Advice on Replacing Faulty Pyro Meter Tails & Rising Main - National Grid saying it's not their responsibility

[phil118]

Hi, I’m dealing with a flat that’s been without power for nearly two months. National Grid came in and removed the fuses as they made a buzzing sound and were deemed unsafe.

The original engineer was told that an electrician would need to come in to replace the tails. After a quick look, he said he wasn’t allowed to touch anything in that area and advised to contact National Grid.

After filing a complaint, National Grid sent another engineer, who summarized the issue:

"The rising main after the cut-out fuse has faulted. The rising main is made up of cotton-covered pyro meter tails inside a steel conduit. The conduit is used as the earth and is bonded to the incoming earth at the cut-out. The pyro meter tails appear to have faulted within the conduit. The meter is at the far end of the conduit, past the fault."

I’ve been told I need to get British Gas to move the meter and install new tails. I’ve contacted them, and they’ve said they’ll be in touch within two days, but I’m half-expecting to be sent back to National Grid.

Does anyone have an idea of the next steps and potential costs involved in getting the power restored? I’m at a bit of a loss if British Gas sends me back to National Grid again.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kerching]

Personally I think that’s
I’ve never seen cotton covered Pyro. It’s more likely to be VIR which is cotton covered vulcanised insulated rubber. If the VIR is faulty BEFORE the meter it should be their responsibility as the users responsibility starts after the meter. Unless they are trying the BNO route

 

[phil118]

Thanks, I have no idea how to get power back. Hopefully British Gas will be more helpful this time.

The engineer said that anything after the cutoff is not their responsibility. Back when they were Western Power they would have just done it he said.

The flat is above a shop owned by the same landlord if that changes anything. Maybe they're trying to shift responsibility to him?

Hopefully British Gas will be more helpful but based on the past two months it doesn't seem likely.

 

[Fleeting]

As already stated the description of the wiring is nonsense it is almost certainly PBJ.

 

[UNG]

Personally I think that’s
I’ve never seen cotton covered Pyro. It’s more likely to be VIR which is cotton covered vulcanised insulated rubber. If the VIR is faulty BEFORE the meter it should be their responsibility as the users responsibility starts after the meter. Unless they are trying the BNO route

I would agree with the bull
Given the cotton covering it suggests an old VIR cable and I don't recall ever seeing anything other than bare imperial Pyro and it would normally be a 2 core cable and not single cables

 

[phil118]

Thanks for the input, it's been really frustrating dealing with the national grid.

What should my next steps be if you have the time? I'm not sure how I get them to replace the cable if they keep saying it's not their responsibility.

 

[binky]

reponsibilites are, as I understand it, DNO to cut out, meter is leccy supplier - BG in this case, after meter, home owner. Between cut out and meter - argued over, but should be BG as they have permission to connect into cutout whilst installing new meters.

I would say you need to run a new supply up through the building, you may be able to get swa through the existing conduit, or something like 16mm FTE. Or you could reuse steel conduit as earth and install meter tails. From waht I've seen of such things, reusing the conduit might be rather optimistic due to physical cable sizes of modern cable. Install a switch fuse isolator or something similar, new meter tails to the meter, and leave new tails from meter to cut out for DNO to wire in.

 

[phil118]

Thank you, hope you have a great weekend.