DBedford
Prominent Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2023
- Messages
- 883
- Reaction score
- 739
- Points
- 278
- Age
- 67
- Location
- High Wycombe
- Driving
- ZS EV Trophy LR
A NOT SO short update on our British Gas Hive EV charger installation.
I thought that the installation of a charging point would be a simple process. Boy was I mistaken ! ?
Ordered on the 23rd March 23.
Completed a Hive self assessment taking photos and accounting for every lamp and appliance. loading calculations completed by supplier.
Had a video survey with BG 5th April, It could not be confirmed if the tails and fuse were 25mm and 100amp rated. The network owner would need to survey, which I'm sure they may have had to do anyway.
BG notified me that the updated electrical installation regs recommend the installation of a surge protection device (spd). I agreed on the installation at additional cost.
A month later after pressing for an earlier survey date SSEN (network owners -Scottish and Southern Electric Networks) contractor attended. CAT scanned the drive, checked the earthing and main fuse and tails, they were 100amp and 25mm, so no change required. I told him I was using BG for the EV charging point installation, he wished me good luck ?.
Week later I chased BG for an update, I was told that they had clearance from SSEN for the charge point installation, and that the £149 would be refunded for the tail change (which I was told previously was the cost for the spd supply and install). I was told the spd was in fact £174.34 ! (inflation for you!). Since adressed in follow-up email.
This afternoon I had time for read up about the Hive charger in the BG website. NO! - our Octopus smart meter(s) would not work with the Hive and EV tariff (why had we not been told?). This is despite the fact that the Octopus electric smart meter worked out of the gate when we moved from Octopus to BG a few years ago. It did take BG a year to get the gas smart meter working properly, after numerous phone calls. Had I not discovered this we could have had the charger installed and not be able to use it, or possibly not be able to switch to the EV tariff!
So to date smart meters (gas and electric) being changed on the 30th May, and awaiting a date confirming of the charge he point installation. Not quite the 2-4 weeks stated on the BG website.
As I said to the BG manager over seeing the sale, not a joint-up service , but I'm sure things will improve with time. My wife and I are now both retired, had we still been working, and had to take time off work. it would have been another story completely.
Looking forward to the final installation

David
I thought that the installation of a charging point would be a simple process. Boy was I mistaken ! ?
Ordered on the 23rd March 23.
Completed a Hive self assessment taking photos and accounting for every lamp and appliance. loading calculations completed by supplier.
Had a video survey with BG 5th April, It could not be confirmed if the tails and fuse were 25mm and 100amp rated. The network owner would need to survey, which I'm sure they may have had to do anyway.
BG notified me that the updated electrical installation regs recommend the installation of a surge protection device (spd). I agreed on the installation at additional cost.
A month later after pressing for an earlier survey date SSEN (network owners -Scottish and Southern Electric Networks) contractor attended. CAT scanned the drive, checked the earthing and main fuse and tails, they were 100amp and 25mm, so no change required. I told him I was using BG for the EV charging point installation, he wished me good luck ?.
Week later I chased BG for an update, I was told that they had clearance from SSEN for the charge point installation, and that the £149 would be refunded for the tail change (which I was told previously was the cost for the spd supply and install). I was told the spd was in fact £174.34 ! (inflation for you!). Since adressed in follow-up email.
This afternoon I had time for read up about the Hive charger in the BG website. NO! - our Octopus smart meter(s) would not work with the Hive and EV tariff (why had we not been told?). This is despite the fact that the Octopus electric smart meter worked out of the gate when we moved from Octopus to BG a few years ago. It did take BG a year to get the gas smart meter working properly, after numerous phone calls. Had I not discovered this we could have had the charger installed and not be able to use it, or possibly not be able to switch to the EV tariff!
So to date smart meters (gas and electric) being changed on the 30th May, and awaiting a date confirming of the charge he point installation. Not quite the 2-4 weeks stated on the BG website.
As I said to the BG manager over seeing the sale, not a joint-up service , but I'm sure things will improve with time. My wife and I are now both retired, had we still been working, and had to take time off work. it would have been another story completely.
Looking forward to the final installation


David
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