Meter Question BG want to change a 2 year old meter!

Garz

Takoda wrote: »

However - the last time I enquired about having it moved outside I got passed from person to person and no one BUT NO ONE would actually admit that their department could arrange it/or give us a quote. Classic case of "Not my job... you want X!" We ended up being given the number of the people we'd phoned first!

A shambles. But sadly typical of Britain today and poor customer service.

At some point I may actually find out who can help. When I can face making the phonecall again and have a morning free to be passed from number to number again!

It's not a cheap thing to get done, however its all about ringing the right department which im sure the people on this board will be able to help you with.

Gman0365

Takoda wrote: »

Meanwhile it doesn't make sense to have the indoor meter changed if very soon we are likely to want it moving outside!

The meter that is currently located inside you're property will be the same meter that is moved outside. The only difference is that it will be placed inside a white meter box.

If you want the meter moved outside then you should contact the gas transporter for your area. This should be shown somewhere on your gas bill.

The main regional gas transporters are:

http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Connections/

http://www.sgn.co.uk

http://www.wwutilities.co.uk/

http://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/

On the websites you should be looking for "Connections", this area of the site will detail the process of having your meter moved outside and how to obtain a quote.

I haven't listed details of IGT's as it doesn't appear as though the OP lives on an IGT site.

Takoda

Thanks for that Gman. Going on holiday now so can't do much for a few days but I'll check it out when I get back.

Thanks again - you've been really helpful.

Takoda

Takoda

Garz wrote: »

The changing of utility meters is becoming far more popular now. Gone are the archaic days of a 25 year period once a meter is installed to be its life expectancy. Reasons for changes can be a statuatory meter change, change of supplier, change of tariff or even with latest push to a smart meter. Most electric meters are also usually given a 10 year period so the frequency that they get swapped is increasing.

Dont see it as a totally negative thing, like psst said make sure the interruption suits you!

No I'm not seeing it as negative but on the other hand I don't like being lied to (and they've done that already by saying the meter was at the end of its life) neither do I want disrupting every 2 years when they decide to change meter reading companies.

Plus at some point they are going to want to put a smart meter in...why don't they leave the current one in (it IS less than 2 years old after all! ) until they are ready to replace it with a smart one? Can't be too far away.

No wonder gas bills are so high if they can afford to go ripping out perfectly good gas meters whenever they feel like it!

No change of tariff or supplier here - been with BG for ever. While I'm typing this I'm wondering whether all gas companies are the same and will swap meters when they feel like it. Did some voluntary work last summer driving folk around a festival site in golf buggies (got a free ticket - very money saving LOL) and the buggies were sponsored by EbiCO. Doing it again this year - might have a word with the Ebico rep and see what their position is on swapping perfectly good meters every 5 minutes!

Garz

Takoda wrote: »

Plus at some point they are going to want to put a smart meter in...why don't they leave the current one in (it IS less than 2 years old after all! ) until they are ready to replace it with a smart one? Can't be too far away.

Takoda, I fit smart metering equipment for a living, basically I have changed countless meters with a 08 or a 09 serial prefix. Some have only been in a matter of weeks at some businesses, don't feel like they are picking on you, more that the incompetent systems in place make contractors able to do this for multiple reasons.

I do agree in your case however that if you are re-siting this meter, I would stand firm and make them wait. However don't be stubborn if you might not pay for the move as your just delaying the inevitable, and in my organisation the amount of money-wasting through this kind of customer delay effects lots of people which is why prices are so high at getting things done!

Good luck and keep us updated on what happens! :beer:

Takoda

Yeah will do Garz. Thanks for your thoughts. Its always good when people post helpful stuff rather than just a knee jerk reaction to a post they haven't read properly.

Position at the moment. I've complained in writing about a change so soon and asked for a valid reason why. When I get a reply I'll ask them about getting the meter moved. To be honest though it will be the end of July before I've got time during the week to let someone in!

Just a quick question about smart meters if you don't mind me asking. Will they remove totally the need for someone to enter your property and read the meter?

If it does then I probably don't need the meter moved!

