Isolation Switches for New Consumer Unit

[Electron]

I ask customers to get their electricity supplier to fit an isolation switch so that I can safely isolate the supply while I fit a new consumer unit.
This must be a common request but my customers usually recieive a response as if no one has ever before asked for one.
This is part of an email just recieved from a customer:

Our current energy supplier Eon has been useless at enabling the installation of an isolator switch. After spending two hours on hold being shuttled between departments I gave up on them and we are in the process of switching to N Power who have a dedicated phone number for the service and will install the switch for free. I understand from N Power that it takes a maximum of 28 days to switch to them and 10 working days to install the switch once we are a customer and can request it.

Do other electricians have similar problems?

Why don't they all have a standard service charge and time to install?
Some install within a couple of days.
Some charge and some don't.
Has anyone any suggestion to improve the situation?
Perhaps a complaint to Ofgem?

 

[buzzlightyear]

you could get the tooth fairy to pull the fuse and stop wasting time..

 

[Andy78]

I don't suffer these issues as I don't go down that route.
Ill fit an isolator if the dno are in to change the head, a quite common occurrence, or even leave it with them to fit.

 

[Electron]

you could get the tooth fairy to pull the fuse and stop wasting time..

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

 

[Wilko]

Might fall into the don't ask don't tell category?

 

[Andy78]

Sit your assessor down on your knee and read him a story

 

[Pete999]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

Tell him the isolator was already installed, and wipe your finger prints from the DNO fuse.

 

[Octopus]

If the schemes are going to get difficult about this, they need to work together and get the DNOs to sort this out .....

Bit they won't ....

 

[SparkyChick]

If I'm doing this, I normally arrange for the DNO to come and pull the fuse and I have a shiney new isolator installed (with tails ready to be connected to the meter) waiting for them. I ask them if they can reseal the meter and check the connections for me and if they can hang around while I do that. It gets connected, they check it, reseal it, put the fuse back in and everyone is happy. This approach can save your customer having to have two visits (billed per visit).

If the seals are already missing, I'll pull the fuse myself (making sure there is no load on the system and the fuse carrier is in good shape) but I wouldn't cut them off myself. Instead, pull it, phone the DNO and tell them the seals are off and have them come and reseal it.

And yes, some suppliers fit them quick, some do it for free, and some haven't got a clue

 

[LankyWill]

Why overthink it when you can just cut the seals and pull the fuse, how can they expect you to make money if you are hanging about waiting at the DNO's expense.

 

[Risteard]

The DNO here (NIE) tried telling a customer that the Electrician fits the isolator and not them. They didn't explain how this could be done with their supply being energised, of course...

 

[Midwest]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

Do you know your DNO's policy on removal of their main fuse?

 

[westward10]

Why do you need to remove the fuse.

 

[Dillb]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

You must goto enough jobs to have one that doesnt require pulling a DNO fuse, and seeing as the scams allow YOU to choose which job to goto take them to one of them.

 

[Pete999]

Why do you need to remove the fuse.

Don't understand your question Westy.