DP Isolator - How much???!!!

[Timotei]

Just been quoted £167 + VAT for installation of a DP Isolator (by Western Power Distribution) on a domestic property I've been asked to work on!

I generally like to do things "by the book", i.e. I'm not a fuse puller....but at this price I might just change my mind.

I assume the lady I spoke to has got the wrong "item" up on her computer, but I did ask 3 times as I was so aghast!

Will phone again later and see what happens - I'm sure the last one (admittedly nearly a year ago) was only about £49 - I'll look at my accounts later too.

What has anyone else paid recently?.....or are the seals usually missing when you arrive?

Timotei

 

[mhar]

Well, yes, partly. He is actually a really nice helpful person and yes he is quoting the company line. I did feel slightly awkward for him as my youngest is one of his seniors! However I gather there must have been an incident as they are all gloving up and donning flash guard visors even for what appears to be a very safe and simple task

 

[GBDamo]

No they don't.
It was a network planner who told me the £70 fee and he is one of the people that prices jobs. He was telling me how I shouldn't pull fuses, the dangers involved and the potential consequences all for the sake of saving £70

After watching a DNO engineer pull all three fuses on a three phase supply your man might want to explain the hazards to his engineers.

 

[hasel5]

SEAL FAIRY IS KING

 

[Midwest]

@Timotei , what I normally do in this case, if you want to play by the rule book is book an engineer to come and pull the fuse. Have a Wylex REC2S isolator lined up.

When they get there, ask them if they'd mind waiting in the van for 10 minutes. Have them pull the fuse, install the isolator and tails from the meter to the isolator and then go and knock on the van window and have them come back, reinsert the fuse and seal everything back up.

The customer pays for a single visit (because if they go away and come back customer pays the £75 - I think it is - twice).

The engineers are typically very accommodating and everyone I've encountered has been happy to oblige. The worst case is, they say no and bugger off but it's still cheaper than having them fit the isolator.

Present company excepted, that just seems stupidly over complicated. At some point in the next hundred years, common sense should prevail?

 

[SparkyChick]

Present company excepted, that just seems stupidly over complicated. At some point in the next hundred years, common sense should prevail?

I would hope so. I'm hoping NAPIT give WPD a kick in the right direction. It would be so much easier if they'd just let us pull the fuse and re-seal it.

 

[rolyberkin]

I used to be in the never pull a fuse camp until a customer got a bloke down the pub to do it for a couple of pints and a pack of pork scratching, the result was a complete cock up! Now I leave a dp isolator near the meter and let my little girl summon the seal fairy (close relative of the tooth fairy!), that way I know it is done properly and I don't lose the job!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Agree with @SparkyChick if you dont want to pull the fuse then it is cheaper to have them pull the fuse and you have the tails, isolator etc ready to go, they will happily sit in the van or in the kitchen scoffing cake and a coffee whilst you do your bits then pop the fuse back in before resealing it. it saves a chunk of cash and they get treated well. it works wonders for all

 

[happysteve]

The other option, rather than going through the DNO (WPD here too) is to get the customer to contact their electricity supplier, get them to install an isolator. Depends on who they are with: sometimes it can get done within the week and cost £40 or so, sometimes they can wangle it for free if they tie it in with getting a smart meter fitted... other times it's a real faff, can take forever, and can cost the same as getting WPD to do it.

 

[Des 56]

I have never got involved in this "pay another electrician to do work that you should undertake",neither do I break seals that belong to the supplier
It is all routine stuff for electricians

 

[stevels4]

The other option, rather than going through the DNO (WPD here too) is to get the customer to contact their electricity supplier, get them to install an isolator. Depends on who they are with: sometimes it can get done within the week and cost £40 or so, sometimes they can wangle it for free if they tie it in with getting a smart meter fitted... other times it's a real faff, can take forever, and can cost the same as getting WPD to do it.

Good point, I fit a fair few in a week for a MOP, job comes down as fit isolator as customer having new consumer unit fitted and as far as I know the customer is not charged for it.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

No they don't.
It was a network planner who told me the £70 fee and he is one of the people that prices jobs. He was telling me how I shouldn't pull fuses, the dangers involved and the potential consequences all for the sake of saving £70

A client of mine (at my behest) had WPD out last week to fit a DP isolator distributors switch after the meter. I don’t know what they charged them as they arranged it, but 2 “engineers” turned up; they checked polarity at a socket with a plug in buzzing tester (hardly guarantees polarity, does it?); cut the seals & pulled the fuse and when I asked if they wanted it switched off first they said “no - this is how we roll”! 10 mins later switch was fitted, seals back on and they were off. I hope that didn’t cost my client >£167+VAT.

 

[SparkyChick]

I hope that didn’t cost my client >£167+VAT.

Last time (a few weeks ago) I was sorting this out for a client... that, unfortunately, was the price (at least in my neck of the woods). Can't see the pricing being that much different as you're only just up the road.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

Last time (a few weeks ago) I was sorting this out for a client... that, unfortunately, was the price (at least in my neck of the woods). Can't see the pricing being that much different as you're only just up the road.

I’ve since spoken to them and it did.
WPD charge not much less just to provide a PME connection (if possible), and even more for a 3L4P switch!!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

My excuse if they query me pulling a fuse that is modern and looks okay to pull is I thought i was still in the SSE area governor.. honest...