Interesting talk with DNO engineer

[davesparks]

With the ESB it's a big no no to interfere with any of their seals and they will fine you a huge amount of money for it. In fact no-one would ever contemplate doing it.

That said they fit meters with a contractors isolator (and contractors seal) on them, otherwise a separate isolator with a contractors side.

It sounds like you've got things a lot better sorted out in Ireland, from your various posts your rules appear to be clearer and stricter on quite a few things.

SSE used to fit self connect meters with the integral isolator but Im not sure if they still do

 

[Deleted member 105166]

This is just scaremongering - even the smartest "smart meter" won't detect the difference between a seal fairy and a momentary network outage, which happen regularly, sometimes across all phases and at other times just one.

 

[davesparks]

This is just scaremongering - even the smartest "smart meter" won't detect the difference between a seal fairy and a momentary network outage, which happen regularly, sometimes across all phases and at other times just one.

One meter on its own won't, but with multiple smart meters on one street it will be very easy to establish what is a network outage and what isn't.

 

[Midwest]

Exactly what offence or civil enforcement acts will you be committing, for these companies to issue ‘fines’?

 

[snowhead]

One meter on its own won't, but with multiple smart meters on one street it will be very easy to establish what is a network outage and what isn't.

Agreee with that,
But that assumes the supplier has more than 1 meter on the street or in the area.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

that assumes the supplier has more than 1 meter on the street or in the area.

Would have been easier in the good old days when everyone bought their leccy from the same supplier.
The DNO would ideally need accurate and timely information from a whole host of energy suppliers and unless they were paying the energy suppliers for this, what's in it for the energy company?

 

[Zerax]

Agreee with that,
But that assumes the supplier has more than 1 meter on the street or in the area.

I suspect it's done with "exception reporting". So every day/week/month there's a standard set of reports run from the smart meter data. Anything that is not 'normal' should show up. Like, say, a list of meters with a power failure within the same part postcode where the number is = 1; Or... any meters showing a usage drop of >50%

It's up to them if they investigate these or not...

 

[davesparks]

s, what's in it for the energy company?

They get possible theft of electricity investigated by the DNO for them for free,
[automerge]1568798337[/automerge]

Agreee with that,
But that assumes the supplier has more than 1 meter on the street or in the area.

Not necessarily, if the DNO is getting the power outage report from all smart meters automatically then it won't matter who the energy supplier is.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

They get possible theft of electricity investigated by the DNO for them for free,

Good point Dave, I like your thinking.

 

[Taylortwocities]

SSE used to fit self connect meters with the integral isolator but Im not sure if they still do

These days new meter = smart meter. The original spec for SMs included an integral isolator, but of course it was ditched as a cost saving matter.
Meters are a matter for the supplier, not the DNO. and SSE aren't in retail any more!

SSE sale of retail business to Ovo creates new UK energy giant

The transfer of 3.5 million SSE customers will make Ovo the UK's second largest energy firm.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Shoei]

Exactly what offence or civil enforcement acts will you be committing, for these companies to issue ‘fines’?

It's probably covered by the National Terms of Connection (pdf) This is the contractual basis for most UK supplies and in section 10 it explains that you can't tinker with the supplier's kit, and you pay expenses for putting it right if you do. 'Expenses' for a DNO might look like a fine but as you imply, they have no authority to issue fines, although they can disconnect the supply if reasonable (in their opinion) costs aren't paid.

 

[Midwest]

As far as I’m aware, there’s just the offence of abstraction of electricity under the Theft Act. But pulling fuses or cutting seals, would not complete that offence.

 

[Shoei]

As far as I’m aware, there’s just the offence of abstraction of electricity under the Theft Act. But pulling fuses or cutting seals, would not complete that offence.

That's true in criminal law but the DNO has remedies and obligations under the 'Terms of Connection' contract. Acceptance of the contract is a condition of supply so if a seal is cut (say) the end user is obliged to pay the DNO's expenses to put it right.

 

[Carl S]

Forty years ago all I got from a NWEB engineer was “you don’t believe in seals then?” They were there for a major fault on their system so my little transgression was overlooked.

A few years later I phoned them about dual fuel heating and got talking to the same guy. Supply up rated for free and a wads of information and help.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

They could be the Hepworth/Sicame ones.

Yep, there again today. Is a hepworth kit to make a new tns earth from lead incoming sheath.