Moving fuse box and electricity meter

[NachoNachoMan]

Hello, thinking of getting our integral garage converted in the next couple of years for when the kids are bigger. Does anyone know if it's easy to move the fuse box and electricity meter as they aren't in the best of places? Thinking of moving them down about a 4-6ft to have in a low cupboard rather than high on the wall. Not sure if it's an easy job or more to it than meets the eye. Thanks!

[MonsterChopz]

I think it's easy enough (for someone with the skills) but not sure of cost. I know most electricity companies will only move free if you have mobility issues etc. Otherwise its a chargeable job.

[Anxietea]

If the actual national grid pipe needs to move them it'll be about £2k well it was in London.

[fresh]

In my experience, fuse box is easier than meter, just because a sparky shouldn't touch the meter - the supplier is supposed to do it. However, I have known sparks who will do it (and I'd only use one I absolutely knew and trusted). Gas meters are a whole different ballgame!

It's a lot of money either way. Could you compromise with a taller cupboard?

[NachoNachoMan]

Thanks guys, it was my worry that it wasn't as easy and cheap as I was hoping it would be. Gas meter is outside so that won't need touching. We have a second reception room at the moment which is used as a home office, so we need to think about whether the garage will be a snug, an office or maybe relocate the spare bedroom down there and put in an ensuite. Who knows! But knowing we will need to leave the meter there from the get go will make things easier rather than getting an idea in my head and then it not being possible due to the expense/faff of moving the meter 😊

[NotQuiteUsual]

Each supplier rhas their own rules about meter moves. Generally moving them a meter or less is OK. The meter can't be too far from where the power comes into the house. Give your supplier a call, some do it for free.

[wishfull888]

We've just done both. The board was sitting externally & was moved about a metre, it was circa £400 for the power grid people to do a survey & carry out the work , £100 for new box & piping (as regs have changed ). Meter fine, sparky has done it easily between rooms.

[NachoNachoMan]

Thanks @NotQuiteUsual, I want the meter moved about 2ft and the fuse box about 4-6ft so (well I'd prefer them both on the other side of the room but down is better than nothing!) I will give them a call

[wishfull888]

Sorry I thought you had asked about moving an electricity board but you haven't and now I can't delete my post ....marvellous

[NachoNachoMan]

Thanks @wishfull888! The option is back on the table!

[MrsMoastyToasty]

We looked into having both meters moved when we extended the house about 15 years ago and having external meter cabinets in the porch. The gas board did it for nothing. It was a horizontal more from under the stairs to the porch. However the electricity board wanted to charge us £250 to move theirs from just inside the front door to the same porch. I don't know if this was to do with the fact that the electricity supply in our street is by overhead cables (bloody nuisance when we needed roof repairs) and not underground, so they would have had to run more cable down the side of the house.

[snowone]

I believe it is easy enough to move your meter as long as you don't need to extend the cables.....we wanted to move ours and were advised we would be able to move closer to where the cable enters the house but that it would be very expensive to move it further away.

[ParsleyThyme]

We're paying £1100 to move ours for an extension. We wanted to move it only 1m, but due to the age of the cables the electricity distributor needs to move the board, and they won't move it to where we want it (under the stairs), so we're having the meter and board moved outside and the consumer unit replaced and put where we want it.