Moving gas meter for extension

lucielamb
lucielamb Posts: 13 Forumite
Hi

we're planning an extension to our house, but we need to move the gas meter first. We have been in touch with our energy suppiers and they put us in touch with united utilities (acting on behalf of northern gas networks, who used to be transco) who have quoted about £520 to do tis. Does anyone know of anyway of avoiding this charge or decreasing it. It seems to be a standard charge and is very expensive for the amount of work required.

Has anyone changed suppliers on the basis of having this work done for free? If so who did you change to and how did you strike a deal!!!

Many thanks

Lucie
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Comments

  • wills34
    wills34 Posts: 142 Forumite
    changing suppliers wont help unfortunately as it will still be united utilities you would be referred to
  • Ken68
    Ken68 Posts: 6,825 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Energy Saving Champion Home Insurance Hacker!
    My sister had her electric meter moved last year. The family did a lot of the work ,bar the dangerous stuff. Still cost £500.
  • slinx
    slinx Posts: 43 Forumite
    Hi,

    believe it or not in most cases the true cost of carrying out this type of work is more than what they're asking from you. Basically the 'standard charge' works are subsidised.

    If you can get the new meter position closer to the existing position, it will save you money. There is a set rate for up to 3m i think (prob around £350) and then a charge per meter after that. Again i think that's right! you'll have to check.

    Changing suppliers shouldn't make a difference because it's not them that own the pipework.
  • number9
    number9 Posts: 173 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    We have a similar problem. We have had an extension built and by building above the garage have added a cavity and second layer. The gas meter needs moved forward to the new layer. Cowboy builders just built the brickwork without any consideration for the services and therefore the gas pipe is in the cavity, ie they just built on top of it. Legally, it is my understanding that the supply pipe has to be accessible outside the wall.

    We are British Gas customers but who do we contact to arrange the moving of the supply/meter? It is impossible to find a link on the https://www.house.co.uk site and we have just spent half an hour waiting for BG to answer the phone.
  • number9 wrote: »
    We have a similar problem. We have had an extension built and by building above the garage have added a cavity and second layer. The gas meter needs moved forward to the new layer. Cowboy builders just built the brickwork without any consideration for the services and therefore the gas pipe is in the cavity, ie they just built on top of it. Legally, it is my understanding that the supply pipe has to be accessible outside the wall.

    We are British Gas customers but who do we contact to arrange the moving of the supply/meter? It is impossible to find a link on the https://www.house.co.uk site and we have just spent half an hour waiting for BG to answer the phone.

    You would need to contact united utilaties to have it moved..its not cheap tho!
    Hey folks...remember I might work for the company but I am a human and working in my own time, I will not responde to people who are rude, sarcy and crits me. My views and comments do not reflect British Gas and they are totally unreasponsable for my responses.
  • tripled
    tripled Posts: 2,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Who they use can vary depending on where you live, it could be united ultilities, fulcrum connections or someone else. TBH you will need to speak to BG's customer services who can pop in your postcode and give you the name and telephone number.
  • Alfrescodave
    Alfrescodave Posts: 1,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    We've just had an extension built and the cost of moving the gas meter was very similar to what you've been quoted. Not a difficult job but one for the professionals (!) with professional costs.
    Also had to move the electric meter as well!!!!!
  • why do you want it moved. ok the pipe is in the cavity, the meter is in the new course of brick or block work. hence now you can just put a small cupboard or even a door so the meter reader can do his job.
    If it was mine i would keep the £500 or so and say nowt. if the sh*t does hit the fan then pay the £500 + block work + flooring + decorating. Im sure as gas pipes run underground all over our country a 2 meter run in your cavity wall wont make much differance.
    Its only an idea you got to do what you got to do...
  • ic
    ic Posts: 3,407 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Connections/domestic/NW/alterations.htm

    I looked into moving my meter as its in the corner of my living room to outside on the otherside of where it is, but was put off by the cost. A gas man explained that they may need to dig up the road to access the stop-c0ck that allows them to switch off the gas. For some reason they bury them, unlike the water which are under little covers!
  • harryhound
    harryhound Posts: 2,662 Forumite
    This is slightly off thread, BUT perhaps someone can advise.

    I may be heading for a similar situation with my two pieces of electrical kit (supply meter and economy 7 clock). The meter reads EDF, and I am fairly sure they are responsible for South Essex. So yesterday I wrote them a snail mail letter with a detailed map & plan of what would be needed. (Did I get the right address ?).

    Now I've looked at the web site and this is what it says:

    "In short, we install the physical connection from the road to your premises, the meter operator connects the meter and the electricity supplier switches on the power."

    Do I stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting three organisations to co-operate on a task like this ?

    (I'm tempted to put on a thick pair of rubber gloves and do the job myself !)
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