Hello,
our property management (8 condominium units) surprised us with a cost estimate of around 15,000 euros for the installation of a meter cabinet and the extension of the grounding system.
The building (from the 1930s) is located in Stuttgart (EnBW supply area) – and only companies approved by EnBW are allowed to carry out the installation...
1)
Is such a restriction on competitors even legal? Doesn’t this practically create regional monopolies? Shouldn’t any certified electrical contractor be able to install a meter cabinet?
2)
Is a price equivalent to that of a Ford Fiesta (approximately 10,000 components) realistic for this? When you look online, the material costs for the cabinet (around 100 components) are about 800–1000 euros, and the required electronics cost hardly more than 200 to 300 euros per residential unit. There are also fully pre-assembled meter cabinets that can presumably be installed within 1–2 hours – but for liability reasons (?) apparently no electrical company wants to install them...
The supplier of the meter cabinet should be liable for the correct wiring inside the cabinet – so the connection should be completed in 1–2 hours, right?
Attached is an excerpt of the key invoice items for assessment:
Meter cabinet for 8 units, 1 general meter, 1 distribution panel with space for APZ,
1 control device, complete with SLS switches 7,993 euros
Mounting rail 94 euros
NYM-J 5x35 installation cable 573 euros
TEHALIT LF 60090 cable duct 390 euros
NYM-J 1x16 installation cable 80 euros
Pipelife PSM-E-MF 20 rigid PVC pipe 40 euros
FRAE M20 clamp bracket 28 euros
Hensel Mi6426 NH fuse load disconnector enclosure 572 euros
63A VNH fuse 24 euros
OBO 213 ground rod 1500mm (59 inches) with steel tape flag 76 euros
Small parts and mounting materials including disposal 120 euros
OBO 1809 equipotential bonding bar 12 euros
Vehicle standby 70 euros
Installation labor approx. 2,350 euros
Total 12,423 euros
VAT 2,360 euros
Grand total 14,782 euros
3)
Costs for the riser cables to the individual apartments are not included here yet…
What are the usual costs for this?
4)
Is installation labor of 2,350 euros (which corresponds to roughly 31 hours at 75 euros/hour) realistic?
Apparently, the installation of the meter cabinet is a requirement from the utility provider, since the meters must now be installed in the basement due to fire protection regulations and are no longer allowed on the floors.
Allegedly, this requirement previously applied only to one apartment owner – who has renovated their entire home electrical system and also installed a high-power connection at their parking space – and has nothing to do with these changes to the system. Since supposedly all other owners have to expect this requirement, now all meters should go to the basement...
5)
Is there any grandfathering protection for the individual apartments, or must their electrical installations also be brought up to the latest standard? The building dates back to the 1930s.
6)
How do you assess the estimated costs? Are these typical market prices, or are there alternatives to reduce costs?
Thank you very much for all constructive tips and advice
Sven
our property management (8 condominium units) surprised us with a cost estimate of around 15,000 euros for the installation of a meter cabinet and the extension of the grounding system.
The building (from the 1930s) is located in Stuttgart (EnBW supply area) – and only companies approved by EnBW are allowed to carry out the installation...
1)
Is such a restriction on competitors even legal? Doesn’t this practically create regional monopolies? Shouldn’t any certified electrical contractor be able to install a meter cabinet?
2)
Is a price equivalent to that of a Ford Fiesta (approximately 10,000 components) realistic for this? When you look online, the material costs for the cabinet (around 100 components) are about 800–1000 euros, and the required electronics cost hardly more than 200 to 300 euros per residential unit. There are also fully pre-assembled meter cabinets that can presumably be installed within 1–2 hours – but for liability reasons (?) apparently no electrical company wants to install them...
The supplier of the meter cabinet should be liable for the correct wiring inside the cabinet – so the connection should be completed in 1–2 hours, right?
Attached is an excerpt of the key invoice items for assessment:
Meter cabinet for 8 units, 1 general meter, 1 distribution panel with space for APZ,
1 control device, complete with SLS switches 7,993 euros
Mounting rail 94 euros
NYM-J 5x35 installation cable 573 euros
TEHALIT LF 60090 cable duct 390 euros
NYM-J 1x16 installation cable 80 euros
Pipelife PSM-E-MF 20 rigid PVC pipe 40 euros
FRAE M20 clamp bracket 28 euros
Hensel Mi6426 NH fuse load disconnector enclosure 572 euros
63A VNH fuse 24 euros
OBO 213 ground rod 1500mm (59 inches) with steel tape flag 76 euros
Small parts and mounting materials including disposal 120 euros
OBO 1809 equipotential bonding bar 12 euros
Vehicle standby 70 euros
Installation labor approx. 2,350 euros
Total 12,423 euros
VAT 2,360 euros
Grand total 14,782 euros
3)
Costs for the riser cables to the individual apartments are not included here yet…
What are the usual costs for this?
4)
Is installation labor of 2,350 euros (which corresponds to roughly 31 hours at 75 euros/hour) realistic?
Apparently, the installation of the meter cabinet is a requirement from the utility provider, since the meters must now be installed in the basement due to fire protection regulations and are no longer allowed on the floors.
Allegedly, this requirement previously applied only to one apartment owner – who has renovated their entire home electrical system and also installed a high-power connection at their parking space – and has nothing to do with these changes to the system. Since supposedly all other owners have to expect this requirement, now all meters should go to the basement...
5)
Is there any grandfathering protection for the individual apartments, or must their electrical installations also be brought up to the latest standard? The building dates back to the 1930s.
6)
How do you assess the estimated costs? Are these typical market prices, or are there alternatives to reduce costs?
Thank you very much for all constructive tips and advice
Sven
MikeStgt schrieb:
The property (from the 1930s) is located in Stuttgart (EnBW) – and only companies approved by EnBW are allowed to carry out the installation...What good does it do you if we tell you it’s too expensive?
Forget all that stuff about online prices; no one will install it for you. (And rightly so.)
I suggest the traditional approach: try to get a list of these approved companies and request comparative quotes.
MikeStgt schrieb:
Is such exclusion of competitors even allowed – doesn’t it basically create regional monopolies? Yes, absolutely allowed. In fact, it is required by law. §13 (2) NAV. This approach is meant to prevent unknown external companies from operating within the utility’s network and disappearing without a trace in case of problems (damage due to faulty work).
MikeStgt schrieb:
Actually, any certified master tradesperson should be able to install a meter box, right? Of course. Any certified master tradesperson can generally be listed free of charge as an approved installation company. Without discrimination. And if a company is removed from the list, there are usually solid reasons for it.
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