New Build Supply Issue

I can't lighten your heart I'm afraid, as it rather depends what needs doing - if the old connection is still there, in good condition and live, arguably it can be re-puprosed, but only if there is enough capacity for the new building. If it has been removed for some time, then it is quite possible the capacity has been absorbed by load creep for other properties on the same transformer.

So it may need nothing, just new cables, or at the upper end you may be asked to contribute towards a larger transformer, and yes, that can be eye wateringly expensive, but even then not always if it was going to be changed anyway, depending on age and condition.

The only people who can say with any authority what is actually needed in any specific location are the local DNO (http://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html) if you enter your post code will find out who that is. I suggest you request an estimate in writing from them, then at least you know where you stand.

Unless your surveyor has already had a formal  response from them, it can only be a guesstimate.


why 'temporary supply' ? if it is really only for a short period, hiring a genset may make more sense.


EDIT:

to calibrate expectation of cost,
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/44527/8566-edfconchsch.pdf

has some out of date figures from EDF (those networks have been UKPN now for at least a decade),  but is shows how they work out costs,

other suppliers will calculate using  similar methods, probably, but obviously the figures will have gone up.

Hi Mike,


Thank you for taking the time to respond. I take on board your comments and I guess we’ll have to wait and see what they come back with. 


Also noted on your comment about supply for building. I guess the thought is we can’t really commence until we know what they want to charge us. When I spoke with the Projects team at the DNO they used the cost bracket as £10k-£100k. 


Ben

I think that you need to apply to your DNO for a new connexion. They will respond with an offer, which will be more precise.

Alan Capon:

 

Cbrect:

. . .  upon requesting a temporary supply, the surveyor has informed me that I will have to pay to upgrade the network. When I asked about costs he said it could be anywhere from £10k to £100k. Obviously in a bit of a panic . . . 

In order to get a proper price rather than a range, you will need to make a formal application for a supply, including your maximum load, The DNO will then be able to look at what capacity is left in the network, then give you a single price for the new supply. 


Regards,


Alan. 

 

And of course, you would then be free to determine the contestable and non contestable elements of the work and decide if you wanted to use a third party to undertake some of the activities (trench digging being one example)


Regards


OMS

Thanks Alan


What has spooked us is the surveying engineer telling us that the sub was at full capacity. 

That can sometimes be the way it is. If you give up a supply, or part of your supply capacity, it doesn’t follow that it will be there waiting for you to change your mind. The best option is to get your application in, then you should know exactly how much it will cost. 


Regards,


Alan.

Brilliant ?


What did they end up charging you?

kellyselectric:

Had a similar experience a few years ago I found an old fan in my workshop took it to the DNOand said air cools your tranny rather than charging me thousands of pounds they laughed and I still had to pay Grrt

? That made me proper lol  kellyselectric ‍