Is there an easy cheap way to get an electriciy supply stopped?
Parents are in 80s definitely loose marbles happening, dad especially and he deals with bills. PoA in place.
The garage has its own supply and the bills were split between them and neighbours but neighbour now refuses to pay anything, don't think he's using power so not an issue. The standing payment is bigger than the electricity used and they don't need power in the garage. How can they get it stopped? CAB not interested, police say civil matter, he's worried it'll cost thousands to get the supply stopped. Any helpful hints?
I'm hoping that I'll be able to phone electric co and get it sorted.
Phone Leccy company.
Generally the power supplier - UK Power Networks, Scottish Power, etc will only disconnect a supply upstream of the fuse box (ie the main feed to the property). Sounds like you need an electrician to disconnect the garage supply from your own fuse box.
As it's a separate supply we need it isolated so there's no bills to pay.
How is the garage use measured? Is it a meter in its own right, or a sub meter, or just a feed from your dad's consumer unit?
Normally, the supply comes into a customer cut out which is owned and controlled by the distribution network operator (DNO - the old regional electricity boards). From there, it should go directly to the meter, then maybe onto an isolator switch, then onto your fuse board/consumer unit.
A detailed description, or better still, a photo of the layout would help answer your question. It could be a visit from the DNO, a domestic spark or as simply as flipping a breaker on the consumer unit. All depends.
If you don't know who your supplier is use
https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/who-is-my-electricity-supplier-and-what-is-my-mpan
then follow this process
Looks fairly expensive
From what you have said OP has said with regards to there being a standing charge and meter, it likely that it has its own supply from the DNO with a meter in your Dads garage.
If this is the case, then - as some people have said above - call whoever sends the bill. They will arrange to come and remove/have the meter removed and remove the fuse that supplies the meter. If, as it sounds, thats all you want and no the suppliers cable removed, then this will probably be at zero cost. the cable supplying the garage and the fuse will be left in place, but there will be no electricity to the garage for your Dad or the neighbour.
The garage has its own meter and source the neighbour used it for years paying no bills ripping the Mick, running tumble dryers even on sunny days. The council had previously owned the building and the garage hadn't been added onto the house circuit. The neighbour, in the past, lost a job at the conservative club for fraudulent practices so is not trustworthy and using what he claimed as free electricity did not sit right with my dad.
It has own meter and separate bill.
Starter for 6 flip the breakers stop the neighbour using his "free electricity"
If the garage supply is on a separate supply with its own cut out and meter, then there should be a separate consumer unit/fuse board and maybe an isolator with it.
Where are there? If they're in the garage, you could just fit a box over them and lock it.
Failing that, tell the DNO they have two supplies into a domestic address and they might come and disconnect the garage pretty quickly.
Better still, if it's old kit with asbestos suspected in it, or a metal clad cut out, they might dog up in the street and disconnect there at no cost.
No electricity being used by either party, as far as we can make out but meter is on his side of the garage too high up for an 80yo to see and access is blocked.
Just ring the supplier and stop the contract, same as if you were moving house. Simple. Personally Id also cut power to the neighbours garage when its off so if it gets reactivated they dont benefit.
Big thick wellies, bolt croppers with rubber handles, and a shot of whisky.
You know what to do!
That'll sort the neighbour but what about the electricity?
Apparently you need an SIP as detailed here, they can remove the supply fuse for your dad. Ask at your local DNO help desk for a list of accredited SIP's.
The issue with all the DIY options is that it won't cancel the standing charge. Needs to be done, by the supplier.
Big thick wellies, bolt croppers with rubber handles, and a shot of whisky.
If you're more than a few 100m or so from the local sub station you may not blow their fuse even if you short out the cable completely, it'll just sit there arcing away at 600A or so...
tthew is correct. Supplier not DNO too.
You could switch to a no standing charge contract? Utilita do one. No use = no charge.
