BT Openreach Warns UK LLU ISPs to STOP Overloading their Electrics

BTOpenreach has warned communication providers, specifically unbundled (LLU) ISPs and Access Locate customers, to keep their electricity demands in check after finding that some were “overloading” their Points of Presence (PoPs) and thus putting other users “at risk of losing power to their equipment“.

Openreach, which said that the “practice of overloading a PoP cannot be ignored” and doesn’t comply with UK wiring regulations, declined to name and shame any of the providers involved. Instead they put out a general notice in the hope of encouraging providers to keep a closer eye on their usage and to upgrade when necessary.

Openreach Statement

“Exceeding the permitted capacity not only puts the PoP, which is breaking the maximum supply at risk, but also all other AC power users of the site including other CPs and BT’s network, through overloading the AC mains intake and fusing arrangement to the affected building.”

Apparently not all providers have installed meters, although Openreach will be paying much closer attention to those that do in case further problems are detected.