My smart meter couldn't be installed because the traditional meter is too old and has asbestos fuses - what should I do now?

Hi @andycornerpost, welcome to the forum!

Are ScottishPower Energy Networks the distribution network operator for your address?
Maybe the best bet is to get in touch with OVO first and see if they know what is going on.
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Hi - I’ve been told that my house has a pre-1937 fused neutral cutout (which has asbestos). According to my sparky, this needs to be replaced within 28 days or it’s in breach of HSE rules. I reported it to Ovo 2 weeks ago now, and still no sign of any appointment to fix it. 

Has anyone else had any luck getting Ovo to deal with one of these?

I’ve moved your post here, @killicrankie, there is some handy info above. You’ll need to contact your DNO for help with this. If you need help finding out who your DNO is, check out this topic!

Thanks! 

Hi @killicrankie - I agree with @Amy_OVO.

The incomer fuses and isolation block are the property of your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). It’s their responsibility to bring them up to the correct specification.

If there’s no other “faults” on your side of the existing meter, then there shouldn’t be any cost incurred by you.

Good advice here, it is the DNO that will need to visit to upgrade the cut out.

In some cases it might need to be an urgent DNO visit. But the DNO won’t know this until they’re told by the supplier. So it’s good to have the supplier visit to perform a ‘site survey’ job, (or just book in a free smart meter appointment if you don’t have one of these already), and the engineer can assess the cut out whilst they’re there, notifying the DNO of the job’s urgency. 

Disclaimer: some circumstances will mean that smart meter appointment can’t proceed until the DNO visit. In this case, we’d simply re-book the appointment after the DNO visit. 

Hope this help,
Tim

Hi all,

Thanks for your useful comments on this. I already spoke to the DNO a good couple of weeks ago and they told me that the request had to be raised by my supplier, in this case Ovo, using a B11 flow.

After requesting this and follow on conversations with Tim today on the phone (many thanks!), it turns out Ovo can’t raise the request without a site visit themselves. 

Anyhow, it’s all booked in now with Ovo, then hopefully I can book in the DNO, then Ovo again, then I’m all up to date. Simple!

@Transparent this is a quality bit of resource, I’d like to make this it’s own topic - any objections?

Sure - that’s fine by me.

And I’d also like to know who is @killicrankie’s DNO. (Please fill out your Forum Profile!) We know that their approach differs across the country. Indeed, Kaluza had to comply with stipulations (and additional costs!) from two of them when installing the V2G chargers.

So if this is a separate Topic, we can start to build up a picture of which DNO’s require specific action to be taken, and which are more accommodating to enquiries from customers.

Hi @Transparent,

That’s useful information. I was aware of the regulation that this should’ve been replaced by 2013 (we missed that my a little!) and of the 28 day timescales for the work, but it’s good to know that it’s not immediately dangerous.

My DNO is UK Power Networks, covering London.

It does seem strange to slow the process down by going through the supplier. It’s now 17 days and counting since reporting to Ovo, though this is partly due to the pandemic, it would be great if the Ovo customer support guys were more aware of regs on this and didn’t just say “call back in 2 weeks”.