No gas supplier?!

couldxbe

Hi,

I just moved into a flat. I've set up the electricity with Eon, all is good (usage is around £25 per month). However, when I attempted to set up gas, I've been told that there is no meter point reference number, and no one has any idea who is supplying the gas?

The national grid has no idea who is supplying it, Eon has no idea who is supplying it... I've been questioned as to whether I actually have gas or not (I guess a boiler and radiators, as well as a meter demonstrates that I do?!)

The previous tenant here was in fact the landlord, so I'd find it difficult to believe that he wasn't paying gas...

This is very strange, and honestly, the gas companies are asking me questions that I don't know the answers to, such as when gas was installed etc. I have no idea. I've only just moved in

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi couldxbe

Sounds as though this is a Shipperless site.

This is where a meter has been installed but hasn't been given an admin number known as a Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN).

If this is the case, you can choose any supplier you like to provide the gas. Once you've made your choice, just contact your preferred supplier and tell them the meter serial number, an up to date reading and full postal address.

They'll then arrange for an MPRN to be allocated and set up a gas account for billing. They'll also update the national database so you can change supplier if you wish.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction.

Malc

Terrylw1

Its possible gas was connected by an Independent Gas Transporter (IGT), so National Grid won't have a record of you.

Use this link to contact the IGT's, but it might be easier just ask the landlord as he/she would have paid them for the connection.

http://www.energylinx.co.uk/independent_gas_transporters.htm

Until you do this, it may not be a shipperless site.

chanz4

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Its possible gas was connected by an Independent Gas Transporter (IGT), so National Grid won't have a record of you.

Use this link to contact the IGT's, but it might be easier just ask the landlord as he/she would have paid them for the connection.

http://www.energylinx.co.uk/independent_gas_transporters.htm

Until you do this, it may not be a shipperless site.

It may also be an illegal connection, as their is engineers out there doing it

DVardysShadow

Make sure you have an opening reading and a date recorded somewhere safe. Otherwise you could find that a supplier attempts to charge you for your LL's usage.

Terrylw1

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Make sure you have an opening reading and a date recorded somewhere safe. Otherwise you could find that a supplier attempts to charge you for your LL's usage.

If it turns out to be shipper less, there will be no bill to the supplier so they can't charge.

If its registered though, definitely agree...sounds like a dodgy landlord here.

ryoko_rock

SO glad someone else has had the same problem! We've just moved into a flat and have phoned to sort out our electric and gas with Southern - electric seems to be fine and they are switching us from EDF, but they have no record of our gas meter serial number (it's not on the database), called the national grid and we don't have a gas meter point reference number assigned to it... they don't even have a record that our flat exists! Seems like the property was split into 2 flats a couple of years ago but it hasn't been done properly....downstairs have a MPRN but not us.

I can only assume that the previous tenants of our flat just didn't pay gas bills for the past two years. Was worried that we'd end up having to sort out a massive gas debt from them, but from what I've been reading we should be ok...

We've got a meter reading from the week after we moved in (back in August); we couldn't get one earlier as we didn't have a meter key and had to buy one. Just have to hope that's ok and that Southern can give us a meter point reference number...

Atidi

ryoko_rock wrote: »

SO glad someone else has had the same problem! We've just moved into a flat and have phoned to sort out our electric and gas with Southern - electric seems to be fine and they are switching us from EDF, but they have no record of our gas meter serial number (it's not on the database), called the national grid and we don't have a gas meter point reference number assigned to it... they don't even have a record that our flat exists! Seems like the property was split into 2 flats a couple of years ago but it hasn't been done properly....downstairs have a MPRN but not us.

I can only assume that the previous tenants of our flat just didn't pay gas bills for the past two years. Was worried that we'd end up having to sort out a massive gas debt from them, but from what I've been reading we should be ok...

We've got a meter reading from the week after we moved in (back in August); we couldn't get one earlier as we didn't have a meter key and had to buy one. Just have to hope that's ok and that Southern can give us a meter point reference number...

:huh:

How do you know EDF are the existing supplier?
If EDF have been billing the previous account holder, then you are almost certainly supplied by them.
If not, how come EDF didn't alert you to the issue when contacted them to register as the new account holder?

Terrylw1

ryoko_rock wrote: »

SO glad someone else has had the same problem! We've just moved into a flat and have phoned to sort out our electric and gas with Southern - electric seems to be fine and they are switching us from EDF, but they have no record of our gas meter serial number (it's not on the database), called the national grid and we don't have a gas meter point reference number assigned to it... they don't even have a record that our flat exists! Seems like the property was split into 2 flats a couple of years ago but it hasn't been done properly....downstairs have a MPRN but not us.

I can only assume that the previous tenants of our flat just didn't pay gas bills for the past two years. Was worried that we'd end up having to sort out a massive gas debt from them, but from what I've been reading we should be ok...

We've got a meter reading from the week after we moved in (back in August); we couldn't get one earlier as we didn't have a meter key and had to buy one. Just have to hope that's ok and that Southern can give us a meter point reference number...

If they can't find your address or meter, it may be shipperless or an illegal meter fit by the landlord.

You can't be held responsible for the previous tenants usage and by taking the reading, you have protected yourself.

So, you choose a supplier who gets the MPRN for you and registers themselves as your supplier. A supplier only gets charged for your usage based on the switch start and end readings. For a new connection, it would be from the meter installation reading. For your scenario, ask what date they will use for the start of their supply (its future dated) and take a reading from that date. The supplier cannot bill before this.

The distributor can try to charge as they've not been getting paid by a supplier but it doesn't seem to happen outside of theft cases as its a grey area.

Are you sure your gas supply isn't coming from the other meter though?