Gas company want to move meter

Gpuk

Hi, I am just after a bit of advice, the gas men have been around our way for the last 2 weeks digging up the road and yesterday we had a visit from 1 of them to say that they need to move our pre-pay meter. The only problem is we had a fitted kitchen done about 3 years ago and had the cupboards designed around our existing meter now they have said they will have to move it into another cupboard and drill a hole through the top to fit all the new pipework etc. Is there any way I can say no?? They say they can't fit it externally as we live in a 1st floor flat?? Just wondered if I have any other options?? Thanks

HappyMJ

Yes you can refuse access. They will then have to get a court order to get access which they probably won't do.

spiro

There is obviously a reason they want to move it, you MAY be able to get them leave it where is but I suspect you will need to pay the extra costs involved.

Loads of people dont think when 'blocking in meters' that at some point the meter will need changing. I have heard from engineers were the meter is behind a cupboard and the only think visible is the meter reading through a slot in the back of the cupboard. End result of this can be a warrant and they will just tear the back of the cupboard out with no compensation. So PLEASE EVERYONE when having fitted furniture installed think about access to your meters, it will save you hassle in the future.

spiro

HappyMJ wrote: »

Yes you can refuse access. They will then have to get a court order to get access which they probably won't do.

Or they may replace the external pipework and leave you off supply. As long as you have elec still on this is legal because you have an alternative heat source.

ic

Did they say why they need to move it?

Gpuk

They say new government legislation means that any meter either needs to be external or a maximum of 1M from an outside wall, it wouldn't matter so much if we weren't pre-pay as they could stick it wherever they liked, but we need access to it. Just bummed really that they are going to destroy 1 of my cupboards - if we were council they would just replace it as they are doing all the local council bathrooms and kitchens at the moment but we are private owners in a council block so they're not bothered about us. I've still got my share of a communal aerial that they put in that I didn't want, to pay for too would never buy another ex-council flat!!

C_Mababejive

HappyMJ wrote: »

Yes you can refuse access. They will then have to get a court order to get access which they probably won't do.

I think you;ll find that they will just cut off her supply as they make their way down the road.

OP..your existing meter isnt on an outside wall..?

Gpuk

I live in a block of 6 flats, 3 high 2 across, council build from the 60's, the pipes run up the inside walls exactly 1.5m from the outside wall, so when they fitted the pre-pay meter, they just swapped 1 for the other, then when we had the kitchen fitted MFI designed a wall of cupboards and 1 of these cupboards has the meter inside it. Looking into it online I can't see anywhere where it states how far away the pipework can be from the outside wall, I could understand if it was in my hallway or something but it isn't! They are 2 pipes coming up to and out of the meter and we have already been told that they will still be using 1 of these pipes (the outlet one I think), I just don't see the reason to move it? I would mind quite so much if I thought they would do a neat job but I just know that they won't, we have so little storage in our flat and the kitchen is a tiny galley style so space is really a premium, if they are still going to be using 1 of the pipes then that cupboard will still be unusable once they have removed the current meter plus they will be wreaking another cupboard! Just don't like feeling like I have no say!

lemontart

It is standard to move most meters outside during mains replacement work and this is in line with current regulations with all new build properties having their meters externally.

Send me a private message and I will point you the the direction of who you can speak to about this. Given you live in a flat and it will involve what is called riser work for the pipe going up the wall I think you will have little option other than except this. As riser work involves planning permission from your council as well, and of course the meter is the property of your gas supplier not yours and the pipes leading to it are the property of the gas network ............all very complicated these days with lots of regulations,