ESB delays - over a year waiting for MIC upgrade

rubysgirl

Moved into a 70s build last year, it was vacant for some time, so we had to reconnect the ESB. Electrician came in during the first gutting upstairs and installed an electric shower.

This was the start of it all.

Sparky found the MIC of the house was 8kVA (the ESB sent us a receipt stating as such at reconnection), standard residential is 12kVA (https://www.esbnetworks.ie/new-connections/understanding-connection-capacity).

Sparky did all the electrician updates (upgrade supply cable, change main switch in fuseboard etc.), now all that was required was the ESB upgrade the supply.

Request went in in February of '22. We got one call - stating we didn't need the upgrade. We got Sparky on the case, he says he has been calling and calling, but to no avail. A year later we still don't have the upgrade - if we use the shower and hob at the same time, it trips the whole downstairs. As you can imagine, that's not a problem short term - just shower at a different time, but long term it's incredibly annoying. Especially when now we're finally getting around to installing a new kitchen, with fancy modern applicances like a dishwasher, washing machine and extractor fan.

SO - question for anyone out there that may have had anything similar. How do we get the ESB to upgrade our supply?

From what I can tell, one of two or both things have happened here:

1. ESB aren't looking at their ticketing system - they haven't even supplied us with an application number to call with so it's all via the Sparky
2. Sparky is telling porkies and hasn't followed up with the ESB / answered his phone - but my number is on the application so no excuses there either

I'm at the point where I'm going to reach out to local politicians and submit a formal complaint.

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058284291/esb-delays-over-a-year-waiting-for-mic-upgrade

Has he issued a certificate (not for the reconnection,for the upgrade)the Cert runs out after 6 months

have you a job number from esbn

have you paid for the upgrade to esbn

think your sparks may not be following the right procedures. He shouldn’t have anything to do with it after issuing the certificate. Esbn will never deal with the electrician,just the account holder for data protection (unless you gave them the go ahead to)

rubysgirl

We have the electrician cert. Absolutely nothing from ESB except for one call telling us we don't need the upgrade. Sparky said he was chatting to the ESB and they're fighting him on it too - but I have the connection receipt saying it's the wrong kVA.

So no job number and no quote to be able to pay them.

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120241318#Comment_120241318

You need to apply for an upgrade supply. They won’t deal with the rec

they then will issue a job number

you will then have to pay the associated fee

the Cert you have only deals with the reconnection (another will have to be issued when you get a job number and before esbn upgrade)

esbn will only deal with the account holder

check the Cert number you have on this link and come back with the status of it

https://safeelectric.ie/contractors/certificates-2/certificate-status/

meercat

apply here

https://www.esbnetworks.ie/existing-connections/increasing-decreasing-supply/domestic-user

rubysgirl

I've applied - exactly one year ago. They haven't issued a number, but we do have a lovely "you can't track this online" statement. Then supply two numbers that never get answered

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120241377#Comment_120241377

don bother trying to phone. You’ll only get a call centre agent

contact be email esbnetworks@esb.ie

with

name on account

address

mprn