Looped service cost for unlooping

[Ericsson]

Hi everyone we are in the process of installing a new heat pump in our Victorian maisonette. The whole house is 4 stories and it was split into two separate flats a few decades ago. The service is looped between us and the upstairs flat. UKPN came around and estimated that we need an upgrade to a three phase fuse. They said we need to cover the cost (almost 8000£!). From all the reading I have done the cost to unloop the service should be covered by the UKPN and not passed on to us. Also the requirement for a three phase fuse upgrade seems to be so that both properties are covered rather than just us (a single phase 100smp fuse should be enough for our property only) . I would have thought that 2 separate single phase 100amp installations should also suffice. What am I missing here? I also read that from April 2023 DNOs will be responsible to cover these costs anyway? No one at UKPN was forthcoming with information.. Does anyone know what needs to happen in this case?

 

[James]

try telling them that your plans have changed, you are now looking at installing an EV (car) charger
more often than not, they will unloop the supply for free.

 

[snowhead]

I suspect UKPN aren't quoting for unlooping, what they will be quoting for is to upgrade the supply to the property suitable for 2 flats, something which should have been done at the time of conversion.

 

[Ericsson]

I heard back from UKPN after challenging their original assessment. They backtracked on the need to have a three phase fuse installed but they now say that it is not a looped supply but a single phase supply which laterally feeds my upstairs neighbour via a private cable..
I am now thinking that something went really wrong when the property was split into 2 flats, however, surely if the upstairs property is not having their own direct supply from the DNO the DNO is responsible to install one and cover the cost?

 

[pc1966]

Can you post a couple of good photos of your supply cut-out and feed to the meter (but redact any meter serial no or barcodes)?

Hopefully that might show how the cable to the upstairs block is connected and maybe answer your question.

 

[Ericsson]

Can you post a couple of good photos of your supply cut-out and feed to the meter (but redact any meter serial no or barcodes)?

Hopefully that might show how the cable to the upstairs block is connected and maybe answer your question.

I think my neighbour's supply is from the 2 cables you can see in the 3rd photo that they then join and form the white cable...

 

[LewisM]

Yeah thats an old pyro, very common around my way, big old victorian houses that the downstairs and upstairs have been turned into separate properties after the war. They unfortunately in my experience won't do anything for free as its not their property, interesting way of picking the earth up too.

 

[Ericsson]

Yeah thats an old pyro, very common around my way, big old victorian houses that the downstairs and upstairs have been turned into separate properties after the war. They unfortunately in my experience won't do anything for free as its not their property, interesting way of picking the earth up too.

How can they claim that it is not their property though? The cable comes out of the DNO cut-out, the definition of a looped supply is that 2 properties share a single electricity service cable from the main network, which it is definitely the case here. Aren't they really splitting hairs here because they try to avoid to cover the cost?

 

[MJPD29]

I cant see them covering the cost, its not a nessescity its just something you want to do. They will likely say its you who wants to install the heat pump, therefore you who is instigating this and therefore you will pay for the work. Not ideal, but all you can do is try and annoy them until they possibly reconsider.

 

[davesparks]

How can they claim that it is not their property though? The cable comes out of the DNO cut-out, the definition of a looped supply is that 2 properties share a single electricity service cable from the main network, which it is definitely the case here. Aren't they really splitting hairs here because they try to avoid to cover the cost?

It is not sharing a sevice cable, there is only one service cable.

There are two outing connections from the cutout, but that is still only one service cable.