Hello,
I would like to move my consumer unit and replace it with a more modern
version. This would involve moving the whole lot nearer the front door, but
higher up the wall, ie no walls / floorboards to go through, but a longer
length of cable required at some point in the chain (preferably between the
main elec board supply and the cutout).

I have two options - to move just the consumer unit, or to move the whole
lot.

My understanding from previous newsgroup conversations is that if I just
wanted to move my consumer unit, it is legal for me to replace the tails
between the meter and the consumer unit with longer ones, using an
appropriate master current limiting device between them? This would be a
pretty safe procedure as last year the elec board fitted a brand new meter
which has the ability to complete isolate the elec supply to the house from
the meter itself.

I have some questions though ...
(1) The new meter is small and the top half of the board on which it is
mounted is empty. Is it legal for me to remove the upper half of this board,
without removing the meter from it, to gain a bit more space above?

(2) I guess the best route is to move the whole lot to the new location -
can I contact a local firm about this, leaving them to liaise with the elec
supplier moving the cutout, or do I need to do the whole lot through the
supplier? If the supplier, is that who I pay my bill to, or the "local" elec
company.

(3) My lighting circuit is PVC but with no earth - can the elec supplier
refuse to reconnect the supply to this? Can I, as I've seen suggested on
previous threads, install the new consumer unit first with one "perfectly
working" circuit and ask them to connect this up to the supply, leaving the
others till later?

(4) Are there any other potential pitfalls I should be aware of which may
result in the supplier refusing to reconnect the supply to my system? I
don't mind fixing genuine problems, so long as they are the kind of problems
which don't require me to dig out walls etc and redecorate.

Any idea on what kind of money I should be looking to pay for this in
Greater London?

Thanks,
Richard