Meter seals?

[Ross1]

Evening guys, who would I need to contact to come out and connect new tails to the DNO 's meter in the Neath valley.

Is it western power?

How much notice do they need?

Does it cost anything?

Cheers

 

[DNS1]

You're allowed to pull it for emergency isolation though aren't you?

I've heard that consumer units often get physically damaged and have to be replaced straight away...

 

[Specialist]

I'm not going to enter into any debate or discussion, any of you can say what you like, but to cut the DNO fuse seals and remove, without their express permission is a criminal offence, you do know that don't you?
Well you should if you went to NPTC, SwanColl, or any of the other local colleges in the last 20 years.
Reference to ESQCR, EAWR89, PUWER98 & Criminal Damage.

Not sure exactly where this is coming from Paul to be honest. Unless i've missed something, there's been no mention of anyone cutting any seals. And for my part then yes I am well aware it's an offence, we used to contract to Western Power.

 

[Des 56]

I'm not going to enter into any debate or discussion, any of you can say what you like, but to cut the DNO fuse seals and remove, without their express permission is a criminal offence, you do know that don't you?
Well you should if you went to NPTC, SwanColl, or any of the other local colleges in the last 20 years.
Reference to ESQCR, EAWR89, PUWER98 & Criminal Damage.

Neither do I understand the necessity of this post on this thread
Please note that comments can sometimes be made that are intended as light humour

I suspect the illegal cutting of seals discussions have had their fair share of threads by this time

 

[Specialist]

You're allowed to pull it for emergency isolation though aren't you?

I've heard that consumer units often get physically damaged and have to be replaced straight away...

Consumer units often get Physically Damaged ? OK i must have missed something, don't think i've changed 1 in the last 5 / 6 years thats been Physically Damaged. Unless breaking when I chuck them on the floor counts.

 

[DNS1]

I think the true message in my last post may have got lost :wink5:

 

[netblindpaul]

...
Pulling the DNO fuse for safe isolation...

Need I say more.
There IS need for the post the OP is obviously intending on committing a criminal offence.
I am not going to debate this.
This is an issue of statute law.
The OP has stated he will breach statute law.
It is time that as an industry we demand an acceptable service from the DNO's or an alternative legal means of safe working.
This will NEVER happen when breaches of such statute law continue.

 

[DaveyD]

It seems to work down here for SE. Cant see why others wont follow their lead and let sparks pull.

 

[Specialist]

I think the true message in my last post may have got lost :wink5:

Yes, sorry mate: I was a bit PEEVED at the time:lol:

 

[CrazyScozzese]

Does anyone know anyone who was prosecuted for breaking a seal? Not stealing energy, just breaking it to do some work.

If so, what happened? No stories, no hearsay, and no preachers, just what happened?

 

[DNS1]

I doubt it's ever happened...

Innocent until proven guilty... How could anyone prove who broke the seal? Especially as most meter cupboards are outside and can be accessed by anyone.

 

[netblindpaul]

I despair!

 

[Marvo]

From a legal and moral point of view I agree with Netblindpaul, cutting the seal is against the law and therefore shouldn't be suggested as an option.

From a practical point of view it's obviously widespread practice and it's obviously deliberately ignored by the DNO's.

From the DNO's point of view;

1 Their workload would drastically increase if they enforced the law so it's in their interests to turn a blind eye at least until a few fatal incidents caused by this practice start making the headlines.
2 Installing an isolator would be an option but it would cost money to roll this out.
3 The law is on their side if a push ever did come to a shove in a courtroom so why should they give a damn.

From the sparkies point of view;

1 Everyone's doing it so abiding by the law would actually cost you money and time putting you at an unfair disadvantage.
2 Nobody is ever prosecuted or punished so it must be okay.
3 It would be almost impossible to prove who cut the seal and when even if there was a prosecution.

It's the worst case scenario where the law is clear but it's not in anybodies interest to enforce or obey it.

Something will have to change.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

If the OP has had the fuse out, then put an isolator switch between the meter an CU, then the new looking tails can go from there and the installation has a safer means of isolation for future use.

 

[Specialist]

From a legal and moral point of view I agree with Netblindpaul, cutting the seal is against the law and therefore shouldn't be suggested as an option.

From a practical point of view it's obviously widespread practice and it's obviously deliberately ignored by the DNO's.

From the DNO's point of view;

1 Their workload would drastically increase if they enforced the law so it's in their interests to turn a blind eye at least until a few fatal incidents caused by this practice start making the headlines.
2 Installing an isolator would be an option but it would cost money to roll this out.
3 The law is on their side if a push ever did come to a shove in a courtroom so why should they give a damn.

From the sparkies point of view;

1 Everyone's doing it so abiding by the law would actually cost you money and time putting you at an unfair disadvantage.
2 Nobody is ever prosecuted or punished so it must be okay.
3 It would be almost impossible to prove who cut the seal and when even if there was a prosecution.

It's the worst case scenario where the law is clear but it's not in anybodies interest to enforce or obey it.

Something will have to change.

Marvo: Please Read the OP's posts, at no time has he said that he cut the Seal. It's a sad fact that in this Country many, many properties Dont have seals on the Cutout. It may be due to someone in the past having cut the Seal to work on the Wiring or it may be that the DNO theirselves have not sealed it, having worked with Various DNO's I can tell you this does happen. The OP may himself have cut the seal to make things safe to work on & if he has then Yes that's wrong & Illegal, but we don't have any evidence of that. It's not right to accuse someone of Breaking The Law without knowing all the Facts.

 

[Marvo]

I wasn't accusing the OP of breaking the law or cutting the seal, just commenting on the general subject which has been debated rigorously many times recently on other threads as well as this one.