Getting hold of the DNO (ENWL)

Sam_Butler · Mar 8, 2013

Any north west sparks have some kind of magic way to get Electricity North West (ENWL) to answer their phone? I'm trying to enquire as to the supply characteristics of a shop I'm testing, and spent all afternoon going through the same sequence of hold, hold, voicemail. In the end I left two voicemails and gave the MPAN and address in the second one, but I'm not convinced they'll actually call me.

anyone want to allay my fears? ;-)

Welchyboy1 · Mar 8, 2013

Mate they are the same all over the country, unless its a DIRE EMERGENCY i wouldnt get them involved in anything, they are useless

Sam_Butler · Mar 8, 2013

Fears confirmed. Meh.

RyanCheetham · Mar 8, 2013

Have you tried using a ouija board to summon the mythical DNO?

Andy78 · Mar 8, 2013

Did they say something along the lines of. "we have no idea and couldn't care less. Ring the supplier". ?

bigbaddave · Mar 8, 2013

I'm lucky. Northern power grids office is near me. When I turn up in clart covered clothes they are quick to help

Sam_Butler · Mar 8, 2013

Ooh, they called me back, after 7pm as well - not bad. The operator had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for the prospective short circuit current, so I said I just want the supply characteristics. Nah, didn't get that either. I had her write everything down and gave her the address and MPAN and she's got me on hold now

If you say "DNO" as a word instead of the letters it starts to make sense. Independent DNOs can even make a whole sentence: "I d'no" :gunsmilie:

Sam_Butler · Mar 8, 2013

I'm quite a kind soul, but I can't help thinking it might have been amusing to ask her for the Ze/Ipf/U0/f and whether it's TT/TN-S/PME/etc for MPANxxxxxxxxxxxxx please DNO. Just wait til the IET hears about about ENWL, the UK DNO that doesn't know their Rs from their MPAN.

On a related note, has anyone else noticed how one of the most common abbreviations in the dictionary is "abbr."?

jaydee81 · Mar 8, 2013

am quite lucky that a mate of the old mans works for western power anything i need to know is just a quick phone call

spidersparks · Mar 8, 2013

Uk power networks seem to be ok in times when I've had flickering supplies and the like they are usually fairly quick to come and sort the problem though did have a snotty cow once, I got a call asking if I can look at a cable the roofer cut through (this was at 10:00) had to pack up and drive to the job finally get there at 12:00 and find it was the incoming cable from the pole next to the road, called up uk power and told her what has happened and she asked when it was done, I said about 09:45 she had a right moan but they were there in 30 mins so can't complain

nickblake · Mar 8, 2013

you have more chance of getting in contact with aliens ,having said they they may well respond quicker

GLENNSPARK · Mar 8, 2013

Sam_Butler said:
Ooh, they called me back, after 7pm as well - not bad. The operator had no idea what I was talking about when I asked for the prospective short circuit current, so I said I just want the supply characteristics. Nah, didn't get that either. I had her write everything down and gave her the address and MPAN and she's got me on hold now

If you say "DNO" as a word instead of the letters it starts to make sense. Independent DNOs can even make a whole sentence: "I d'no" :gunsmilie:

invest yourself with a loop-tester fella...harrogates now gone....but the manchester show is coming up.....last time i looked that was northwest...
what were the earthing arrangements anyway?

a sparky without a loop tester.....what next...

Sam_Butler · Mar 8, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
a sparky without a loop tester.....what next...

Policemen in helicopters.

R1+R2 with Ze from the dunno brigade will be adequate in this case, I'm only doing this on occasion for commercial properties as additional income so it's not a realistic investment right now but I do intend to make it so. The hardest part about this particular job so far has been cleaning grease from a kitchen where I've removed sockets. Thankfully the new owners have a different take on hygiene! I have a habit of attracting greasy kitchen jobs though. Give me an office for heaven's sake

Sam_Butler · Mar 9, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
a sparky without a loop tester

Given that pigs already fly, I managed to find a second hand loop tester, not as handy as a multifunction but as I said this is only occasional work for me. So now let's see what ENWL come back to me with, before I'm back at the site in a week.