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Transparent
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July 10, 2020
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Who owns what? - Your guide on cut outs, meters, fuses and who's responsible

  • July 10, 2020
  • 55 replies
  • 14660 views
Who owns what? - Your guide on cut outs, meters, fuses and who's responsible

Updated on 07/12/23 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

 

We’ve got an introductory guide to who to contact for each part of your meter and related equipment:
 

 
Need to book an appointment with OVO for a maintenance job or engineer appointment, check out this topic for job list and prices:
 


For a more technical breakdown check out the user guide made by one of our Community Members below 😊

 

.

The Meter Operation Code of Practice Agreement (MOCOPA) is between the UK’s Energy Suppliers and the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs).

The Agreement includes a document which classifies the way in which faults and non-compliances can be identified. It is well written, with numerous photographs.

It includes this excellent diagram, showing who is responsible for what in the area of your electricity meter:

The Agreement identifies faults with the Distribution Board (DB) equipment, which are the responsibility of the DNO. These are divided into three broad categories:

A: Emergency. A life threatening situation and requiring immediate action.

B: Remedial work required. Serious, requiring attention for safety reasons, but unlikely to cause a threat until it can be resolved.

C: Asset Condition; Requiring attention because it isn’t to the current standards.

 

Thus, by way of example, Code B11 Flow is a reporting category which prevents a Meter Installer from undertaking the work because there is a fuse on the Neutral supply as well as the Live.

 

Old Distribution Board equipment.

Sometimes there isn’t actually a fault, but your house appears to have old-style devices belonging to the DNO.

The Energy Networks Association publishes another guide with similar format, which enables such items to be identified. The Cut-out Types and Ratings Guidance  has full colour photographs and the date range when that equipment was fitted.

 

When viewing items of electrical equipment in your home, it is important not to tamper with it. If in doubt, take a photograph and post it here on the Forum for us to see.

55 replies

Amy_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
July 23, 2020

You’re welcome, @Adiavel, please keep us updated, the outcome of this may be very handy to other members.

There’s a post here that you and @Transparent might be able to shed some light on. 

:blush:

 

OVO-Joyed to help!
Transparent
Rank 20
Rank 20
September 14, 2020

Any update on this please @Adiavel ?

Save energy... recycle electrons!
Newcomer
October 6, 2022

Just had my bill & there’s a £10 charge for Site Visit 2hr Time Slot I have no idea what this is & there’s no explanation on the bill. I have had to get in contact with Ovo over a missing payment which was THEIR ERROR so if this charge relates to that issue that is ridiculously unfair & needs cancelling. I am being so careful with my spending right now so for them to just add £10 on like it’ s nothing is disgusting. I am really worried about where I can go to ask for help with this, in case this #### company puts more charges on (I’m assuming/hoping coming on this page won’t cost me anything). Can anyone here help me?

  

Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
October 7, 2022

Hey @Egg,

 

Sorry for the issues you’ve had.

 

If you contact Support they can reverse this charge for you. I’d advise contacting them through web messenger. 

 

A ‘Site Visit’ might refer to a meter reader request, but if you haven’t booked anything of this nature it sounds like it’s been wrongly applied to your account. 

 

Keep us posted with how you get on.

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Newcomer
November 29, 2022

Living in council house, electricial (city contractor) went to change fuse fox, but there was no separator between the meter and fuse box, so he removed meter seal, installed separator then fuse box. Also told me that I don’t need to do anything about the broken seal, he will report it (somewhere), and some one will seal it in days. one week passed and no one came, no seal.

What I supposed to do about it?

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
November 29, 2022

Morning @JohnSmith ,

Strictly speaking, that electrician shouldn’t have snipped the seal without first getting permission from the supplier and DNO. Just something to know for next time.

If the meter seal is broken, have a chat with OVO’s Support Team and they should be able to get an engineer out to re-seal it. If it’s the Main Fuse, your DNO can help if you give them a call. Some DNO’s will also re-seal the meter too if you ask nicely.

This is a free service.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Newcomer
January 19, 2025

I am all electric where I live and have economy 7 supply as well as normal peak supply, so 2 meter readings and 2 fuse boxes.  I am thinking of getting a smart meter installed.  I have 2 queries: firstly can the fuse boxes be relocated near the smart meter as part of the installation and is this straightforward (they are currently located in a quite restricted place in the spare bedroom) and secondly will a smart meter be appropriate with an economy 7 supply. Thank you.

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
January 19, 2025

Hi ​@sylviabrom , the fuse box (or consumer unit) is your own responsibility and so it can be moved but that would not be done by anyone fitting a new meter. You would need a qualified electrician to do that. There’s a guide here 


As for E7, yes, smart meters are designed to be able to work with a variety of tariffs

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Newcomer
February 4, 2025

I've been told by E.On that I need a new smart meter. I have an asbestos backboard The D.N.O says it's there responsibility to remove it at a cost of £600 they also said eon should fund this because its them that wants to put a smart meter in. eon says they don't fund this. Who is responsible .

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
February 4, 2025

Hi ​@Postoffice ,

Hate to say this, but in this situation E.On Next is NOT responsible for the meter backboard job, nor are they responsible for contributing anything towards it.

Under the rules of how this stuff works, the Customer (as in yourself) is considered the Owner of the Backboard, so it’s up to you to maintain it at your own cost - including paying for any replacements. You can pick up a new one pretty cheaply at a builders merchants, but replacing an asbestos backboard is a specialist job and as you’ve found out, a rather expensive one. Your DNO can help with doing that job itself, but they’ll expect you to pay in most cases.

Sorry that this wasn’t the answer you may have wanted.

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