Meeting electricity company to discuss wayleave termination / pole move. Any tips?

[flanagaj]

Cut a long story short.  The electricity company want 25k to move an electricity pole 2 metres to our boundary.  I personally feel that they are trying to get us to pay for them to upgrade their old pole.  The rest of them in the line were replaced a few years ago, but as there was a structure near to this pole, they obviously didn't do it.   Said structure has now been removed, and I was going to try and play it, that having the pole on the boundary will make any future work a lot easier for them as the land on the other side of the boundary is an empty paddock which will never be developed on.

We are not expecting to not have to contribute in some manner, so just wondering whether to simply use the "ease of maintenance / access" with them when we meet on site tomorrow so as to try and reduce the 25k that they want.   The pole doesn't really need to be removed, but if we don't move it now, the new dwelling will be very close to the pole and any future maintenance that is required, will be very difficult for them to achieve.

Edited January 30 by flanagaj
spelling mistake

[MikeGrahamT21]

Absolutely, it’s partly for their benefit. Ask for a full quote showing how much for each component of the works, that can sometimes beat them into submission when they have to prove what the money is going towards

[BlackMountainBuild]

We got National Grid to remove a pole and bury a cable from the preceding pole (we dug the trench) for not that much (in the end it was circa £2500). It also started out at £20000, but once we started taking out the trench digging, and talking through what actually needed to happen they were fairly reasonable. Try and see if there is anything you can do to help with cost - also find out if they actually have a current way leave agreement, they had lost ours so we agreed to sign a new one, and finally the old pole would have been under 5 metres from our new build so not to code apparently, I don't know if that makes a difference to the pricing but they did come and deal with it pretty swiftly. It was a fairly good experience in the end, and I've never had so many people work for me (sort of), for so little money, must have been 20 people over 5 different teams on site over 3 days. Equally our electrician said he'd had clients in similar situations not pay anything, because they were obliged to remove a pole which would be dangerously close for free, but I could not persuade anybody at the National Grid to go for that one.

[flanagaj]

Anyone able to shed any light on this.  So we met SSEN Wayleave department on site at the end of January to try and agree that they can keep the pole on our land, but we want it moved to the boundary.  They were receptive to the idea at the time of the meeting and provided a diagram showing where we wanted the pole.  Apart from that we have heard nothing more.   We just received a letter from the Wayleave department.   I have no idea how to reply to this, as nobody has actually told us whether they are going to move the pole for free of whether it will be at our expense.  If I am correct, I don't think there is anything for us to do as we have not heard from their regarding their proposal?

"ELECTRICITY ACT 1989: PARAGRAPHS 6 AND 8 OF SCHEDULE 4APPLICATION BY SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC (THENETWORK OPERATOR) FOR A NECESSARY WAYLEAVE TO RETAINELECTRIC LINES ON LAND AT THE BUNGALOW, ***** OWNED AND/OR OCCUPIED BY ****** .The Network Operator has made an application for a necessary wayleave to authorise them to keep installed electric line(s) at the above land.  Having reviewed the application, we can confirm that it is valid. It has been allocated the above reference number which should be quoted on all future correspondence.  We encourage all parties to correspond with us by email -necessarywayleaves@energysecurity.gov.uk.The Network Operator should send you a copy of their application and any accompanying documents to you. If you have not received a copy of the application documentation, please contact them as soon as possible.  The application was submitted following receipt of your correspondence of23/10/2024, which was treated as a Notice to Remove (NTR) the line(s).We note your NTR stated:  We would like to give formal notice for the electricity pole on our land at **** to be removed.  The equipment applied for by the Network Operator is as follows:230v Overhead line with 1 x wooden pole.  If any of the above details are incorrect please contact us immediately.  The Network Operator has indicated in their application that they are still negotiating with you and have requested that this application be held "in abeyance" pending the outcome of negotiations. We strongly encourage the parties to reach a negotiated DESNZ Ref: 12.04.09.06-5320UYour Ref: HP520368Doc Ref: 1389426 Page 1 of 2
settlement wherever possible, an application will only be held in abeyance if agreed by all parties.  In view of the Network Operator's request, we are seeking your thoughts on the status of the negotiations and whether you agree with the abeyance request. Please can we have your response, in writing, no later than 11/04/2025. If we do not hear from you we will assume you agree to the Network Operator's abeyance request.  You may wish to seek legal or other professional advice before deciding whether or not to consent to the abeyance request. We are not able to give any advice as to whether you should consent.  If you agree to the abeyance request, we will review the position periodically to  ensure that negotiations are continuing. If, before that time, you decide negotiations have stopped or stalled you can request that the application be taken out of abeyance at any time. Once an application is out of abeyance we will progress the application, initially seeking views on the most appropriate procedure.  For further information, please read our necessary wayleave guidance which sets out details regarding the choice of procedure and abeyance:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/granting-a-necessary-compulsory-electricity-wayleave-guidance-for-applicants-and-landowner-and-or-occupiersShould you have any queries please contact us at:necessarywayleaves@energysecurity.gov.uk"

[Alan Ambrose]

Interesting, the text smacks of intentional legal BS. First off, did you actually send them something in October asking them to remove the line? Sounds like wayleaves department shadow boxing. Someone here on the hub found a 3rd party working on commission to negotiate with the DNO.

[flanagaj]

22 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Interesting, the text smacks of intentional legal BS. First off, did you actually send them something in October asking them to remove the line? Sounds like wayleaves department shadow boxing. Someone here on the hub found a 3rd party working on commission to negotiate with the DNO.

Yes.  We gave them notice last October.