Dangerous mains - Please help me identify this

Rayan Jawad · Jun 23, 2018

Hi All,

I'm living in a pretty dangerous situation - Please can you help?

A few months ago, the electricity in my first/second floor flat blew out, as did my neighbours. It turns out that there was a fault in a mains component under the stairs.

I had to get an electrician out late at night just to make it safe, albeit a temporary fix. I've linked a photo of it here (Click here).

I have no idea what this component is called but:

1. No Electrician is willing to touch it
2. The insurance company says it's the responsibility of the energy supplier
3. My energy supplier says it's the responsibility of the network (UK Power Networks)
4. UK Power networks say it's not their responsibility and I need to get an electrician.

I'm stuck in an infinite loop!

So my question - Please could someone advise me on

1. What this component is called
2. Is it before or after the meter
3. Any advice on who is responsible for fixing it

Octopus · Jun 24, 2018

Do you have any access to where the supply comes from in the shop below ? If you could you post a picture?

I do think this is the DNO's responsibility, but they too would probably need access to the shop below to confirm.

stevels4 · Jun 30, 2018

That is the strangest secondary cut out I have ever seen.
Being before the meter it IS the responsibility of the DNO in your case UKPN.
Ring them on 115 and tell them you have exposed live conductors BEFORE your meter and quote them code A04.
They have a duty to attend within 3 hours to rectify the problem which would probably involve replacing the sub main with split concentric and fitting a red link for local isolation.

Aurai · Jun 30, 2018

May or may not help as it might be dependent on the crew that turn up. We had an elderly fuse arrangement, fused live and fused neutral tails, to the meter. UKPN came along and did the work, but in discussion did advise they did not have to. The fuse was serving a flat above retail space, and as far as the UKPN team were concerned, their remit stopped at the supply head in the shop. Cheers

stevels4 · Jul 1, 2018

stevels4 said:
That is the strangest secondary cut out I have ever seen.
Being before the meter it IS the responsibility of the DNO in your case UKPN.
Ring them on 115 and tell them you have exposed live conductors BEFORE your meter and quote them code A04.
They have a duty to attend within 3 hours to rectify the problem which would probably involve replacing the sub main with split concentric and fitting a red link for local isolation.

Sorry should be 105 not 115 for phone number.

Paul P · Jul 1, 2018

We did a flat conversion from an office block to 10 flats. UK Power would only supply a 400A head and it was our problem to fit a chamber with henly fuses inside it and run tails to where the meters were.

It seems like UK Power have washed there hands of your kind of supplies.

This job was a sharp learning curve so not many sparks would know what the new plan is.

Which One’s Live? · Jul 2, 2018

I agree with an earlier post that this is a Building Network Operator (BNO) issue. However, this can leave you as “piggy in the middle” because nobody wants to take responsibility.

I’m not surprised to hear UK Power won’t touch it, as they see their responsibility lying with the incoming supply at the cutout/fuse only, and anything beyond that is the energy provider and building owners.

However, you’ll probably find that your energy provider will need convincing that it is their issue as well. I know this is frustrating, and I’ve seen situations where customers find themselves, as I said above, between a rock and a hard place.

I would get the landlord/freeholders on your side and get them to help you resolve it.

Also, depending on how helpful your energy provider/meter engineer is, they may be willing to install a new cutout/ red head, for you. They can be ordered as part of their stock, so they should have them in the van.