Image caption: Disconnecting or moving UK Power Networks’ electrical lines and cables should only be undertaken by the company’s own highly skilled personnel
UK Power Networks’ message to the construction industry is very clear. When undertaking any building project, do not interfere with, disconnect or attempt to move electrical infrastructure.
So, here are two very different scenarios on how to move or disconnect the supply to the electrical cables and lines owned and maintained by UK Power Networks. You start by contacting the company’s expert team for a service alteration – either by phone or via the website. A site visit from a UK Power Networks surveyor will then be booked in and is usually undertaken within five days. The initial visit is free, and you’ll only be charged for any subsequent works. If you’ve planned the job properly you’ve already included this cost on your original quote to the client.
Now comes the darker path that all too many tradespeople are risking when it comes to live power. You’re building an extension, and the service head and cables need to be moved, but you haven’t factored this into the original build schedule or estimate. As a result, the teams arrive on site to find the cables are unceremoniously shoved out of the way, dug up, propped up, precariously nailed to timbers, or even deposited in a wheelie bin. You’re not even bothering to contact UK Power Networks, consult the wealth of resources available from that organisation– as well as the likes of Line Search Before U Dig – or make use of cable avoidance tools to identify any hidden hazards.
Here’s the tragic potential result. You are seriously injured by electrical infrastructure that you and your team have carelessly exposed. Unable to work, there are devastating financial consequences for you and your family, not to mention a life changing and debilitating physical disability. If it’s not you that pays that terrible price then it’s the homeowner, an employee, colleague or a UK Power Networks surveyor. The upshot for you, however, is ruinous, with prosecution, a fine, monetary and reputational ruin all looming large on the horizon.
We can, of course, all agree on what would be the preferred outcome but that’s not what’s happening on the ground. “It has got to stop because someone is going to get killed,” said Jason Webb, UK Power Networks connection services manager for the London area. “We regularly see live service heads removed from walls and supported with a batten or an old piece of timber. When our surveyors are confronted with that level of irresponsibility, the first thing we’ll do is report it for safety purposes, then pass it on to a team that carries out a safety checks, which could lead to a disconnection and they’ll then need to pay to have the power restored.”
Last year 22 per cent of the safety incidents reported on UK Power Networks infrastructure were caused by tradespeople and every one of these could have resulted in tragedy. There is a perception that contacting UK Power Networks sets in train an onerous safety and permission process, but that’s actually far removed from the reality.
“All the safety information a builder could ever need is readily available,” continues Jason, “so there really is no excuse. There may well be the attitude that ‘I’ve done it before and got away with it’ but you only have to get it wrong once. UK Power Networks treats the discovery of any exposed electrical asset as an emergency situation, but we come across people digging out live service cables and then calmly carrying on around them. I actually struggle to understand why anyone would want to work like that.”
If it’s a question of knocking through for an extension, then UK Power Networks can install a TBS (Temporary Building Supply). It is actually very simple to take ownership of the situation and keep everyone on site safe. The first stage is always to contact UK Power Networks for a quotation when planning works.
SIMPLE STEPS TO A SAFE SITE
- Moving your electricity supply: Our teams follow a typical step-by-step approach when connecting a new electricity connection
- Contact UK Power Networks by phone or via the website – this is for London, the East and Southeast of England. If you live/work outside this area you can still ring 105 to get through to the local network operator for your area.
- Your application will be processed, and a member of the UK Power Networks team will be in contact within 48 hours to arrange a site visit.
- The site visit will be undertaken, usually within five days, and you’ll be provided with a quote with a price for the works, which can be included in the client’s quote.
- Remember – the site will need to be clear of any scaffolding before work can be carried out.
- To move your electricity supply, our experience engineers will work on the electricity network which is usually underground and requires a trench. We can take care of the digging or it can be arranged by yourself.
- We’ll pull the electricity cable to its new position. We always recommend for this to be on an outside wall.
- We’ll then re-connect the electricity supply to the main network. This will be followed by safety checks to make sure it’s all working correctly and safe before we leave.
- To make sure you can start using electricity as soon as we move your cable, you will need to arrange for your electricity supplier (the company you pay your electricity bills to) to visit you to move and connect the electricity meter.
For more information on moving the UK Power Networks supply visit Move an electricity supply | UK Power Networks.
If you would like to access the free to use safe digging service and obtain utility asset maps visit Home – LinesearchbeforeUdig.
The Health & Safety Executive also provides advice on avoiding dangers from underground services here Avoiding danger from underground services – HSG47.
