HV Switchgear Design Change: 11kV to 33kV
The entitlement narrative for compensation event CE-009: the clause 60.1(1) analysis, the impact on the Prices and on Completion, the contractor's quotation and the action required from the client.
- Project
- Crestfield Distribution Centre, Warrington
- Contract
- NEC4 ECC Option A · £3,814,200
- Reference
- CREST-VN-CE009 · Rev 1
- Period
- Period 7 · May 2026
- Prepared by
- BuiltAI Intelligence Ltd
- Status
- Awaiting PM assessment
Illustrative example: fictional project and parties.
What the Project Manager instructed
The Project Manager (Alder Cost Consultants) instructed a change to the HV switchgear specification from an 11kV ring-main unit to a 33kV switchgear panel. The change arises from the revised DNO connection agreement DNO-CRE-2026-044 (dated 18 March 2026), which increased the incoming supply voltage from 11kV to 33kV. It is a compensation event under clause 60.1(1): the Project Manager gave an instruction which changed the Scope.
Replace the specified 11kV ring-main unit (Schneider RM6) with a 33kV switchgear panel (Schneider MCSET) to suit the revised DNO connection agreement DNO-CRE-2026-044. All associated civil base, cable trench and termination works to be amended accordingly.PMI-047 · issued 24 March 2026 · signed R. Whitworth, Alder Cost Consultants, to BuiltAI
Notices and timing
- Event type
- Compensation event, clause 60.1(1): PM instruction changing the Scope (Works Information Part 2, Section 4.3.1).
- Early warning
- Issued 25 March 2026 under clause 15.1 and acknowledged by the PM the same day.
- Notified
- 26 March 2026, 2 days from awareness (24 March 2026, 14:22). Well within the 8-week notification window of clause 61.3, which expires on 19 May 2026.
- Quotation
- Submitted 8 April 2026 to R. Whitworth (Alder Cost Consultants) under clause 62.3, 10 days ahead of the 18 April deadline. Reference CQ-CE009-R1.
Impact on the Prices
Assessed as the change in Defined Cost under the Schedule of Cost Components, with the Fee at 11.5% under Contract Data Part 2: Defined Cost £38,600 plus the Fee (£4,439), submitted at £43,039.
| Component | Basis | Change £ |
|---|---|---|
| Plant and materials | 33kV MCSET panel £48,200 less the 11kV RM6 allowance of £29,800 | £18,400 |
| Subcontracted civils | 2.4m × 1.8m × 300mm reinforced base and cable-trench diversion | £8,200 |
| People | 33kV dry-type stress-cone terminations in place of 11kV XLPE heat-shrink (net) | £2,800 |
| Equipment | 33kV primary injection test set hire and the DNO witness-test fee differential | £4,400 |
| Charges | 1.5-week preliminaries extension | £4,800 |
| Defined Cost | £38,600 | |
| Fee at 11.5% | £4,439 | |
| Submitted change to the Prices | £43,039 | |
Impact on Completion
1.5 weeks delay to planned Completion. The 33kV panel needs a DNO-attended witness test with a 4-week booking lead, against 2 weeks for the 11kV arrangement. After re-sequencing other activities the net effect is 1.5 weeks. No float is consumed; the delay falls on the critical path.
| Programme | Status | HV commissioning complete |
|---|---|---|
| Revision 6 | Accepted 14 March 2026 | Week 38 |
| Revision 7 | Submitted with the quotation | Week 39.5 |
Where it stands, and what the client needs to do
The PM's two-week period for reply to the quotation (clause 62.6) expired on 22 April 2026 without an assessment. The PM asked for more information on the DNO witness-testing lead on 12 May, and the Contractor responded cooperatively on 14 May. The assessment is expected in the week of 19 May 2026. The clause 62.6 deemed-acceptance position is reserved and documented, not operative: no deemed-acceptance notice has been issued.
Obtain the PM's assessment of CE-009 at £43,039 and 1.5 weeks. If the assessment differs materially from the quotation, escalate under the contract's dispute resolution procedure (clause W1 or W2). The clause 62.6 position remains reserved should the PM's assessment continue to be withheld.
Review and approval
| Step | Name and role | Decision | Date and time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared | BuiltAI Intelligence Ltd, commercial workflow | Draft ready | Period 7 · May 2026 |
| Reviewed | Pending | ||
| Approved for issue | Pending |