Advice for moving a supply

timhoward · Mar 27, 2023

I'd appreciate the wisdom of the find minds here regarding this job. Yes, I've drifted into Wales again....

An extension is being planned as crudely depicted. The existing overhead supply is in the way. There's quite a lot of house around the corner to the left fed from the existing supply. This house is staying occupied throughout the works.
Scottish Power have agreed in principle to move the SP 100amp supply and customer is on board with costs of this. (quoted £1000)

Over the phone this sounded simple, get the new wall built with meter box to receive a new supply, get a distribution board on it, run a temporary cable to the old DB until there was enough structure up to start moving circuits.

The particular challenge is that extensive ground works are required before there can be a wall built that can accommodate a new supply.
Carrying out these ground works would be risky directly under the existing supply cable, though probably could be achieved with suitable care and working practises. The customer is understandably very concerned about this.
I'm also conscious that SP will want something to connect "to" and the need to keep downtime to a minimum.

Idea's on the table are:
a) very carefully get walls built to eaves level and the end gable wall built high enough to keep SP happy, get a meter box in, and they provide span to point A and fit the head. I provide an IP rated DB, a commando socket and a temporary cable to keep the house on during building works.
b) ask SP to provide span to point B on stables, have the cutout and meter in there, and have underground ducting and cable ready to current DB position. I can have everything ready-to-go with this option.
c) get a generator in during building works, get supply removed, and provided when everything ready. This would not be quick or cheap.

Am I overthinking this? Any simpler options?!
Is there a minimum height for an overhead span (no road involved) in DNO rules?

Clearly however this goes ahead more liaising/discussing with Scottish Power will be needed.
Many thanks

[ElectriciansForums.net] Advice for moving a supply

plugsandsparks · Mar 27, 2023

Option 1. working around it is just about possible but not very nice for the poor contractors who have to work around it plus you will need tight management to stop any delay , say for example if the roof trusses are due to be fitted on x date and you find SP dont line up with that so its an element in the critical path, so thats 2 downers.
Options 2 perhaps would not be my first choice as you will have given the client more responsibility for electricity supply to the house than they probably would prefer, however if an EV charger is being fed from the garage that might swing it back in favour.
Option 3 - nightmare, lol
My preferred option, all things being equal would be to get SP to move it asap to the garage as a temp supply, whilst you carry out building, when it is up to a sealed shell, then get SP to run an underground cable from pole to house

cheers
P&S

SparkySy · Mar 27, 2023

I agree with above!
B sounds the easiest way round the issue assuming there is a nice route from the stables to the existing consumer unit!
Or see if SP will go underground from the pole if you get the trench and duct in for them?
Sy

davesparks · Mar 27, 2023

If the the land that the pole is on belongs to this property then you may be able to put a duct in to a meter box installed at a sensible location on an existing wall on the house if you can get the DNO to agree to this.