Electrical contractor bypassed my meter ?

H

homeworker

Looking for some advice before deciding how to proceed.

A number of years ago I had an extension built with all the electrics supplied by a second CU fitted in the garage. I recently had cause to look closely at the wiring (after a particularly lengthy MeterPlus reading) and have determined that the second consumer unit is connected to the wrong side of my meter.

Now I can see no reason nfor the contractor to do this intentionally so i am trying to establish why this should have happened, genuine mistake ? common practice ?.

Having had the extension professionally project managed and as far as I can remember all signed off (this resposibility I assumed was with the Project management - rather than me the householder) I am really surprised and a little concerned that I find myself in this situation. And where I fully expect to pay for power consumed I am worried that I am liable in any way.

Any professional thoughts and advice more than welcome.

Bob
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
I'd expect an additional CU to be connected either from the existing one or by use of henley blocks on the existing tails. No doubt your lengthy meter reading was when this was picked up on. How long ago was this 2nd CU installed and do you have any certification covering it, if you have then this will go some way to mitigating your liability as long as you pay for the estimated consumption in the interim
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hello Bob.

Firstly, can you post us up a picture of your meter situation?

Second, what do you think you're seeing that gives you this impression? Not saying you're wrong, btw!

It would be common to have one or two chunky black/brown connector boxes just after the RIGHT side of the meter outlet (as in, two cables in, two out) and from there to have one set of cables feeding one CU, and another to the other.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Could you post up some pictures of it so we can see exactly how it is by-passed, more advice can be given once we see the arrangement.

It is illegal to have your meter bypassed, so I would contact your provder ASAP to inform them if you think that is the case, but beware there is a good chance they will think you have done it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Firstly - if the contractor connected it to the wrong side of the meter - you would of been having free electric - This is Theft! It would not cause you to have a high electric bill

Secondly - If the DNO visits and sees that this has happened you could face a fine or worse

mistake or not - cant comment

Find the certificate and check it out - if you didnt have a certificate you need to find out if he was an electrician - visit Competent Persons Register | Home and do a search on him

What is your location - dont give your address!

Get an Electrician out to get it sorted ASAP before something happens


In regads to a high bill, this could be a bad installation or using to much electric.

Again this needs to be checked out!


As a recommendation - take pictures incase the electrician is not registered! - for legal reasons


Keep us updated!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I didn't brand anyone - all I said if the action of bridging the meter is theft - I am not saying that homeworker is a theft at all!
From what he said he is the innocent party here.

Dont jump to do anything as yet - get some pictures up here in case it is a basic misunderstanding
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
This is Theft! It would not cause you to have a high electric bill

Secondly - If the DNO visits and sees that this has happened you could face a fine or worse

Copied and pasted from your first reponse. While I agree that it could be viewed as theft if the DNO wanted to get really awkward about it I don't see the point in scaremongering. If the OP approaches the supplier and pays any estimated consumption can you honestly see criminal proceedings being issued against him?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Sorry it is theft! - not saying that he is responsible for it

Like I said get some pictures on here - it could be a simple mistake.

Trev - dont jump to conclusions
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Can you honestly see criminal proceedings being issued against the OP resulting in the "fine or worse"?
I can't as long as the estimated consumption is paid for if the meter does turn out to have been bypassed
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Wow - Thanks for the prompt responses - I may have misled slightly, the "lengthy MeterPlus reading" refers to the length of time the MeterPlus man took to jot down a few numbers, not a high bill, normally he is in and out in seconds this time he read the numbers out to himself then took a couple of minutes more looking at the meter / original CU.

Having never paid any attention before I took a look out of curiosity to find the cables leading to the new CU are fed from the same block that supplies the Meter. The Electrician is a local contractor (and is in the Competant Persons Register), I do have a certificate but that in itself might be enough for him to say "it was fine when i left it - look, Here's a certificate" ?

I am keen to get this sorted and pay for the power I owe but as pointed out above the supplier may indeed think I am to blame. I'll post some pictures when I get home.

I am in North Yorkshire - if there's a relevance.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
No I cant if its done in the correct way.
If he report it himself and explains the situation then he will be ok. If they turned up then a different situation might occour.

