i was thinking along the same lines for the add on to say the 2391 or the 2330 l3 prac exam. there is so much we already have at our fingertips in this industry regarding regulating electricians etc so why they need to make it more difficult than it should be i don`t know. i for one would be happy to go on an update course run by the dno or somewhere sponsored by them. surely when they have to train their guys up to be able to do this it would be cheaper to just get a competent electrician on their list instead. i would be happy to sign a waiver for them regarding the pulling of the fuse that the emphasis is on me for the safely doing it etc and that i would provide my own ppe. i also think they missed the opportunity of fitting isolaters when they went round replacing the old type meters but i gues that would not have gotten them the call out charge they currently ask for.
Sadly, I think money is as usual what it comes down to.....it isn't necessarily safety or competence driven, but at some level (normally up there ^) that it is looked at in terms of revenue stream, and if they cannot see where else to regain that stream, it won't happen. Tough, but true.
Like you, I'm happy to sign a waiver, or disclaimer, and attend even an annual course to prove my competence to refit the fuse.
And like you, it would have been an ideal opportunity when replacing analogue meters to new digital ones, to also fit a REC switch.....but indeed, the other way was preferred - do your install, terminate your tails in a REC switch, and we'll come along change the meter and tail out to your REC. Then you can come back, and finish your testing....WTF??? Who does testing in two separate visits.....and WHAT would be to stop the customer operating the REC and potentially hurting themselves because THEY then have the ability to energise an untested, or only partly tested install?
OK, you can do all your SAFE tests, and be reasonably sure that you haven't got shorts, or incorrect polarity (with good eyesight), but....you cannot necessarily tell none of your accessories are faulty with only safe test or know that an RCD is properly operational.
IMO, and told to the DNO in question, it was bloody stupid advice, and my guy would under NO CIRCUMSTANCES connect our tails to a REC prior to the DNO connecting their tails. Energising of the system would only ever be carried out under our direct supervision.
Sometimes, even with DNO's you gotta wonder.....
