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| Thread ID: 137167 | 2014-05-30 09:04:00 | Who is responsible for a power pole fuse? | mzee (3324) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1376223 | 2014-05-30 09:04:00 | I saw the following story in the NZ Herald. "An 85-year-old Hampden man wants to make home owners aware of their responsibilities for repairing power poles outside their properties, as he faces an unexpected bill of more than $800. Earlier this month, Neil Jenkins lost power to his Lincoln St home after a fuse blew on the power pole outside. The 85-year-old's home help, Christine Hill, found him in bed, in the dark, in a freezing home after spending more than eight hours without power. She contacted Network Waitaki from a neighbouring property and the company responded within 30 minutes. Workers spent about an hour and a-half making a temporary repair on the pole. On May 19, Mr Jenkins received a $275.23 bill for the temporary repair work and after questioning his responsibilities for maintenance, he was told more permanent work was needed at a cost, to him, of $580. ''It was always understood that from the power pole fuse to the house was the occupant's responsibility and anything out on the street was lines maintenance,'' I think that the operative word here is "from", this does not include the fuse. As I see it the power company has contracted to supply power to a house. Until the power has gone through the meter it remains the property of the power company, and the means of supplying said power to the meter is nothing to do with the consumer. $800 for a fuse repair is a bit steep to say the least. Any ideas on this? |
mzee (3324) | ||
| 1376224 | 2014-05-30 09:37:00 | Seems to depend on who you want to believe, from a couple of suppliers: its distribution network up to the point of connection to your property, which is usually the fuse on the power pole or underground service pillar nearest your property boundary. Quoted from switchclubpower.co.nz & Aurora is responsible for repair of faults in the mains to the boundary. The consumer or owner will be charged for repair of faults in the mains from the boundary to the premises. www.auroraenergy.co.nz Common sense would dictate its the power Company to wear the cost -- try climbing up a power pole and fiddle about, you'll soon get into trouble. Future Fair Go Article ? |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1376225 | 2014-05-30 09:56:00 | So, who the hell knows where the fuses are when the power line is buried? What a load of c#+p. Surely it is the lines co responsibility if the fuse is at fault, wherever it may be! I think I would rather chain myself to the pole than pay their bill! LL |
lakewoodlady (103) | ||
| 1376226 | 2014-05-30 10:19:00 | The answer to the problem is for Mr Jenkins to offer his account to another supplier if they sort out the fuse :) | mzee (3324) | ||
| 1376227 | 2014-05-30 10:44:00 | Or try here: http://www.egcomplaints.co.nz/ | Marnie (4574) | ||
| 1376228 | 2014-05-30 11:11:00 | ''It was always understood that from the power pole fuse to the house was the occupant's responsibility and anything out on the street was lines maintenance.'' I think that Lines Company is getting a little precious. At most the occupants responsibility extends to the point of connection to the supply, i.e. the last point that the Supply Company can disconnect the service, and that is the fuse. If the fuse belongs to the Occupant then the Company would have to do a physical disconnection to shut off power for non-payment of their bill, which they couldn't do if they didn't own it so ideally an occupant's liability should extend no further than the boundary. Logically therefore, control of and responsibility for the fuse must lie with the Lines Company. In this instance it sounds like one or other end of the fuse connections arced and burned out, hence the need to carry out remedial works at the pole head. Incidentally, Lines Companies are not the same legal entity as the Energy Supplier, so probably there wouldn't be much help forthcoming from that direction. Sounds like a job for the Disputes Tribunal or Ombudsman, so the elderly gent needs to formally register a dispute with them so that they can't just shut off his power, though if the latter happened the media (news and social) would be down on it like a ton of bricks and his power would be back before you could say 'lawsuit, damages and compensation'. Cheers Billy 8-{) [Incidentally, our street has just had a major overhaul of cabling, and some replacements of poles, pole fuse holders and old cross arms. No cost to residents, but it cost me $100 for a generator & fuel to run my computer system for the day so that I could keep working.] |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 1376229 | 2014-05-30 20:45:00 | We lost power down south....our wire from the pole to the house had corroded and come off. The corroded bit was on the pole...just us affected, no neighbours. Power co came out and fixed it, no charges.... Sounds a bit off them charging the old guy....I'd be disputing that... |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1376230 | 2014-05-30 21:20:00 | All the old guy has to say is that he will get a ladder and attempt a more permanent repair to the fuse and its holder himself. | prefect (6291) | ||
| 1376231 | 2014-05-30 22:52:00 | If the bit between the pole and me belongs to me, I might as well pop in a couple of power points above the lawn to power the 25KW patio heater I have just found to be remarkably cheap to run. ;) | R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1376232 | 2014-05-31 01:18:00 | I don't know but our power pole fuse has been replaced twice now and we were never charged for it. | Agent_24 (57) | ||
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