Underground Electricity Cable

[jacksy]

I've received a letter from a  company called PCC today.

Asking me to sign an Authority To Act document.

The document is to authorise PCC to act on my behalf in preparing a Wayleave Agreement.

Anybody know anything about this? Anybody had he same? Is it some sort of scam?

Cheers 

 

[Tommygilf]

Presumably they want to put a cable in and draw up some rights to carry electricity across land you own?

Is there a new development near you?

I'd seek some legal advice tbh mate on your specific situation with regards to what they are asking and what the impact would be. Last thing you want is someone digging up your garden or not paying you the right amount for it.

[HawkMan]

Just asked AI, this is the answer I got.

What is PCC and a Wayleave Agreement?

• The Company: PCC is a legitimate firm that specializes in negotiating Wayleave Agreements—legal contracts allowing utility companies (like electricity or telecom providers) to run equipment like cables, poles, or pipes over or under your land.
• The Document: The "Authority to Act" allows PCC to represent you in negotiations with a utility company to secure a compensation payment for the presence of this equipment.
• The Business Model: PCC typically does not charge homeowners directly. Instead, they often receive a surveyor's fee directly from the electricity company. However, some terms may involve a commission or percentage of the final payout. 

 

Key Considerations Before Signing

• You Can Go Direct: You do not need a third party to claim wayleave payments. You can contact your Local Distribution Network Operator (e.g., National Grid, SSEN, Northern Powergrid) directly to inquire about existing agreements or new claims for free.
• Potential Impacts: A Wayleave is a legal contract. While it provides compensation, it also grants utility companies rights of access to your property. This can sometimes affect future property developments or sales.
• Verification: Some residents have reported receiving these letters even when no cables exist on their property, leading to "phishing" concerns. Always verify if you actually have relevant apparatus (like a pylon or underground high-voltage cable) before proceeding. 

[graveyard johnny]

make sure they don't plug it in to your supply

[jacksy]

Thanks all. I've emailed Northern Power asking questions.

[Wolford6]

Major gas mains generally have a straddling 6m-wide wayleave. This means that a 6m-wide open space must be left on the surface to allow future excavation/exposure/modification/repair of the pipe.

[Damien]

Just to note dont be expecting any big money from an underground wayleave cable either, I get a cheque every year which is less than a couple of quid .

Edited February 1 by Damien

[JonM]

There are companies (like PCC) who essentially negotiate with the electricity company on your behalf, so that instead of getting your £3 a year (or whatever), you get a one-off lump sum of a couple of hundred quid that buys the wayleave in perpetuity, so that the electricity company doesn't have the bother of paying out a couple of quid every year. PCC will take a (sizeable) percentage out of that money. Electricity transmission companies don't keep track of who currently owns a place, so it's quite common for them not to know who they owe the £2 a year to, so they often don't actually pay it out until someone asks for it.

This will most likely be for a cable that already exists. If they were putting a new cable in, it would be northern powergrid contacting you themselves.

You don't need to use PCC. You can contact Northern Powergrid and ask about wayleaves on your property and see what that say - for free. If they do have a cable under your garden, they'll probably write back with an offer themselves. If they don't, they'll say so. The fact that PCC have written to you makes me think there probably is something.

Edited January 29 by JonM

[Eddie]

Any update @jacksy?

[Josef K]

Underground Electricity Cable would be a good name for a band. 

[jacksy]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

Any update @jacksy?

I have received confirmation that they do indeed have some equipment on/under my property.

No agreement in place either. I was passed to the wayleave team to sort out whats owed and to make an agreement.

Ive not received a reply from that team yet. I believe it can take a month or two.