is this the biggest rip off ever?

icandothis_3

i have just moved home and need to have my outside gas meter and supply moved along the same exterior wall (less than 2m). No other changes requested just move the little white box and its contents and reconnect me. The guy came along to have a look, said it was 'straightforward' and today i got the quote.. £751 !!!! This quote came from SGN which is scottish power i think. I have no experience in this matter and no idea how relocating a meter works as far as legal requirements go. Who can do it? does it have to be done by a 'transporter' whatever that means... i rely on Martin's site for the real deal so hope someone can advise

Gman0365

Hi,

This is a standard alteration price for South England:

£560 for altering the inlet service pipe
£93.52 for Meter Reconnection where you require us to move the meter and you do require us to reconnect the outlet pipework. This includes up to 2m of outlet pipework and all necessary testing, purging and relighting of appliances.
+ VAT @ 15%

= £751

I'm not sure about the possibility of a 3rd party being allowed to alter the service as SGN will own it. You don't have to pay the £93.52 you could have a local Gas Safe Registered engineer move the meter and reconnect the copper outlet pipework but I would imagine they would charge more than £93.52 for this work. Be thankfull you're not living inside the M25, it would of cost £871 in total!

Also Scottish Power has nothing to do with SGN. SGN own the gas networks in Scotland and South/South East England, they transport the gas on behalf of companies like Scottish Power/British Gas/EON. See www.sgn.co.uk for more details.

Can I ask why you need to have the meter moved?