meters too close together

[Deleted User]

I met a customer today, whilst meter reading, who had waited in all day once again for the third time, to get her 1950s imperial gas meter exchanged to a metric meter, only to be told by the fitter that the gas and electric meters are too close together which, he said, was illegal, so he could nt do the job.All three of these fitters trotted out the same excuse and left
IF, this is the new regulation, is it now beholden on the householder to arrange for the meters to be separated a bit, at their expence, before these fitters are going to actually do their job. I hear this excuse very often.
Are these new regulations retrospectve, to include the vast number of gas and electric meters which have happily, and safely, lived alongside each other for 60 years or is it just another con by the meter fixers to get out of a job they don t fancy doing

Terrylw1

If new regs did apply to retrospective installations, the distributors would be forced to relocate one the supplies, at their cost.

Its the fitters that are in the wrong.

I think its likely to be a mixture of the quality of the engineers and how they are briefed. For instance, I came across a situation last year where a meter operator conducted some form of 1 day training on smart metering. God knows why when the technology is still to be agreed. One of these engineers then started customers that he couldn't change their meters as the smart ones were due soon. One call to the contract management people later it was sorted and they stated the engineer would be retrained on current policy immediately.

Terrylw1

Another example I can give you is on elec as well.

PPM's can't be fit over new regulation height but it doesn't apply to recertification. It does apply to changes from Credit to PPM though as we don't want any old ladies falling off chairs from climbing up to put their key in the meter on the ceiling...but then on some threads nationalisation was better...not for customer safety at times eh?

My favourite though is the meter under the sink. Kept seeing messages back from the engineers stating the supplier should take note of this. But do what?

[Deleted User]

Thanks Terry, it really is quite common for the meter exchangers to quote this new reg and leave, leaving a customer fuming that the meters have been like this for donkeys years. Unless I get some more info on this I will advise them to claim compensation for needlessly waiting in all day. Its not at all cheap to move any of the meters to comply , unless its at National Grids expence.

gas4you

150mm minimum from the gas meter to any electrics.

As for who's responsibility to pay for the move, anyone's guess!

[Deleted User]

thanks gas4you, but does it apply to all the meters in situ as from 1950s on, or does it apply only to meters from when the new regulation came into force. The meter exchange fitters are scaring the old dears by saying such things like "your meters are illegal" and leaving. They don t do anything about these "illegal" meters, this lady yesterday had had three within a year saying the same thing. No instruction what to do about making her meters "legal"

gas4you

The way I see it, and it is only my opinion, is that as far as I am aware, no new regulations are retrospective as long as everything is left as is.

If they come to change the meter(s), then I assume that as it is a 'new job', then the new regulations would apply.

But, as said, that is only my personal interpretation of what is happening. I cannot say for sure.

chanz4

The mops should be liable really for the move of the electric a few cm's

Terrylw1

chanz4 wrote: »

The mops should be liable really for the move of the electric a few cm's

Its not their supply point, its the distributors.

The MOP can move the meter usually 6 inches, but possibly more depending on the circumstances. Anyone on the PSR can get a free meter move this way. Anyone else, well used to be free, but suppliers may charge now...if they wish. The tails also need to be long enough, if not, the customers needs a sparky for new tails.

The customer can't approach the MOP direct as they will be referred to their supplier. The supplier books the job and gets charged...so, after sometime you just know the supplier will start charging customers when its not there fault.

You also have yo think about the cutout and main supply cable which could also be too close...and that's a chargeable distribution job which a supplier can't do anything about as its up ti the property owner.

It can't be argued that on a meter change that new regs apply either. Why? Well, re certification is the MOP/MAM's responsibility and they know it. Also, aside from changing meter dimensions, a change in payment type is little different to a recent.

If new regs were introduced that meant many meter points are now illegal, the question is not who should be paying, but why industry bodies are not instructing the distributors to force them to do the work.

Its also very relevant that the gas & elec distributors have no links to each other, so how do they know that its too close.

C_Mababejive

In years gone by,gas chaps would simply exchange the meter,job done. Now however there are legions of tin pot managers and assessors who might follow them around and arrange a disciplinary for them if they dont do things exactly to the letter resulting in gas chaps just wandering round doing almost nothing all day save for giving out bits of paper and advice.

Whos fault is it?

Either way,its quite possible for the occupier to fit some chipboard/plywood boarding to prevent contact/provide separation.

brewerdave

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Now however there are legions of tin pot managers and assessors who might follow them around and arrange a disciplinary for them if they dont do things exactly to the letter resulting in chaps just wandering round doing almost nothing all day save for giving out bits of paper and advice.

Whos fault is it?

Have to agree - had a water meter fitted about two months ago - after a couple of weeks,noticed that it was running backwards. Phoned Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water!!) who arranged for a man to come out and rectify. Said man turns up, examines meter,confirms its running backwards.............and then tells me that he will arrange for a contractor to come out and turn the meter round - not his job!!!!!:mad: