Due to get it installed next week. Octopus do it for free

 

For free?! Blimey maybe I should wait then.

Was the appointment fairly quick?

 

Not as quick as I hoped, but can't complain due to the price. Two weeks give or take and then I'll probably have a few weeks to wait after that before Chargemaster can do their bit. All depends on how busy they are in your area though.

I believe other companies do it for free but it seems to be pot luck. I know Bulb were charging £50 for it for example, while nPower do it for nothing and others like you found charge over £100.

 

It turns out I can complain about Octopus' service even if it's free. They've suddenly cancelled my isolation switch install as they claim it requires a smart meter to be present. Which sounds like utter nonsense to me. Then when I tried to talk to them they refused to discuss it with me as I wasn't the account holder (it's in my wife's name), despite them being quite happy for me to book the appointment in the first place.

So dunno when I'm going to get this installed now and the only type 2 rapid charger in my town has been out of service for weeks.

 

Oh dear, that sounds like a pain! And I agree I don’t think they need the smart meter to be present for the switch, although when I’ve been discussing it with them they did tell me that they tend to fit both at the same time. I was hoping that means they may try and get the meter in quickly otherwise it’s not possible to get the charger in at all. Surely if there would be a big wait for the meter they need to prioritise getting the switch in first...

I decided to wait to switch providers before getting it done as didn’t fancy paying £150 for something I could get done for free at a later date but I worry I am just holding up getting a charger fitted at all as to be honest that would be preferable for now rather than having to use a plug through the window for months! So hard to know what to do for the best and most simple route to a charger and a good tariff!!

 

I'm sure it will get sorted out and once it is I'll feel a lot more relaxed about everything. At the moment I'm parking in a shopping centre once or twice a week so I can use their destination chargers, as I know they have 10 that are always free in the morning as opposed to the chargeplace scotland ones which are either out of service, hogged by a car club or might be in use by the time I get there.

 

Octopus outsource installation to Smart Metering Systems and even though they installed a smart meter last Tuesday, they had no record of installing an isolation switch so one wasn’t installed. Having rung multiple times including again this morning there’s been no progress as Octopus blame SMS, so really waiting for their response. As things stand I can’t recommend Octopus as they don’t respond to emails and don’t call back when they promise they would. Also it’s delaying the installation of my car charger, which isn’t great as I pick up the car on Friday, so quiet cheesed off.

 

The last I heard on here, Octopus had their own meter, installation team.

Meet our new smart meter install service

We’re putting a fleet of octopus vans on the streets, piloted by our own meter engineers! Find out more about them here.

octopus.energy

 

Hi all I’m not sure what is meant by getting an isolation switch fitted. I’m booked in for a charger install in 2 weeks time, and have also just started the switch to Octopus. I have a smets1 British Gas meter currently which is no longer smart due to switching away from BGas. I plan to get a smets2 meter ASAP after octopus take over my supply. Hence is my getting a charger fitted separately from octopus an issue for me?

Thanks DT

 

As far as I understand it the isolation switch is required in order for the charger to be installed, so as long as they’ve said everything looks good for them to go (I assume you’ve sent photos of your electricity meter/fuse board), then should be no problems with that. The issue is that if you don’t have one already then you need to get one installed and only your electricity supplier can do that.

I assume Octopus will just book you in for a smart meter upgrade when available.

 

Ok thanks yes that makes sense. I’ve sent pics and my house is quite new so definitely has an isolation switch already cheers

 

I’ve switched as EON don’t have an EV tariff and there is no one else currently who can match the Go tariff. At least the tariff I’m going on with Octopus is pretty competitive- they have said I will get a smets2 meter but the dept controlling meter installations hasn’t been in touch yet. Don’t think there is much else I can do but wait..

 

I was added to the Octopus Go tariff waiting list on the 25th June and told that I would be contacted to make an appointment for the required smart meter installation in a few days. Unfortunately after emails, calls and facebook messages, I am no closer to getting an appointment, just empty promises about getting back to me so far. Latest is they will get back to me by Friday... I hope they do however, i'm not holding my breath.

 

The reason for the isolator is that the electrician who fits the charger is not allowed to pull out the main fuse as it is the property of the energy distributor (DNO). It seems that most suppliers don't charge for fitting and, like Octopus, Scottish Power subcontracted the work after twice breaking appointments. It took three months.

