Post and beam Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 When the power company surveyor arrives i want to be as informed as possible. Do i need to ask for/demand a specific current capacity. EV capability or anything tht i am currently ignorant of. The house will be a 200m2 detached. I need an ASHP. If its not too expensive i might request an EV capability. Is there a specific location in the house that the CU has to go or is it down to me. What have i forgotten? Thanks in advance as always guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 Ask for the cost to install 3 phase vs single phase! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Ambrose Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 The meter cupboard needs to be a standard box somewhere accessible on the outside or a 'temporary supply kiosk' somewhere close to the build (search BH for info). The CU can be anywhere protected but obviously power needs to get from the meter cupboard to the CU. The DMO willl usually put in a 100A supply, but check with them. Its possible that ASHP + EV requires 3 phase for extra current capacity - you need some simple sums. Do your own trenching if you want to save money. There are lots of threads here on all these subjects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 So, The surveyor from UK power networks came to the plot today. Cost to provide electrical supply will be about £6.5k. The total distance they need to dig to bring the supply to a box on site. is..... Anyone want to guess. About 20 feet As it happens the difference in price between 1ph and 3ph would be minimal. Does anyone know if there are other organisations that can competently do the dig part at a better price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 Any civils company that can dig up roads etc. What is the 20 feet going across? How much of it is on your land? I did all my own digging, ducting, cabinet etc. SSE just did their bit. £1016 and I got a £564 refund so mine cost buttons really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 20, 2023 Author Share Posted April 20, 2023 The 20 feet is across the village lane that runs past my plot. And includes the 2 metres into my plot. Actually i think they expect me to dig the bit on my land. 20 feet is being generous to them. probably no more than 15, i will measure it exactly at the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 It’s not just the digging. Traffic control, safety stuff, maybe closing the road, re-instatement etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 20, 2023 Author Share Posted April 20, 2023 15 minutes ago, Kelvin said: It’s not just the digging. Traffic control, safety stuff, maybe closing the road, re-instatement etc I fully understand all of that but as you say yourself that in your case SSE charged you £1016. Presumably they also had to do the same safety stuff and i doubt it was less than 20 feet. Therefore, it the price that i am dismayed at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 17 minutes ago, Post and beam said: I fully understand all of that but as you say yourself that in your case SSE charged you £1016. Presumably they also had to do the same safety stuff and i doubt it was less than 20 feet. Therefore, it the price that i am dismayed at. No it was all on my land and 2m on my neighbours. I did it all myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 I think a lot of their cost comes from multiple visits. Different gangs do cables and jointing. Doing your own trench and ducting might save depending how good you are at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blooda Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Does The price include VAT? if it does it should not as it is connection to new property. What is the split between Non-contestable and contestable ? You will only be able to get a contractor to do the contestable element yourself. To dig up a road, you will need a permit from the council (££), and use one of their approved contractors (££). You may need to provide a design of traffic management (££) , you will need to provide traffic management (££) , and there will be further cost is the road needs closing. - this equated to about £3500 - in 2020 for our water meter in a lane as it had to be closed as it was less than 5m wide. Also there is a chance that if you do it yourself it will VAT rated, as it is works outside "the site". With only the final non-contestable connection being VAT free. Our electric was almost £40k :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 The should zero rate it. Ours was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 20, 2023 Author Share Posted April 20, 2023 40 minutes ago, Blooda said: Does The price include VAT? if it does it should not as it is connection to new property. It does, i will speak to them about this bit. 41 minutes ago, Blooda said: To dig up a road, you will need a permit from the council (££), and use one of their approved contractors (££). You may need to provide a design of traffic management (££) , you will need to provide traffic management (££) , and there will be further cost is the road needs closing. - this equated to about £3500 - in 2020 for our water meter in a lane as it had to be closed as it was less than 5m wide. Completely understand. I hoped another contractor familiar with this type of work might be cheaper. But, on reflection its not worth the potential for disagreements. When the time comes, later in the year i will just engage them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blooda Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 41 minutes ago, Post and beam said: When the time comes, later in the year i will just engage them. If it is a "quote" there is a time limit to accept - ours was 3 months if I remember right, after that they can requote and the chances are it will be more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 2 minutes ago, Blooda said: If it is a "quote" there is a time limit to accept - ours was 3 months if I remember right, after that they can requote and the chances are it will be more. Yes but check the terms it is possible to extend the quote. SSE let me extend the quote another 3 months as I wasn’t quite ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 20, 2023 Author Share Posted April 20, 2023 Chill guys, valid for 6 months. i'm on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 (edited) 28 minutes ago, Post and beam said: Chill guys, valid for 6 months. i'm on it We’re both perfectly chilled (well I am) Just sharing experience. 