Pulling main fuse and smart meters

[Megawatt]

This is an issue that is starting to get more of a ball ache for me, when theres a smart meter installed without an isolator and I really need to cut the power (CU change for example). My question really is this, has anyone here, or any of your customers been fined/reprimanded/imprisioned/threatened in any after a smart meter has alerted the provider that powers been cut, due to pulling the main fuse ? I ask now because im looking at ever increasing jobs now where the fuse really needs to be pulled and im becoming reluctant to do it; trying to explain to the customer is just annoying and many of them im sure have no idea. Its come to the stage now where instead of pulling the main fuse im taking tails out of a live henley block (if fitted). Ive seen on DS youtube channel that firms did exist that done the job for £90 or some such amount but have now stopped as its deemed unsafe/illegal/whatever. Ive also read ia previous Napit periodical that there was some kind of "training & certification" that would allow electricians to pull the main fuse, but that cans been kicked down the road once more by the looks of it. Anyways without going into a rant about it has anyone here, or any of your customers been fined/reprimanded/imprisioned/threatened for pulling a main fuse due to a smart meter alert ??

In the USA if you pull a smart meter the power company will be there in less than an hour and will file charges and have you put in jail for tampering with a meter

 

[pc1966]

In the USA if you pull a smart meter the power company will be there in less than an hour and will file charges and have you put in jail for tampering with a meter

Is it a requirement in USA electric code that there is a separate disconnection means after the meter? If so I can't see any legitimate reason to pull the meter.

The issue here in the UK is to work on the DB (= CU domestically) you need the power off to replace it and the Electricity At Work regulations say you should not work live unless absolutely no alternative, but often there is no means of isolation to do that or replace the 'tails' (main cables from meter to CU) other than pulling out the supply fuse.

Which you are not supposed to do.

However, the risk of death or injury always outranks upsetting the smart meter company who, when they fitted the meter, should have fitted an isolator switch so it was not necessary to pull anything!

Our meters are pretty much fixed, they are screwed to whatever support panel the input fuse & CU are and hard-wired, usually with the 'tails' of double-sheathed cable 16mm or 25mm in size (about AWG #5 or #3).

 

[pc1966]

Also here they would have to establish that you were attempting 'Abstracting Electricity' ​

Theft Act Offences | The Crown Prosecution Service

www.cps.gov.uk

Elements​

Section 13 of the 1968 Act creates the offence of dishonestly using electricity without authority or dishonestly causing electricity to be wasted or diverted.

‘Dishonesty'​

The test to be applied now must be that adopted by the Supreme Court in Ivey v Genting Casinos. See “Dishonestly” above under Theft in this chapter. The case of Boggeln v Williams (1978) 67 Cr App R 50 (in which it was said that “dishonesty” must be decided on the basis of the defendant’s own beliefs about whether they were being dishonest or not) can no longer be regarded as good law.

It is not necessary that the defendant should have tampered with the meter. Provided that they have in fact used the electricity, that they were not authorised to do so and that in doing so they were being dishonest by the standards of ordinary people, the offence will be made out: R v McCreadie (1993) 96 Cr App R 143.

Allocation and Penalty​

The offence is triable either-way. The maximum penalty at the Crown Court is five years and/or an unlimited fine. In the magistrates’ court the maximum penalty is six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

 

[pc1966]

Ps.. I've just ordered an arc flash helmet

If you get the same as mine the visor's action is a bit odd. Basically you pull it down over your face then when fully down slightly 'out' away from your face to lock it in place. Then pushing slightly down/back releases it and "boing!" it shoots up on its springs out of the way.

 

[littlespark]

So you're spending money on extra PPE to perform an action that you shouldn't be doing without informing the supplier....
Just ask the supplier to install a service isolator instead of informing them.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

So you're spending money on extra PPE to perform an action that you shouldn't be doing without informing the supplier....
Just ask the supplier to install a service isolator instead of informing them.

Yep.

 

[LukeD]

The shop owner who needs a Isolator fitted .Made contact with the DNO and they are due to reply to him .Its been logged as urgent and also its been questioned why was one not fitted a few years ago when the new meter was fitted ? Lets see how long it takes !

 

[pc1966]

So you're spending money on extra PPE to perform an action that you shouldn't be doing without informing the supplier....
Just ask the supplier to install a service isolator instead of informing them.

That is a very good point, and getting the DNO/meter company to do what they damn well ought to have done in the first place is sensible.

Depending on what you do outside of non-approved fuse pulling, the PPE is good to have. Last time I had the lot on was doing some PFC/PSCC measurements on a live 800A busbar chamber, the sort of situation that give me the willies even with PPE on.

 

[Rockingit]

Have done so more times than I can remember without incident and often if you're in a situation where the DNO is involved anyway such as a new build and basically don't come over as a total plum then they won't even bother sealing a new head if it's obvious more more is happening.

Except for one time..... was the early days of smart meters and the software basically crashed in it, wouldn't reboot properly after power was restored. The customer had to get their energy company to source a specialist engineer who then had to drive about 5hrs across country to sort out the programming again, was a right faff and what should have been a 1hr job turned into a whole day with no power for a very understanding client!

 

[Psssst]

Do smart meter installers routinely fit an isolator where non is fitted or do they just pull the main, do the work and shove it back in again? I guess its down to individual metering companies and supplier requirements in their contracts? Thinking about it ,an isolator should be a compulsory upgrade given the issues with pulling and reinstalling a main fuse ?