MPAN on the 4th April having been supplied with my DNO docs from UK Power Networks but now more or less 5 weeks on no news. So yes thumbs up on 1 hand and thumbs down on the other one.

Any way and can't give a tha for your post nor a nks so I give you a thanks for now, may re-visit that later

Give Octopus a call, I bet they have the export MPAN, they just don't realise it.

The rep at Octopus was really good, he checked on the national database and found it was there already, Octopus just hadn't realised it!

Well I didn't get the chance to call yesterday, but today I got hold af the CS Rep said she would escalate it (again checking back on their logs) This afternoon lo my account shows that they have found that I have passed the industry checks and \i see I have new MPAN, and it will start on Monday next,4 days.. Looks like I have lost out on 240kwh since I sent them the info but hey ho that's life . plus I got £50 credit from OVO who took 11/12 weeks to even think about it. So Matt I guess that UK Power are probably efficient , perhaps more so than Octopus. But it's not too bad at Octo either I asked if she could reduce my DD since their app/website wouldn't allow me to , probably because I have only had made 1 payment so far , but she promptly reduced it by 65 to take into account that I am not going to be using anything like kwh over the las year  on elec since I got panels, so probably 7/10 for Octopus thus far I may adjust that upwards in due course.. Tx again

markin

dunstonh said:

We are getting our fuse upgraded to 100amp and just waiting on power networks now.   Their communication has been good so far and hoping for a quick turnaround.

UK Power networks have a good reputation around here.   We get about a dozen power cuts a year.   They are nearly always quick to resolve them.   

EDF was the surprising one.    I phoned them on the Thursday to arrange to change the meter tails to allow the upgrade to 100amp and they were out next day and did it free of charge.

How many miles of cable have they put underground to prevent then in the first place?

Campaigners expose excessive profiteering at UK Power ...

Unite the Union

https://www.unitetheunion.org › News & Events › News

12 Dec 2022 — Over the last four years, UK Power Networks made eye watering profits of £2.4 billion. As these profits soar so do the number of Crawley ...


Also its owned by 3 Hong kong holdings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Power_Networks

....................................................


For balance, in 2020 its said that they "invest around 600m a year"

The company delivers electricity to 18m customers across London, the south east and east of England through cables, substations and power lines, and invests around £600 million each year in the networks.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20752869.eyesore-power-cables-coming-3m-scheme/

hellosupernova

debitcardmayhem said:

Hmmm, I agree with some of your points. e.g. my solar install was approved within 2 weeks , albeit 2 weeks before the shortest day,

but I have been told by Octopus that they applied for my export MPAN on the 4th April having been supplied with my DNO docs from UK Power Networks but now more or less 5 weeks on no news. So yes thumbs up on 1 hand and thumbs down on the other one.

Any way and can't give a tha for your post nor a nks so I give you a thanks for now, may re-visit that later

It took Octopus from August to November last year for them to register me to export. I had to chase my DNO and Octopus and raised two complaints. So it might take longer than you think.

This year it took from January to April to sort out the same for my inlaws! Same county.

Our DNO is Scottish Power Energy Networks so I think they have been inundated with requests from the whole of Scotland so it may be that. What a saga.