😉 Edited April 20, 2023 by Kelvin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 20, 2023 Author Share Posted April 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Kelvin said: Just sharing experience. I do appreciate it guys. Apologies 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 @Post and beam welcome to the part of your build where you discover how quasi public bodies can just shaft you. We paid UKPN and Octopus a small fortune for our supply to be lowered by 50cm and then extended by a couple of metres. Ridiculous how disproportionate the fee was to the work involved. But not as ridiculous as our application to the council for a dropped kerb. Completely shafted by the local council and their so called "approved contractor" for almost £8k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blooda Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 2 hours ago, Kelvin said: We’re both perfectly chilled (well I am) Just sharing experience. 😉 I am now, but wasn't when I got my quote From what I remember - with WPD [now NG] we could have accepted the quote, and delayed the start. 1 hour ago, Adsibob said: But not as ridiculous as our application to the council for a dropped kerb. Completely shafted by the local council and their so called "approved contractor" for almost £8k. My "dropped kerb", which was not a dropped kerb as there no kerb to drop. It is just a few edgings and a trapezoid shaped bit of asphalt. Cost around £1500 for the council to do with their own people. It's pretty poor quality, and if we'd done it ourselves they'd have made us do it again. Also the main Open Reach Fibre to the whole of the village, cable runs underneath there in a duct so we would not have been popular if we'd have damaged that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 It now appears that the surveyor was mistaken. I have been told that the village does not have enough capacity on the transformer for my 3PH. It needs an upgrade. Does anyone know if the electricity providers are obliged to provide my requirements at a nominal or at least affordable figure. I think i already know the answer to this question actually. I cannot pay for a transformer upgrade, and wouldn't, and the person who told me on the phone could not give me a revised price so i dont know where i stand now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Do you NEED 3 phase? Ask them what supply they can provide without an upgrade single or 3 phase. I was in a similar position, I was offered a 12KVA supply (I had asked for 23KVA being the standard single phase 100A supply) anything more would need the transformer upgraded. I accepted the 12KVA supply that has been entirely adequate. I am convinced they wanted me to pay for the transformer to be upgraded but I would rather leave that for someone else to fund. ALSO have a look at this thread And in particular the link in the first post. It is not clear if this reduction in network upgrade costs apples just to export or to new supplies as well. Read it, digest it and see what you think. Here is that link: https://cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2022/06/distribution-connection-charges-to-be-reduced-ofgem-publishes-its-decision-on-the-access-and-forward-looking-charges-significant-code-review This sentence may be relevant " For connections serving demand for electricity (or mixed use connection sites with import and export) in most cases no reinforcement costs will be charged to the connecting customer. " Tell them you are having solar PV and will be exporting as well as importing so you are a "mixed use connection site" and see what they say. You might want to wait a few days until we are in the month of May. The new rules take effect in April but they don't say when in April. I have not yet heard anyone reporting reduced fees so you are now officially the forum guinea pig to quote that change in network charging legislation to the DNO, and see their response, and of course tell us their response please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post and beam Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 To be honest i did not believe i needed 3PH. But to take advantage of rapid EV charging it would be necessary and in that regard i am thinking more of resale desirability in, say 10 years, should i eventually downsize from the house. When i was told by the surveyor that the charge for 3PH was only about £150 more than the £6.5k approx for 1PH it looked like a no brainer to take the offer. I thank you for the link, i will read and digest. If i report back as and when. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 They typically quote you for the complete upgrade of a transformer, but will have spare capacity for future developments. You then appeal and pay a fair share. We always used a specialist agent to argue the case, with a fee of course. That may not be worthwhile on a few £k cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR10 Posted June 1, 2023 Share Posted June 1, 2023 This may be of interest to some. This is part of our quote for a new connection in Feb Description of reinforcement charges Install 1 substation £6,386.78 Reinforcement contribution -£3,832.07 (Our Cost Apportionment Contribution, as set out in our Terms and Conditions) Total reinforcement charges £2,554.71 Description of non-contestable charges Upgrade to 50kVA split phase transformer. Dismantle LV Pole 1A and LV Span. Erect a LV Stay. POC - LV Pole Termination POC and Network Assessment, Design Approval (where relevant) £185.00 Final connection £1,051.00 Inspection & Monitoring £2.00 Total non-contestable charges £1,238.00 ..................................................... and just received this when we asked for a revised quote in April Description of reinforcement charges Install 1 substation £7,850.46 Reinforcement contribution -£7,850.46 (Our Cost Apportionment Contribution, as set out in our Terms and Conditions) Total reinforcement charges £0.00 Description of non-contestable charges Upgrade to 50kVA split phase transformer. Erect a LV Stay POC 1ph line connection only. Dismantle LV Pole 1A and LV Span POC and Network Assessment, Design Approval (where relevant) £185.00 Final connection £1,418.36 Inspection & Monitoring £2.00 Total non-contestable charges £1,605.36 Note prices went up in April but we've saved a bit just by waiting for the April changes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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