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Very long meter tails - is this proposed arrangement OK?

I would be grateful if someone could give this a sanity check...

We live in a bungalow, and the electricity meter and consumer unit are currently located side-by-side in an internal cupboard.  The DNO (Western Power) service cable to the house runs from an overhead line to the gable end of the bungalow and then around the external walls and into the back of this meter/CU cupboard. 

However, we're planning an extension which will require the service cable to be relocated because part of the wall it runs along is to be demolished.  A team from the DNO has visited to discuss the matter.  

We had hoped they might be able to simply reroute their service cable through the loft space to the existing meter location, but this isn't permitted.  However, they explained that the meter tails are our responsibility and hence could be run through the loft.  Hence their proposed solution is to fit an external meter box to the gable end wall of the house, relocate the meter into that, and run the meter tails through the loft space to the CU.  The distance from meter to CU would then be about 15m.

This arrangement was proposed by the DNO so I assume it's OK, but I have read (including in the DNO's own guidance literature) that meter tails should be no more than 2-3m long.  Ours would be at least 15m long!  So does their proposed solution sound reasonable?  Are there any potential issues I ought to be aware of?

Parents
  • Overhead lines? Is the current system TT? (Earthing from your own rod)

    If so, you'd likely need not just a switchfuse but an RCD as well at the meter end - especially if using an earthed wiring system such as SWA.

       - Andy.

  • Yes, it is TT.

    As it happens the earth rod will also need to be relocated as it lies under the proposed extension; the DNO agent suggested putting the new rod below the new meter box for cabling convenience.   

  • Can't you get the earthing upgraded to P.M.E? Ask for a new P.M.E. earthing terminal if permissible. Around here it is provided for no charge.

    Also, around here (East Anglia) incoming supply cables are run in lofts.

    Z.

Reply
  • Can't you get the earthing upgraded to P.M.E? Ask for a new P.M.E. earthing terminal if permissible. Around here it is provided for no charge.

    Also, around here (East Anglia) incoming supply cables are run in lofts.

    Z.

Children
  • The DNO (Western Power) guy insisted it had to remain a TT arrangement.  Not sure why - perhaps something to do with power coming from an overhead pole.

  • Around here we can get  a P.M.E. earthing terminal installed by U.K. Power Networks even for overhead supplied properties.

    Z.