First of all - he needs to be 100% certain that the 2nd CU is wired up on the wrong side. He also needs to know has he got an EIC to prove who installed it.

So first of all - post some pictures on here so we can tell him 100% that it is correct or its wrong and find out if he has any certificates or proof of who installed it!

I am sure that he does not want a situation where he made a mistake and it is wired up on the correct side and he feels a fool infront of the DNO. (I AM NOT SAYING S/HE HAS GOT IT WRONG) - but we dont know anything about this person - apart from s/he only found this out after a large bill - if this was the case then this being the wrong side would not cause this - so there are 2 potential problems - a picture of this meter and all the cables in that area could say alot! and answer alot more questions than is it on the wrong side of the meter!

It may also answer why he is using so much more electric!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I really don't think you'll have much to worry about Homeworker. Try to get a picture of the meter itself so we can see if it's seals are intact as well as photo's of the tails and where they are jointed
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
An old friend of mine shared a house with some other lads whilst at Uni - loooong time ago. Because they were a long way from the campus and all on the same courses, they were out early and back late and kept missing the meter reader. For three years. Now, the previous occupant had been some little old dear that hardly used anything, completely unlike 3 or 4 lads on the p. So, they were starting to get a little worried about the difference between their estimated bills and the real one when it eventually arrived and caught up with them, and how they were going to pay it. But, being the fine students of engineering that they were, they realised that if they actually INCREASED their consumption, they could clock the meter over to roughly what the bills said...... and so they tried very very hard for a few months and just had everything they could find plugged in and on 24/7. Then it happened, one of them was ill and at home, made the mistake of answering the knock at the door........ "oh *&^#%" says they, as they hadn't managed to quite get there on the reading so were now dreading a bill of empirical size. Weeks went by, and the brown envelope landed on the mat. Inside, it contained a rebate cheque for over charge!!!!!!!! They never had the guts to cash it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
post~11 tells us he's not had a large bill, just that the meter man spent longer than usual reading the meter. OP thinks meter man may have seen something suspicious. all the more reason for a pic., so as we can see if it's right or wrong
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ok so your supplier already knows - thats more info - thanks

If Im not mistaken your supplier is incharge of the meter so they will take it from here. You may have to prove that you didn't do it - easy prove that you have no idea of electric installations - usually done by a few questions from the supplier.

Dont worry to much - let them contact you via letter which they will - or get ahead and call your supplier and ask for their advice.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
When you call them be genuine (which Im sure you will be) and explain what has happened and tell them if you own them any money then you will sort it out with them when it comes to that.

Good Luck - you will be fine!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks all for the comments, I'll sleep better tonight knowing the police are not going to come knocking - quite yet. I can put up with explaining the situation to the supplier and as I said - more than happy to pay for what I have used.

I can't post a photo here so please follow the links. http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q505/homeworker1/DSC09557.jpg
http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q505/homeworker1/DSC09558.jpg

I can't get the consumer units in the same photos, suffivce to say thay are at the other end of the cables showm

I am reluctant to go to the supplier without giving the contractor an opportunity to explain or even better prove me wrong, after all I assume this could affect his certification an livelihood.

Thanks again for all advice
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I agree.

Your electrician has indeed, incorrectly connected the tails to the second CU, and so it has been suggested you contact him ASAP, especially as the meter man has been round and seen it.

Let us know how it goes.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Better Pic http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q505/homeworker1/Dsc09559.jpg

The block appears sealed - could the contractor have resealed this himself ? I too am speechless, having been given a electrical certificate I assumed that this work has all been checked, obviously not. This was a big extension (100K) with the electrician fully wiring 5 rooms, subcontracted by a builder who in turn was appointed by the architects employed as project management. And there was me thinking I was taking the safe route by putting the full responsibility in their hands...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The henly block has probably been resealed by either the electrician who did the install or a meter reader who hasn't got a clue. Have you had your meter read since the work was carried out?

