Moving Gas Meter outside..

Skinz_2

Hi,
Its been posted about in the past, but never got any clearcut answer.

I have just purchased a house, and have a gas meter, low down in the kitchen cupboard. I would like to have the meter moved outside (just the other side of the external wall) as I am about to install a new kitchen and it will just be in the way.

Current supplier is British Gas.

The former owner (now deceased) had received a letter saying that the gas meter needs to be updated and they had made an appointment to replace it which they since cancelled and will contact us in 6 months. (maybe irrelevent to this thread.. but just background info)

Incidently having read other forums :shocked: some people have said that if you change gas supplier- the new supplier may offer to move your meter as part of the sweetener for negligable cost ~£50

So got on the phone to Eon, who supply my electricity and asked them if they would do it. They said that they couldnt do it, but i needed to ring either;
1. 0845 6066*** and speak to transco
or
2. Look on the internet for a Gas-safe engineer who could do it (and probably cheaper)

I opted for option 1, but the chap there said that i needed to speak to "Retain network"(?) who cover my area- but may be able to do a "low cost option" which may be possible to use the existing flexible pipe to move the meter up to 0.5m through the wall. Hence avoiding the ~£600 0-2m movement band.

After making a phone call to Retain Network, turns out the lady has never heard of the "low cost option" and it would be £674 to move 0-2m.

Sounds like just the rip-off that I have been hearing about.

I haven't yet spoken to a Gas-safe engineer (same as Corgi?) as it was my understanding that only the suppliers could legally move meters.

Is £674 my only option if I want it moved legitamately without invalidating my house insurance?

Thanks for your valuable time reading my overly long story :A

lemontart

where in the country are you as that dictates which gas network covers your area if it is a retained network which basically is tech talk for areas still owned and covered by National Grid then the number is 0870 908 9999

Skinz_2

I am in Kettering, Northants.
Is this still the ballpark charge wherever I go, do you think?

Pssst

Well Joe public wanted a nationalised industry so now they have it.

Moving meters is all down to individual situations. Unfortunately,unlike the old days of British Gas Corporation,no one will send a surveyor to look at it.

Instead,the tendency will be to route you down the service relay route.

This involves digging/renewing or otherwise modifying the incoming service pipe (gas main !) so that it enters a new outside meter box. The meter is then moved to outside and you then get your own GSR eng to connect up the installation.

Hence your quote for £600+

Gman0365

Thats the going rate I'm afraid even though its only being moved onto the other side of the wall. In your area it will be National Grid thats responsible for the work - http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Connections/

I understand its a lot of money to add on when you are already paying for the new kitchen. I believe that it is possible for an appropriately qualified Gas Safe Registered engineer to move the gas meter upto 2m from its current position. I've come across this in a lot of council properties. As you can imagine if a council is re-fitting the kitchens in say a whole street it would cost them a fortune to have the gas meters moved outside if they were in awkward positions. I think if the gas engineer has MET1/MET2 (type of qualification) then they are allowed to move the meter.

I did a quick search on www.gassaferegister.co.uk and there are 23 companies listed in Kettering that are qualified to work on gas meter installations. Might be an idea to phone a few to see what your options are before paying to have it moved outside.

Hope this helps

lemontart

ooher kettering I live in kettering

Skinz_2

Kettering -Sorry to hear that
Pot-holed roads and a boarded up town centre. Excellent!

Anyway - spoke to one of the Gas meter listed companies on the Gas Safe register, but they can only move "Secondary" meters, not "Primary" meters.
Like individual meters in blocks of flats etc. But not the main meter where it enters the property.
So- Looks like I'm stuck. Guess I'm just going to have to build the kitchen round it, as I can't justify the extra £'s.

But thank you to everyone for your replies!

Gman0365

Skinz wrote: »

Kettering -Sorry to hear that
Pot-holed roads and a boarded up town centre. Excellent!

Anyway - spoke to one of the Gas meter listed companies on the Gas Safe register, but they can only move "Secondary" meters, not "Primary" meters.
Like individual meters in blocks of flats etc. But not the main meter where it enters the property.
So- Looks like I'm stuck. Guess I'm just going to have to build the kitchen round it, as I can't justify the extra £'s.

But thank you to everyone for your replies!

I'd speak to another company then. The meter can definately be moved upto 2 meters away from the primary Emergency Control Valve (ECV). Where the primary ECV is not located inside the same cupboard then generally a secondary ECV is fitted near to the new meter location.

If you still have no luck then make sure the person fitting the new kitchen leaves sufficient space around the gas meter incase it needs to be exchanged in future and the meter should also be supported in some way. Also the ECV must always remain accessible. In case of an emergency you should always be able to access the ECV without delay. Many kitchen fitters do a fantastic job of boxing all the pipes in and hiding meters behind the back board of a cabinet!

spiro

I believe British Gas will arrange for the company that does their metering work to move the meter up to 3 metres from its current location were is doe not require the service pipe to be modified and fit a 2nd ECV. Try phoning them and asking for a price for this.

digimate

Hiya

Re your wuestion, most suppliers can move your meter free of charge only if it is within 3 meters on the same wall. they can charge if outside that. the correct number for National Grid (Transco) is 0845 606 6766. if you dont get transo to complete it, then it would have to be an engineer from the gas safety register (prev corgi).

Hope this helps.

Dee:p

gravitytolls

We were informed by National Grid that it was illegal to have the gas meter within the home.