Moving an underground line

[toquark]

There’s an armoured cable leading from a transformer in my field to neighbour’s shed about 300m away. We inadvertently dug it up last year when draining, it doesn’t appear on any plans and my neighbour had no idea when it was laid. When I dug it up I called Scottish Power who arrived and told me it wasn’t one of theirs, it was private and we just reburied it, no harm done.

Trouble is, I want to put a shed up and I suspect the shed site will interfere with the line. Given its private, is it just a case of isolating it, retrenching and re-laying it? Electricity scares the pants off me so it would be done properly, but any experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

[br jones]

There’s an armoured cable leading from a transformer in my field to neighbour’s shed about 300m away. We inadvertently dug it up last year when draining, it doesn’t appear on any plans and my neighbour had no idea when it was laid. When I dug it up I called Scottish Power who arrived and told me it wasn’t one of theirs, it was private and we just reburied it, no harm done.

Trouble is, I want to put a shed up and I suspect the shed site will interfere with the line. Given its private, is it just a case of isolating it, retrenching and re-laying it? Electricity scares the pants off me so it would be done properly, but any experience would be greatly appreciated.

Is there a wayleave for it ?

 

[Lincsman]

Just build over it, if it ever has a problem then you can do the moving, probably safer under a concrete shed floor than anywhere else?

 

[toquark]

Just build over it, if it ever has a problem then you can do the moving, probably safer under a concrete shed floor than anywhere else?

Doubt that’ll be possible given the lay of the land as the shed will be built into the hill to some extent.

 

[toquark]

Is there a wayleave for it ?

No, the steading it leads to was built in the 60s so I reckon it must’ve been laid then. No Wayleaves I know of, or not one which benefits me anyway...

 

[Dry Rot]

Is it working? Surely the lecky board can check for you? If redundant. maybe "someone" could cut it for you?

The water main for the area ran through my farm (old asbestos cement pipe). It was always bursting, so they replaced it with plastic. Quite exciting to put the digger bucket through it as there was no knowing what would happen. But it was a bit of an anti climax. Nothing!

 

[toquark]

Is it working? Surely the lecky board can check for you? If redundant. maybe "someone" could cut it for you?

The water main for the area ran through my farm (old asbestos cement pipe). It was always bursting, so they replaced it with plastic. Quite exciting to put the digger bucket through it as there was no knowing what would happen. But it was a bit of an anti climax. Nothing!

It's live, we ascertained that when we dug it up last year . We got the SP guy to come out at the time to check it but it's not their line, its been laid privately, although apparently connected legitimately as there is a meter and my neighbour pays a bill... or so he tells me.

My feeling is that given its private, I could just pay a suitable contractor to temporarily isolate it whilst we dig it up and re-route it around the shed?

 

[puppet]

Perhaps your neighbour should bear some of the cost. I would agree that never a good idea to bury utilities under buildings.

 

[toquark]

Perhaps your neighbour should bear some of the cost. I would agree that never a good idea to bury utilities under buildings.

I wondered about that but I expect his take on it will be "your shed, your problem" Which in all fairness would be the line I'd take in his position. He's a decent chap and a good neighbour so I don't want to upset or annoy him unduly if avoidable. There may be a case to draw up a simple wayleave though to protect both parties in the future?

 

[Smith31]

It's live, we ascertained that when we dug it up last year . We got the SP guy to come out at the time to check it but it's not their line, its been laid privately, although apparently connected legitimately as there is a meter and my neighbour pays a bill... or so he tells me.

My feeling is that given its private, I could just pay a suitable contractor to temporarily isolate it whilst we dig it up and re-route it around the shed?

If the meter is located within your neighbours property boundary then the suppliers are liable for the cable and they should relocate it (will be expensive). All cables before the meter point are usually the responsibility of the supplier.

If the meter is located within your property boundary (where the cable is connected to the mains) simply get a household electrician to ask the suppliers to snip the security wire and pull the mains fuse near the meter, so he can disconnect the supply to the cable.

Dig a trench to reroute the supply, install some ducting, thread some armoured cable through the ducting, cover with tile tape and let the electrician connect both ends. Not a big task in reality.

 

[Wombat]

As above where is the meter? that then sets out whos cable it is

 

[Lazy Sod]

Who does the neighbour pay for his electricity? Contact whoever it is and tell that you want it shifted and that they should be paying you for the wayleave.

 

[Lincsman]

Who does the neighbour pay for his electricity? Contact whoever it is and them and tell that you want it shifted and that they should be paying you for the wayleave.

There is a website that tells you who supplies, or rather Bills, all you need is the postcode and house number/name, there are more houses not on the system and not paying than you might expect.

 

[Lincsman]

Doubt that’ll be possible given the lay of the land as the shed will be built into the hill to some extent.

Expose it out and take some levels.

 

[Richy12]

Why not lengthen the cable out of the way, this guy will do the joints safely and legally

 

[toquark]

If the meter is located within your neighbours property boundary then the suppliers are liable for the cable and they should relocate it (will be expensive). All cables before the meter point are usually the responsibility of the supplier.

If the meter is located within your property boundary (where the cable is connected to the mains) simply get a household electrician to ask the suppliers to snip the security wire and pull the mains fuse near the meter, so he can disconnect the supply to the cable.

Dig a trench to reroute the supply, install some ducting, thread some armoured cable through the ducting, cover with tile tape and let the electrician connect both ends. Not a big task in reality.

Not sure where the meter is, it’s definitely not in my field, which probably means it’s at his end. The power guy wanted nothing to do with it when he landed up last year, just gave some advice which amounted to “rebury it” and that it basically wasn’t their problem. That said he was part of their emergency response team, not maybe the right person to make the call but he was adamant it wasn’t a municipal supply line so to speak. Can they be adopted as such like many minor roads were?

 

[Wombat]

Not sure where the meter is, it’s definitely not in my field, which probably means it’s at his end. The power guy wanted nothing to do with it when he landed up last year, just gave some advice which amounted to “rebury it” and that it basically wasn’t their problem. That said he was part of their emergency response team, not maybe the right person to make the call but he was adamant it wasn’t a municipal supply line so to speak. Can they be adopted as such like many minor roads were?

based on this https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/meters_mpans.aspx it states they own up to the main fuses at the meter so if they are not on your property then i would say its SP's problem

So i would raise it with them for a start.

Just to add i have had Yorkshire water tell me the 6" main that goes past the gate is nothing to do with them when it blows (which it regularly does) so i take anything utility companies say with a pinch of salt

 

[Lincsman]

Not sure where the meter is, it’s definitely not in my field, which probably means it’s at his end. The power guy wanted nothing to do with it when he landed up last year, just gave some advice which amounted to “rebury it” and that it basically wasn’t their problem. That said he was part of their emergency response team, not maybe the right person to make the call but he was adamant it wasn’t a municipal supply line so to speak. Can they be adopted as such like many minor roads were?

Assuming the meter is in his house, whats at the other end? a transformer on a pole?

 

[deleted user 837354]

If a cable is under your land, you are entitled to a way leave or to get the fudging thing removed, surely?

 

[Wombat]

If a cable is under your land, you are entitled to a way leave or to get the fudging thing removed, surely?

Yes should be, but if its very old, with all the changes maybe of power companies over the years then it looks like it might not be on a map.

This kind of stuff is the reason i never like to be beholden to others or for others to me