Ridiculous situation with National Grid - HELP! *Resolved*

kmmr

Hi,

I was hoping someone here would be able to help me with a silly situation that has occured with National Grid.

Firstly - apologies for the length of this post. It's a bit complex and stupid, but hope the details will help.

I am doing quite a big renovation and have to move the gas meter from one end of the flat to the other, as the current location is being changed into a bedroom (was a kitchen).

But, as I am in a basement flat, it seems that the supply pipe for the building runs through my flat, and I did the right thing and asked National Grid to cap the pipe, and move the meter. Basically it just needs to be moved along the pipe, but the current pipe needs to be cut and sealed off.

As part of the online process they ask if you want excavation done by them, or by your own contractor. As there is no excavation, I said 'by my contractor'. They then called and asked for the EUSR number of the contractor, and so I explained that there was no excavation to be done. They said - fine, but you still need to provide an EUSR qualified person for legal reasons. They agreed it was a crazy legal situation, but they need the number.

Now, I can't find anyone with an EUSR number, and the EUSR people have said it's not a single thing, so I need to find out more detail from National Grid as to what type of EUSR member I need.

So I called them back, and they said, actually as there is no work, you can't get someone else to do it, it has to be done by us (National Grid). And as you are in London, this non-existant work will cost £590 (on top of the £490 they are already charging to move the meter).

The girl from National Grid was very embarrassed, and said she had been dreading me calling back, and said that I really should complain, but that her hands were tied. Now I am stuck with either paying over a £1000 to move a meter, including £590 for a job that everyone admits doesn't exist. And they won't even come out and do a survey to confirm the job until I have paid the full amount in advance. Once paid they estiimate it will be 8-10 weeks before the job is done.

So - sorry for the epic - but can anyone give me some advice here? I can't really believe this silly situation has arisen. It seems to crazy, and I can't afford to throw away £1000 on such crazyness.

Does anyone know what type of EUSR person I may need (i am thinking of starting the process again, and seeing if I can just put down a number and seeing if I can get the process at least moving).

Thanks!

KMMR

moaninggit

just a sugestion why dont you trawl the streets untill you find a man with a digger working for the gas board .He will have the right tickets and a EUSR card £50 for the use of his membership number on the Form job done.
good luck

kmmr

You think someone who would be working for national grid would do that? Or I suppose anyone who looks like they are digging around pipes might have one.

Good idea though - I'll go have a wander around tomorrow.

27col

I can't be any help I'm afraid. I even had to Google EUSR. But I know a word to describe the situation. Weird! I hope you find a solution soon.

kmmr

Yeah sorry - I should have put what EUSR is, it's not like anyone has ever heard of them!!!

Energy and Utility Skills Register if anyone is interested.

I emailled them to try and get someone, and even once they know the type of EUSR person needed, they can't give me any names due to data protection! They exist so that you can check if someone claiming to be EUSR qualified really is.

Frustrating... I just can't help feeling like I must have done something wrong, or asked the wrong question to get this result.

ormus

http://www.mholleran.co.uk/sheq/holleran-sheq-bulletin-issue13.pdf

copy this number?

1jim

I would contact my MP who no doubt will agree that the situation is silly, will then write to the chief exec of the company who will review the case and may overturn the charge. At the very least the MP would ask the boss to justify the charges for non existant work

aj_the_red

If you give more info i may be able to help ie, type of pipe etc.

ps its hard to see what you are doing but you cant cap a service leave it live then install another service in the same prop its not allowed

kmmr

What do you mean 'leave it live'?

It's a single pipe running along the top of the wall of the property. At one point there is an elbow joint, which links down to my meter. Then, I think, the pipes come off my meter into my house, to run the stove top etc.

What we need to do is remove the elbow joint, and seal off the pipe there (a cap, or a piece of metal, or however that is done). And then walk down the corridor following the pipe (which is visible all the way), and then recreate the elbow joint at an appropriate point, and put the meter back on the wall. Then the pipes back into the house would be laid.

Although, as I will only have a boiler, which will be close to the meter, so the moving of the pipes should minimal. And anyway, not done to National Grid - done by my Gassafe plumber.

kmmr

http://clearlybuilt.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/corridor-3-5.jpg

You can see the meter currently up in the air. It has a joint up to the main pipe. So this whole thing will be removed, and then moved down along the pipe and re-installed.

It is supported at the moment while we work out what to do with it.

Can anyone tell me how to make this picture a bit smaller!

aj_the_red

I take it that the service although difficult to see is steel ?If so you cant cut it back im afraid it must be renewed,its against the regs to basicly go back along the service and try and stick another joint in it.National grid cannot do this and will not because of regs.

If its as i suspect looking at the meter inst , the governor is an older one so i suspect it will all be steel.