That may well be the reason JP. Come to think of it, a recent replacement had just what you describe done in UKPN land on another site I was involved with. 
Will let you know how matters resolve. 

Lyle

I was on site this morning for a meeting and the meter fixer was there to fit the meter. He had stripped back the SWA cable to connect in to the meter box. I counted the cores in the cable and I can confirm there were 10 cores. Still waiting for the 2 No. bundles of HV cables to be connected in to the HV ring out in the verge beside the roadway. Need a permit from the highway authority but cannot get one until the work changing the traffic lights along the main road is complete! The Highway Authority will not allow 2 nearby street works at the same time. Just another problem to get in the way of completing the project.

JP

Lyle

I was on site this morning for a meeting and the meter fixer was there to fit the meter. He had stripped back the SWA cable to connect in to the meter box. I counted the cores in the cable and I can confirm there were 10 cores. Still waiting for the 2 No. bundles of HV cables to be connected in to the HV ring out in the verge beside the roadway. Need a permit from the highway authority but cannot get one until the work changing the traffic lights along the main road is complete! The Highway Authority will not allow 2 nearby street works at the same time. Just another problem to get in the way of completing the project.

JP