They haven't actually said they are fitting a smart meter though. They haven't actually said anything except to lie about the death of the old one LOL

Premier_2

Garz wrote: »

The changing of utility meters is becoming far more popular now. Gone are the archaic days of a 25 year period once a meter is installed to be its life expectancy. Reasons for changes can be a statuatory meter change, change of supplier, change of tariff or even with latest push to a smart meter. Most electric meters are also usually given a 10 year period so the frequency that they get swapped is increasing.

Dont see it as a totally negative thing, like psst said make sure the interruption suits you!

Is that right that meters are now changed every 10 years?

A couple of years back, when my meter was about 9 years old I was being pestered by Siemens to get an accurate meter reading. Eventually they wrote to me to say that they, acting as agents for British Gas (my supplier at the time) wanted to change the meter. I thought at the time this was just a ruse to get to inspect the meter/take a meter reading.

Well there's a bit more to this story, but long story short, it ended up me writing to BG and in the end speaking with an employee at the BG directors office.
It was arranged that Siemens would read the meter, and also replace it at the same time if deemed necessary. BG said that the meter would not require replacing as it as their policy was to replace meters every 15-20 years.

Anyway Siemens arrived as arranged, inspected meter, agreed there was nothing wrong with it, took reading and left declining my invitation for them to replace it as they had earlier requested in writing.

3 months later when Siemens were unable to obtain another meter reading, I immediately got another letter stating they needed to change the meter without delay on the instruction of BG and that a warrant would be obtained if I didn't allow them access to do so.
I wrote back to Siemens, copy to BG, telling them to contact the named employee at BG Directors office.
I never heard from Siemens again.

Now I'm with Ebico, and still have the same meter. My meter is now about 12 years old.

enthrone

Takoda wrote: »

Yeah will do Garz. Thanks for your thoughts. Its always good when people post helpful stuff rather than just a knee jerk reaction to a post they haven't read properly.

Position at the moment. I've complained in writing about a change so soon and asked for a valid reason why. When I get a reply I'll ask them about getting the meter moved. To be honest though it will be the end of July before I've got time during the week to let someone in!

Just a quick question about smart meters if you don't mind me asking. Will they remove totally the need for someone to enter your property and read the meter?

If it does then I probably don't need the meter moved!

They haven't actually said they are fitting a smart meter though. They haven't actually said anything except to lie about the death of the old one LOL

meter as stated before is being exchanged due to meter asset management change.

bg save money going with an onstream meter.

Gman0365

enthrone wrote: »

meter as stated before is being exchanged due to meter asset management change.

bg save money going with an onstream meter.

But it's still a bit of a scam though isn't it! BG were using National Grid Metering as a Meter Asset Manager and then decided to change to OnStream which is a wholly owned subsiduary of National Grid! Absolute madness! So either way the National Grid group of companies is still receiving the income for being the British Gas MAM. Of course by [STRIKE]owning[/STRIKE] setting up National Grid Metering and OnStream it makes it look to OFGEM that competition exists in the metering market. That is all they are really concerned with (regardless of how flawed the scheme is) therefore they tend to lay off NG and allow them to trade their business as they wish in a highly regulated market.

Selling off the least "profitable" gas distribution networks to the highest bidder and keeping the "good" bits to themselves is the example that comes to mind. Most people knew who Transco were, now there are several gas transportation companies serving the country. Some bits weren't making NG any money so by suggesting to OFGEM that by breaking up the network and allowing "competition" would be good for the consumer they were able to offload the areas they didn't want.

I think OFGEM needs a serious shake up as most people I talk to in the industry believes it was mush better when it was just the "Gas Board", granted that was huge beast of an organisation but at least the government had some control over its actions. I'm sure if the gas and electricity distribution and supply was owned by UKPLC then there would be much cheaper prices for all.

Garz

Premier wrote: »

Is that right that meters are now changed every 10 years?

Yes. When suppliers properly tested and stamped say a well known brand like would give them a certain number of years with the lesser known brands receiving a shorter period on their products.

With digital meters being new and cheaper to make the de-facto life span is a 10 year slot. Not only are these statuatory changes going to be more common then, but also having such competition between suppliers (and each supplier using different contractors/meter operatives) will make them be literally flying in and out now!