Your Electricity Meter
Your electricity meter is located inside the utility cupboard in your apartment:
Image 1 – Typical Electricity Meter
Electricity meter readings are taken on the day you complete the purchase of or when you move into your new home, and are the base readings from which your consumption will be measured, and your bills calculated.
Your suppliers have been advised of your completion date and your ongoing responsibility for the accounts relating to services and supplies to your property; however, we recommend that you also contact them to make sure your accounts are set up correctly.
You can use an energy price comparison website to find suitable electricity tariffs for your home.
Electricity Supply
The electricity supply cable comes into your apartment and connects to your electrical consumer unit:
Image 2 – Typical Consumer Unit
Your Consumer Unit
Your consumer unit is located in the Store Cupboard in the hall. Your consumer unit has different circuits which supply electricity for lighting and power around your apartment. You can isolate the electrical supply either to your whole apartment or just individual circuits – this might be because you’re carrying out alterations or upgrades or cleaning sockets and light fittings etc. If you need to isolate the electricity supply, follow these steps:
To isolate all circuits in your home
WARNING: IF IN DOUBT CONTACT A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN
To access the MAIN SWITCH lift up the hinged cover:
Image 3 – Consumer unit with cover open
When you lift up the hinged cover you will see a switch labelled ‘MAIN SWITCH’. To isolate the electricity supply, using your fingers, pull down on the red part of the MAIN SWITCH to the ‘O’ (OFF) position:
Image 4 – Consumer unit MAIN SWITCH behind hinged cover
To isolate individual circuits in your home
WARNING: IF IN DOUBT CONTACT A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN
You can choose the circuit you want to isolate, for example a light fitting might need cleaning or changing, therefore you can isolate just that circuit by switching off the Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB). If you need to isolate one or more circuits, follow these steps: Lift up the hinged cover. When you lift up the hinged cover you’ll see a row of MCBs. Choose the circuit you want to isolate, for example, your “Lights”:
Image 5 – MCBs behind hinged cover
Using your fingers, pull down on the grey switch to the ‘O’ (OFF) position:
Image 6 – Consumer unit MCB – switching OFF
To reconnect the circuit, using your fingers pull up on the grey switch to the ‘I’ (ON) position.