I switched to Octopus and am waiting for a smart meter so that I can use the off-peak rate. There seems to be all sorts of problems with these meters so I am not holding my breath.

 

Octopus definitely use Smart Metering Systems as they blamed them for my problem. Maybe they only use their own engineers in some parts of the UK and subcontract out installation in other parts. Either way it doesn’t solve my problem or why they don’t respond to emails and promise to call back but never do.

 

SMS did mine too (eventually), but they obviously use more than one installer.

 

I called them again yesterday and spoke to someone who agreed with me that it was strange to require a smart meter before they would install the isolation switch. He appeared to understand that while I would like a smart meter, my priority is the isolation switch and I'd very much like that installed ASAP. He then tootled off to go and talk to their contractors and assured me later on tha,t although the original appointment had been cancelled, they will get someone to come round today and do the install.

So it looks like common sense has prevailed at last, but just have to see if anyone turns up today.

 

Was that Octopus or your DNO you spoke to? I was under the impression that only the DNO could fit an isolation switch as they would have to remove the main fuse first.

However I don't have an isolation switch but I've had two smart meters installed by different suppliers (SSE and Octopus) without a problem, so maybe they are allowed to pull the main fuse.

 

It was Octopus I spoke to. All arrangements for the switch are being made through them. I wouldn't have thought as end point users we have a direct relationship with the distributor, as our contract is with the energy supplier.

 

There are occasions where you need to talk to the DNO directly, such as if you need your main fuse upgrading or if you call 105 when there's a power cut. They physically supply your power, but you pay your energy supplier. You have an equal relationship with both.

 

Engineer is at the house doing the install now Progress!

 

My DNO unlooped my supply from the neighbour’s house at my request recently. All free of charge.

 

You most certainly DO have a direct relationship with your own DNO. Any issue with the supply cable, the earthing arrangement and the cutout is a matter for the DNO to resolve directly

I've contacted my DNO directly regarding solar installation, EVSE installation, cutout fuse upgrade, etc. In every case, SSE have been very helpful.

Regards

 

I've contacted my DNO directly regarding solar installation, EVSE installation, cutout fuse upgrade, etc. In every case, SSE have been very helpful.

Is that the same SSE that quoted me £200 to remove my 80A fuse and replace it with a 100A fuse, £105 of which was "project management fees"??? And no, I'm not oversimplifying what was required, the job is literally a fuse swap.

 

OK. I stand corrected.

 

SSE charged me £62.93 inc VAT to change my fuse from 60A to 100A last month. No cable alterations or any other work done by SSE. Still haven't got an EV yet, just "getting my ducks in a line" ready for an EV and charge point one day!

I would certainly ask SSE if they could double check their figures, especially if that price is just for a fuse change and there are no other cable or network changes they will need to make in that visit!

 

SSE charged me £65.33 inc. VAT in March 2018 to upgrade my fuse from 60A to 100A. This involved two separate visits when the first team that came discovered that the old fuse housing needed to be completely replaced to accommodate the different-sized 100A fuse. The first team couldn't do the work as they needed two people certified to work on the live side of the supply, and the certification for one of them had run out the week before

@Neil Jones where are you located? There are two distinct versions of SSE - one in the South of England and one in Scotland. If you're in Scotland, that could be where the difference lies.

 

@Neil Jones where are you located? There are two distinct versions of SSE - one in the South of England and one in Scotland. If you're in Scotland, that could be where the difference lies.

Sorry, my mistake! Getting SSE mixed up with Scottish Power (my DNO). So to answer my own Post #30 - No it isn't! ?

 

SSE charged me yes about £65 for the fuse upgrade. Helped me with the switch installation, self supplied and previously mounted, checked ZE, general look around, very very helpful, lady in the office, electrician who did the site inspection, guys who did the work.Proper old school competent people, none of this did a 4 day course nonsense. They went to a lot of effort to ensure joints were tight. Remember this was all done live!

 

Not being an electrician, what is ZE?

 

Earth resistance (in layman’s terms). It needs to be below a certain value for safety reasons.

 

I just spoke to my DNO (Western Power) and they told me any electrician can install the isolation switch for me, and they’ll connect it when they come to fit a new cut out...to those who understand anything about electricity etc (as I certainly don’t!) does that sound about right?!