Te Aro Flat's Ancient Meters Still Ticking, Landlord Unfazed
Ferranti-brand units from Hollinwood, England, have been ticking over in a Cuba Street cupboard since before decimal currency.
A pair of Ferranti electricity metres, stamped ENGLAND, HOLLINWOOD, 230V, have been located behind a plywood panel in the utility cupboard of a Te Aro flat. They are still connected. They are still counting.
The discovery was made by tenant Marnie Colquhoun, 34, who was looking for the hot water cylinder. "It's a museum exhibit that's plugged in," she said. Cobwebs covered most of the dial, but a reading of 30,698 kWh was visible, as was a second unit labelled MAIN and LOAD.
"Rang the landlord. He said they'd been there since he bought the place in '89 and he wasn't going to be the one to touch them," Ms Colquhoun said. "Rang the power company. They said they had no record of the address having two. I asked which one they were billing. They said they'd get back to me."
A spokesperson for the lines company confirmed the units were "of a vintage no longer supported" and that a technician would attend "in due course", declining to specify a decade. Pressed on whether they were safe, the spokesperson said they were "probably fine."
My mate at the station, Sergeant Withers, notes this would ordinarily be a Notifiable Installation Concern, or NIC. No NIC has been filed. The wires dangle in a manner not consistent with current standards.
Ms Colquhoun has been advised not to unplug anything. The units continue to tick.
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Reader Letters
catwoman_taranaki
Bloody typical landlord laziness.
Old_Barry_Karori
Back in my day, we respected things that lasted this long. Shame folks don't appreciate good British manufacturing now.
kevinsafety
@Old_Barry_Karori Respect and good manufacturing can't stop a fire hazard. Mate, safety is key.
powerplay_Tim
Munted meters or not, as long as they work, right? The meter to trust is whichever one keeps the bill low.
AnnoyedEditorWellington
It's GEFF, not Geoff! Learn your gaps, people. It's one of those common mistakes.
uniwhisperer
Lol, ancient tech in a flat?! Sounds like a Te Aro O-Week theme if you ask me. #FlatLife
talesfromtheflat
Lucky it's just a couple of dodgy meters. My mate in Dunedin found a WWII bomb in their attic! Anything seems possible in old rentals.
tired_in_riccarton
These issues should've been sorted ages ago. Are we just waiting for a place to go up in smoke before we act?
sassy_sue
@tired_in_riccarton Seriously, some landlords just shouldn't be allowed near rental properties. Holding onto old junk is just dangerous.
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