Using electricity in the barn that has not been paid for - HELP!

optimistique1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934643#Comment_81934643

Not helpful or necessary….

debitcardmayhem

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934643#Comment_81934643

@optimistique1 The correct term is the DNO, but if you look on this link ……. (cant find it yet back soon)

Here https://supplier.nationalgrid.co.uk/

WiserMiser

Did you use the two links provided to find out the Distribution Network Operator and the Electricity Supplier for the barn? Use the barn's address and postcode as listed in the Royal Mail database.

https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode

optimistique1

Yes I have used the national grid link which says I need to call. I will call them tomorrow….

squirrelpie

There was nothing listed in the deeds regarding any other electrical supply other than the main house. The meter in the barn is all taped up as though it is out of use and has never been touched by us since the move.

Ask your solicitor to contact the previous owner to supply the missing details about the barn's electricity that should have been supplied. You also probably want to take the tape off the meter in the barn so you can see exactly what is there and read whatever identification it has on it. You want to find something called the MPAN, or else the meter serial number. You will need those to talk to whoever you should be talking to.

optimistique1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934753#Comment_81934753

Thank you I am going to look into all of this tomorrow….. I wonder if the second electric supply should be in the deeds?

Reed_Richards

It's possible, but unlikely, that your barn has a back-up power supply that would keep the lights on in the event of a power failure. This could be a generator, which I imagine you would have heard running. Or it could be a battery; my home battery is wired so it keeps the lights on in the event of a power failure.

Robin9

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934880#Comment_81934880

Highley unlikely. The Deeds might well have documentation when there is an easement or wayleave for cables or pipes but not for your own supply. The only bit of info your solicitor might have relates to the name of the supplier to the property as the seller has to declare it.

Have you actually seen the meter in the house.?

I doubt the supplier will talk to you as its in someone elses name.

I suspect the taped up meter in the barn is a sub-meter but photos will help

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934629#Comment_81934629

How did you turn off the power to the house ?

For most folk that would probably be tripping the supply at the CU isolators - either in the meter cabinet or in the consumer unit themselves ?

Assuming you turned the power off at the CU and not the incoming fuse - its entirely possible that the barn has it own CU - or simply a sub meter - wired before your home CU / isolation.

You could try tracing the wiring in your meter cabinet - looking for any unexplained connections - or trace back from the meter in the barn.

It seems strange that if you had a supply - you wouldnt have been receiving regular demands for payments by now.

Swipe

I agree with Scot_39. As I mentioned earlier, there's a simple way to check this and that is to cut the mains power to the house and then use some electricity (1+ kWh) from the barn using a high powered device. Then check if both the main house meter and barn meter incremented by an equal amount.