Seeing as the DNO seem to know about the bypass I would send them a pictures, so as you don't look like you are backtracking if you get it rectified yourself, also a electrician can't cut any DNO seals fitted
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Now that I have seen this is sealed, my gut instinct if I were the customer would be to talk to the DNO straight away. I know that you would like to get the original electrician back, but my concern is that this may have already been reported by the meter reader. "Can of worms" comes to mind here...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
blocks before a meter is a big no no
meter readers dont seal anything they take meter readings
report it because if you have had a meter reader round then there is a good chance he has reported it
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The meter has been read a few times since the install. The last one was over a week ago when i suspected there was something up. I have no reason to believe the DNO has been made aware by the meter reader but either way I need to sort this out. thanks for the help - all very much appreciated.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Well on your part as I said, now you have been advised you should phone your provider A.S.A.P tomorrow A.M explaining the situation. Explain you have sought advise elsewhere and that you realize what you have is wrong. They seem a little concerned at first and may turn up mob handed to see what has been done, yes this includes the police but print this thread off or even show them it to prove your honesty and you should be fine.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
homeworker said:
Looking for some advice before deciding how to proceed.

A number of years ago I had an extension built with all the electrics supplied by a second CU fitted in the garage. I recently had cause to look closely at the wiring (after a particularly lengthy MeterPlus reading) and have determined that the second consumer unit is connected to the wrong side of my meter.

Now I can see no reason nfor the contractor to do this intentionally so i am trying to establish why this should have happened, genuine mistake ? common practice ?.

Having had the extension professionally project managed and as far as I can remember all signed off (this resposibility I assumed was with the Project management - rather than me the householder) I am really surprised and a little concerned that I find myself in this situation. And where I fully expect to pay for power consumed I am worried that I am liable in any way.

Any professional thoughts and advice more than welcome.

Bob
Click to expand...
heres some good advice.....
next time you order donner meat+chips....loads of garlic sauce with onions....just onions mind....lovely that is....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
They always harp ojn about the meter and cut out being their property
There should be a warning label stating that the equipment you are concerned about is the suppliers property and any interference with their equipment could render the person liable to prosecution

With that statement in mind and the fact that the block is fed from the cut out with red and black tails,whilst the outgoing to the meter and the remote consumer unit are brown/blue.the obvious and only conclusion a court could make,would be that the set up was wrongly connected by the supplier themselves

Again,with these statements in mind,I would say,the best advise is to heed their warnings and mind your business:smug:
Its their property and their problem.you are expected to know no different
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
There's always a second explanation.....could easily be a cock-up by a 3day trained meter changer in a hurry. With that reading, it's probably what - 3, maybe 4 years old?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
if it was me i,d have his wiring checked as well,I mean if he can,t connect something as simple as a set of tails correctly it makes you wonder about the rest of his work!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
phil d said:
if it was me i,d have his wiring checked as well,I mean if he can,t connect something as simple as a set of tails correctly it makes you wonder about the rest of his work!
Click to expand...
well i wasn`t prepared to to call it Phil...as i dont know the guy...hense the donner meat thing.....but iif thers anything amis....you remember the liverpool cross?...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Rockingit said:
There's always a second explanation.....could easily be a cock-up by a 3day trained meter changer in a hurry. With that reading, it's probably what - 3, maybe 4 years old?
Click to expand...

Interesting - I never gave that much thought, I don't recall the meter having been replaced since I have lived in the house (1999) so assume that this was perhaps done at the time of the extension being built. Might not have ben the electrician after all ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Green 2 Go Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses Heating 2 Go
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

Advert

YOUR Unread Posts

Daily, weekly or monthly email

Receive a daily, weekly, or monthly email containing a digest of new and recently updated threads.

Thread Information

Title
Electrical contractor bypassed my meter ?
Prefix
Forum
UK Electrical Forum
Start date
Last reply date
Replies
126
Unsolved
--

Thread Tags

Tags Tags
contractor electric electrical electrical contractor electricians' talk meter

Advert

Thread statistics

Created
homeworker,
Last reply from
Geordie Spark,
Replies
126
Views
41,324

Advert

TrueNAS JBOD Storage Server

Tilers | UK Tiling Forum | Tilers Forums | Find a Tiler
UK Tiling Forum by Tilers Forums UK
Plumbers Forums | Plumbing Advice | Gas Forum
Back
Top