Reconnecting Gas and Electric - very high costs!

[Indy]

Not sure if this is the right place but the larger part of my question relates to Gas - so here goes.

 

At the start of my project, had to get the Electricity and Gas connections removed and paid ~£1500 each to have the main electricity cable moved to the edge of the plot to create a temporary building supply. Similarly, the gas connection was capped off and it happened on the road rather than within the boundary of the property. Didn't really think too much at the time and we cracked on with the build. Estimated about £1500 each to move them back into the 'house' again - or more accurately, meters mounted on the side of the house. 

 

However, the prices for both seem to have shot up significantly - to the point where we're paying more than double.

 

1. UKPN want to charge £2200 for £170/sq m for trench excavation - which we've managed to negotiate down as we will dig the trench ourselves, but the final cost is still £2200.
2. SGN is where it really starts to hurt as they are treating it as a new connection entirely. The cost is £3500 as the DLCA subsidy has also been removed from the 1st of April and we're on the wrong side of that date in terms of making our application. 

 

All attempts to try and bring the price down so far have not yielded any positive results. Wanted to ask if there are suggestions from experienced members here? Are there any utility companies like Octopus that would take on the work and somehow subsidise this if we sign up with them?

 

 

[JohnMo]

Either connection can be self trenched - which exactly what we did, saved a small fortune.

 

But do you really need gas? I was convinced I did when I built, but ASHP was/is so much cheaper to run. £3500 will buy you a heat pump and have change.

[Roger440]

Agree with Johnmo. Why have gas? A decent electrical connection will do everything you could need. If its there in an existing house, sure. But pay for it?

 

 

[Indy]

52 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Either connection can be self trenched - which exactly what we did, saved a small fortune.

 

But do you really need gas? I was convinced I did when I built, but ASHP was/is so much cheaper to run. £3500 will buy you a heat pump and have change.

I don’t want this to turn into a gas vs electric thread. I have gone through this with the builder and have a like for like quote between a gas boiler and ASHP. Even with the additional 3.5k for the gas connection and taking away the 7.5k government grant - the ASHP still works out to be 2k more expensive. Plus I have to lose my gas hob and fireplace which I’d rather not do.

 

Would like to keep this on track and get advice on how to minimise the cost, if possible 

[ProDave]

Not a solution for this case, but certainly a suggestion for others reading this and planning ahead.

 

Just get the electricity supply moved ONCE to a kiosk at the boundary of the plot.  It never needs moving again.  You just run your own cable from the kiosk to the house.  Job done.

[JohnMo]

9 minutes ago, Indy said:

Even with the additional 3.5k for the gas connection and taking away the 7.5k government grant - the ASHP still works out to be 2k more expensive

Oh well someone is taking the piss out of you. It isn't me, by the way.

 

4kW Haier ASHP less than £2k (no vat if new build) 7kW just over £2k.  Your heating system is the same (or should be on a new build).

 

Dump the grant do DHW via a direct UVC - £500 plus some very basic plumbing.

 

We had 5 degs overnight and heating came on, delivered a nice sound CoP of 6.3 and I only pay 10p per kWh (Cosy). So 1.5p per kWh.

 

Just annoying everyone just seems to get reamed by grant harvesters.