Who is responsible in a failure between meter and RCD?

I appreciate that @aligarjon had already posed a question about the responsibility boundaries at cut-out and meter.

But I have a friend who recently suffered a small (fortunately contained) fire caused by a meter tail pulling out of the RCD on the feed side (downstream from the meter). The RCD had been installed by his solar PV installers and a couple of years later his meter was changed by EON, along with the meter tails to the RCD. The feed side terminals of the RCD are enclosed and not accessible by the consumer, as are the terminals to the meter and cut-out.

Notwithstanding the parallel problem of the energy company removing the incoming earth connection to the property when they changed a pole-mounted transformer without confirming that there was a local earth, which resulted in some interesting potential levels when the fault occurred, who is responsible for ensuring that the installation is in good order and is to a sound standard, if the consumer is not permitted access to inspect everything?

So far he is getting the expected runaround from the energy company, the supply company and OFGEM, possibly in the hope that he will go away and sort it all out for himself, but unfortunately this is not a guy who goes away quietly when he senses an injustice or wrongdoing, but he's also an engineer with a problem-solving mindset, so doesn't accept administrative brush-off.

I'd appreciate some guidance, thank you.

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  • Ideally these days the supplier will provide an isolator after the meter - then the demarcation is simple.

    The tails leaving the meter are your suppliers and everything before the meter is your DNOs.

    If you can see missing insulation then telephone your supplier. If your supplier is being awkward then mention the ESQCR regulations because ultimately its their equipment and they are obliged to maintain it in a safe condition.

    In my experience once you tell them that uninsulated conductors are on show then you can expect the MOP to be visiting typically within 24 hours. So no point trying to DIY this or even paying an electrician to. The supplier is responsible, let them do it.

  • ESQCR is a good call because of the overhead power supply and some changes to the pole-mounted transformer earlier (this year, I think). It was suggested that the earthing system may have been changed at that point from TNC-S to TT. I haven't got any evidence myself, but if there was no good local earth, then that could throw a wobbler to the safety at the property!

  • That would explain why the installation is fronted by an RCD - if the DNO decided they can't provide an earthing conductor.

    As I say, just get the supplier out. Worse thing that can happen is they take a look and say its not their's. But if there's no isolator then technically the MOP should be the one changing the tails to the meter anyway - even though most electicians will cut the seals and do it.

    Most suppliers will install an isolator for typically < £100 anyway. Then you know exactly where the demarcation is and your electician can work safely without needing to depend on cutting seals or waiting for DNO/MOP.

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  • That would explain why the installation is fronted by an RCD - if the DNO decided they can't provide an earthing conductor.

    As I say, just get the supplier out. Worse thing that can happen is they take a look and say its not their's. But if there's no isolator then technically the MOP should be the one changing the tails to the meter anyway - even though most electicians will cut the seals and do it.

    Most suppliers will install an isolator for typically < £100 anyway. Then you know exactly where the demarcation is and your electician can work safely without needing to depend on cutting seals or waiting for DNO/MOP.

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