Cut through Main cable to house, Big bill Recieved Advice Greatly Appreciated

[00jona]

Please help, I have recently block paved my front garden, I had dug down and removed the soil and was just breaking up bricks that I had found with a small hand held drill/ breaker when you guessed it I got a flash as the chisel went through the brick and into the ground. I dug down to find a black mains cable, this was not mine as I had already taken the time to find mine previously. it was to next doors who's power was still on. I called out western power straight away who came out and got a team out to fix the cable that night. several months later I have been hit with a £1000 bill (ouch). I wish to dispute this on the following grounds and would like to know if I am in my rights too. firstly I was shocked that the cable was only 380mm below ground level (is this ok under a lawn?) the cable had no tape above it or any kind of conduit or sheathing around it like my cable has. when they repaired it they also dug down another 8 inches or more and buried it deeper. if the level was ok in the first place my argument is why did they do this. I do have photo's with the tape clearly showing the depth from ground level. do I have any grounds to dispute this bill? surely I could have just as easily have hit this planting a shrub, also where the cable meets the kerb it was only 300mm from the surface. thanks in advance for any advice fighting the big guys. Matt

 

[Engineer54]

DNO at one time was.. 1 phase u/g cable 450mm to top of ducting. 3 Phase cable 600mm to top of ducting. U/G cables in any back gardens which is now frowned upon 1m deep.

Many of the DNO cables laid in residential areas were installed 30/ 40/ 50 years ago long before the now DNO's came to pass. and as you say most were set deeper than the 450mm that is bandied about on the DNO websites. Mole cable and pipe laying is being increasingly used, but as far as i'm aware also come with restrictions and their own set of rules governing their use...

 

[PEG]

When dealing with the DNO/Utilities,regarding the "incorrect" positioning of cables/pipes,you will be very fortunate to get an admission of liability,on any install older than a few years,unless it is grossly foolish. On older properties,the drive may have been re-instated half a dozen times,which gives them room for discussion,especially when the installers grand children are in nursing homes. I have dealt with circumstances ranging from earth rods piercing drains,PILC cables "looping" underground features,gas companies moleing through drains,and one where for 5 meters,a PILC cable had been poked through an existing section of early 1900's clay land drain.The DNO engineer who visited,on that last one,commented "Those old boys sure were ingenious!" :conehead:

 

[Engineer54]

When dealing with the DNO/Utilities,regarding the "incorrect" positioning of cables/pipes,you will be very fortunate to get an admission of liability,on any install older than a few years,unless it is grossly foolish. On older properties,the drive may have been re-instated half a dozen times,which gives them room for discussion,especially when the installers grand children are in nursing homes. I have dealt with circumstances ranging from earth rods piercing drains,PILC cables "looping" underground features,gas companies moleing through drains,and one where for 5 meters,a PILC cable had been poked through an existing section of early 1900's clay land drain.The DNO engineer who visited,on that last one,commented "Those old boys sure were ingenious!" :conehead:

Maybe, but then they won't be coming after you for a cables repair either!! lol!!

 

[Barry White]

Housold insurance? covers accidental damage to drains and cables on some polecys worth a check ? if the DNO dont see it your way

 

[00jona]

Housold insurance? covers accidental damage to drains and cables on some polecys worth a check ? if the DNO dont see it your way

Thanks

 

[driverman]

Looks several comments that I read earlier have disappeared?

all back now lol

 

[driverman]

any news, update?

 

[sparkymalarky]

Just read through this thread myself, very interested to see how this turns out!

 

[00jona]

Just read through this thread myself, very interested to see how this turns out!

Only sent letter today. Will update when they respond. Cheers

 

[00jona]

Only sent letter today. Will update when they respond. Cheers

They have agreed to drop the charges if I sign a wayleave for the cable. based on what you will actually get per annum on this and it would only be back dated I have snapped their hand off and £1000 of my mind. thanks again to all for the cracking advice.

 

[driverman]

They have agreed to drop the charges if I sign a wayleave for the cable. based on what you will actually get per annum on this and it would only be back dated I have snapped their hand off and £1000 of my mind. thanks again to all for the cracking advice.

Great news.I was 90% certain it would go that way, but you never know! The wayleave payment will not make you rich, it's basically just a gentleman's agreement between you and the DNO. I think the DNO will back date the wayleave for a max of 7 years. Every little bit helps as they say.
Good news, just be careful where you dig next time! lol

 

[PEG]

They have agreed to drop the charges if I sign a wayleave for the cable. based on what you will actually get per annum on this and it would only be back dated I have snapped their hand off and £1000 of my mind. thanks again to all for the cracking advice.

I may have missed something,but for them to ASK for wayleave,and you to give it,they did not have it,when you damaged the cable,so they would struggle to enforce any charges for damage.

 

[driverman]

I may have missed something,but for them to ASK for wayleave,and you to give it,they did not have it,when you damaged the cable,so they would struggle to enforce any charges for damage.

I think it worked like this..drop charges or get your cable off my land. Cheaper for DNO to drop charges. Plus cable was not deep enough by DNO's standards. DNO were on a sticky wicket.

 

[Prat P]

A good resolution for all concerned as only lawyers would have benefited from you not being able to agree an amicable solution..having said that,the most important lesson is we all need to be aware of mains installed not deep enough.

 

[PEG]

I think it worked like this..drop charges or get your cable off my land. Cheaper for DNO to drop charges. Plus cable was not deep enough by DNO's standards. DNO were on a sticky wicket.

But,that is accepting they had the provision to press those charges,which quite obviously, they did not. The only reason i'm pedantically harping on about this,is due to the number of times,i have dealt with entities,such as utilities,where they say "If you do X,we won't do Y", where Y,is not an option for them anyway. I will bore you with an example. A friend of mine,had a large feed cable,run across the edge of a piece of land he owned. It went in,800mm deep,in 6 hours,turf back,job done. The ensuing paperwork,stretched out the possible reasons over 2 years. The development (retirement home) was now completed and functioning,and had become the extra excuse for not removing the cable. He could not touch it himself,for various,obvious reasons,BUT,did secure paperwork,requiring stringent terms for allowing further access to the cable,for maintenance etc. I will not go into details,but the cable got "damaged",and the turn-out and subsequent document waving,resulted in the following; One emergency supply,One newly installed supply through adjacent,LA owned land,One original supply,tagged and exposed at each end,ready to be removed. Which i assisted in the doing of...On the day,it looked and sounded like someone was going to Shawshank,in the end,everyone concerned,just had drawers full of tetchy letters...:conehead: