- Reaction score
- 24
I have read several forums threads regarding the dilemma faced by electricians over the pulling of the suppliers protective device. I have read threads where electricians have been put into awkward situations where the only way to rectify an unsafe situation immediately would be to cut the seal and pull the suppliers fuse in order to rectify the problem. Notwithstanding these unsafe situations, I wonder what percentage of electricians out there would get the supplier to isolate and re-energize before and after a CU change (honest answers only please). Bottom line is, the whole issue is nonsense and driving inappropriate activity underground. I believe that responsible bodies such as those that run approved schemes and professional bodies such as IET should be campaigning to do something about it (or maybe they are and i just don't know).
I see a 2 solutions to this problem:
1. Regulations should be changed to allow those registered with Approved schemes to pull suppliers fuses. The schemes should provide their members with suitable devices for re-sealing the fuse after their work is done. The Approved Schemes should, in all of their report forms, have a tick box to indicate if the suppliers fuse seal had to be cut and re-instated. The Approved Schemes should ensure competence for pulling fuses through their mandated surveillance process.
2. I understand that the Government's department of Energy and Climate Changintroducedrduced new policies that will see all homes fitted with Smart Meters between now and 2019 Smart meters - Department of Energy and Climate Change. Isn't this the ideal opportunity to fit suppliers isolators to all domestic properties. The government should mandate to the suppliers as part of the roll out of fitting smart meters that they must fit a suppiors isolator between the newly installed smart meter and the propertyies installation.
Am I over simplifying things or could Solution 1 (in the short term) and Solution 2 (in the long term) put this problem to bed forever.
I see a 2 solutions to this problem:
1. Regulations should be changed to allow those registered with Approved schemes to pull suppliers fuses. The schemes should provide their members with suitable devices for re-sealing the fuse after their work is done. The Approved Schemes should, in all of their report forms, have a tick box to indicate if the suppliers fuse seal had to be cut and re-instated. The Approved Schemes should ensure competence for pulling fuses through their mandated surveillance process.
2. I understand that the Government's department of Energy and Climate Changintroducedrduced new policies that will see all homes fitted with Smart Meters between now and 2019 Smart meters - Department of Energy and Climate Change. Isn't this the ideal opportunity to fit suppliers isolators to all domestic properties. The government should mandate to the suppliers as part of the roll out of fitting smart meters that they must fit a suppiors isolator between the newly installed smart meter and the propertyies installation.
Am I over simplifying things or could Solution 1 (in the short term) and Solution 2 (in the long term) put this problem to bed forever.
