Afternoon. We are looking to get our electricity meter moved. It's currently in a stupid place (under one of the bay windows), but I'm wondering if that's because there is no sensible place...
We're getting our floor in the lounge done (£4k! Eeek!) and it's basically now or never. Whatever happens, we need to do something with the meter, as the wall behind it is falling apart - touch the plaster and it falls off.
As far as I can see, there are two options:
A) On external wall outside (basically above where we put our wheelie bin), with consumer unit lower to floor in alcove. Problem with this is that we are (eventually) going to have built in shelving in the alcoves. There will be a cupboard bit at the bottom of each, so consumer unit could hide in there - but could be awkward to get to in the event of a tripped fuse, as the TV would be in front of it.
B) On an internal wall - basically on the hallway wall above the front door. But then Western power says it needs to be on an external wall. Do they mean external external, or would a wall between two terraces work? And how would they get the feed there? They'd have to chase into the wall, but I think they don't like the external feed not being accessible (to them) all the way to the box?
It looks like most of our neighbours have option B, as I can't seen meter boxes outside theirs - so it must be possible?
The form on the Western Power website seems to think you should know exactly what you want, without knowing where the feed actually runs. Do I need an electrician before contacting them? We had an electrician round for something else, and he gave the impression we should deal with the power company on our own, and then call him in when we'd got the plan sorted.
Aargh. I just want a decent floor in the lounge. It's going to end up costing nigh on £10k, isn't it, what with Western Power, the actual floor, and our electrician (need new consumer unit and more sockets)?
Any thoughts/advice?