builderbob89 Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 Just hoping I can get a bit of an education on this one if anyone knows. Was looking at some asset maps a while back. Where up to do the electric companies own? Their maps show the cables running underground up to the side of peoples houses, is that cable not owned by the resident of the house? If you have them running through your garden or the like, and you've never agreed anything, can you force them to move it? What if it cuts someone else off, can they refuse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuerteStu Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 Can't remember where I heard it, but I don't think land owners actually own anything below ground. And that network suppliers owned everything up to the meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builderbob89 Posted December 17, 2023 Author Share Posted December 17, 2023 5 minutes ago, FuerteStu said: Can't remember where I heard it, but I don't think land owners actually own anything below ground. And that network suppliers owned everything up to the meter. I've been told that before tbh, but people say all sorts so i thought i'd ask! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 They own the assets from the meter back and you can’t mess with them. But they need an easement or wayleave to access your land to do any maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builderbob89 Posted December 17, 2023 Author Share Posted December 17, 2023 3 minutes ago, Kelvin said: They own the assets from the meter back and you can’t mess with them. But they need an easement or wayleave to access your land to do any maintenance. What if they dont have one though? And whoever it is decides they dont want to give them one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 (edited) 16 minutes ago, builderbob89 said: What if they dont have one though? And whoever it is decides they dont want to give them one? They can’t get access to it. The electricity to our house is fed from a pole on our neighbour’s land. I needed a wayleave from her to let SSEN access her land to run the cable down the pole and into the 2m trench I dug to my boundary. Had she not granted this we would have been stuffed or it would have cost thousands of pounds compared to the £450 it actually cost. A less scrupulous neighbour may have tried to make money out of it. The situation might be different if the supply is to an existing house and there’s a problem with it. I also can’t see them do something that would cut someone off. You won’t be able to force them to move it very easily. You can ask of course. I suspect if there was an issue that they deemed dangerous they could gain access. What’s your specific issue? Edited December 17, 2023 by Kelvin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builderbob89 Posted December 17, 2023 Author Share Posted December 17, 2023 Just now, Kelvin said: They can’t get access to it. The electricity to our house is fed from a pole on our neighbour’s land. I needed a wayleave from her to let SSEN access her land to run the cable down the pole and into the 2m trench I dug to my boundary. Had she not granted this we would have been stuffed or it would have cost thousands of pounds compared to the £450 it actually cost. A less scrupulous neighbour may have tried to make money out of it. I suspect if there was an issue that they deemed dangerous they could gain access. That seems mad, I'm sure there's no way she could arbitrarily refuse and cut you off leaving you with no electricity forever, that doesnt sound right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 Just now, builderbob89 said: That seems mad, I'm sure there's no way she could arbitrarily refuse and cut you off leaving you with no electricity forever, that doesnt sound right. There wasn’t a house on the site at that point it was just a field with planning permission. Therefore it was making a new connection. If there was a problem in the future now the house is up, I expect the existing wayleave is worded such that they could get access. I never got a copy of it so don’t know the wording but I can’t imagine they word them for a one off new installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builderbob89 Posted December 17, 2023 Author Share Posted December 17, 2023 1 minute ago, Kelvin said: There wasn’t a house on the site at that point it was just a field with planning permission. Therefore it was making a new connection. If there was a problem in the future now the house is up, I expect the existing wayleave is worded such that they could get access. I never got a copy of it so don’t know the wording but I can’t imagine they word them for a one off new installation. Yeah I've seen a few of the older ones, they normally have them pass on to new owners and the like too I think. Cant imagine you're going to have much luck trying to get someones established connection removed, wayleave or no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 Yes I would expect there to be no chance. The DNOs only spend money if they really need to. I was very careful to make sure the trench I dug on my neighbour’s field was as short and inaccessible as possible. Therefore it’s not in a place that could ever be dug up or built on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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