Gas on Estate But Not In Property.

chanz4

lemontart wrote: »

The charges for new pipe work to the property is nothing at all to do with the debt owed to a gas supplier as the company that owns the pipe in the street is NOT the gas supplier.

These charges incoporate the costs of engineers that dig road, different engineers that are suitably qualified to install such pipes, the cost of the vehicles used to transport men and equipment, the cost of the licenses issued by councils to permit them to dig, the costs of the office staff, computers etc to process such and get maps produced detailing all other underground services from bt, local water company etc, the public liability insurance the company has to carry, - and much more beside.

Although a supplier can request the supply pipe removal,for repeat offenders

dont.ask.dont.get

lemontart wrote: »

The charges for new pipe work to the property is nothing at all to do with the debt owed to a gas supplier as the company that owns the pipe in the street is NOT the gas supplier.

These charges incoporate the costs of engineers that dig road, different engineers that are suitably qualified to install such pipes, the cost of the vehicles used to transport men and equipment, the cost of the licenses issued by councils to permit them to dig, the costs of the office staff, computers etc to process such and get maps produced detailing all other underground services from bt, local water company etc, the public liability insurance the company has to carry, - and much more beside.

They don't have to provide a supply for the whole street, most of them already have it.
It was confirmed that there had been gas in the property at some point, so whatever happened it should have only been a temporary disconnection. Why would they remove a massive amount of pipe work when there is a chance of it being required by a new customer at some point.
It seems to me as though it a cushy way of making a few hundred quid. To be blunt, taking the urine!!!

lemontart

The pipe work has not been maintained as it is the supplier that pays for that, If the supplier has not been paid and cannot recover the debt through pp meter then they will remove meter, Then network will write to the occupier with in a year usually asking about supply if they say not wanted or no reply then Network is required to turn off in street, they are no longer been paid to maintain it by anyone, they are not a charity and they have a lot of red tape from various bodies that dictate this. They have no way of knowing if or when someone will once again use and pay for supplier, And it is a requirement under HSE to have it turned off in street at the point where what is called a service pipe joins the main pipe in the street. The original pipe is probably still underground rotting away if not removed or partially removed, Either way no one was paying for it to be looked after on the off chance maybe possibly some day.

If you feel these actions are inappropriate speak to Ofgem and Hse who dictate a lot of what happens including how much money a network can charge and the level of income as well as penalties for failure to meet regulations.

All these regulations come into play
Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances

Page 10 of 100
Health and Safety

Executive
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER);
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Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (GASR);
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Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM);
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Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR);
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Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 (SSR);
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Building Regulations and Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations;
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Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
[FONT=&quot]Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act);[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]n [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gas Acts 1986 and 1995 (GA);[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]n [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 as amended (PSR);[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]n [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 as amended;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]n [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GSMR);[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]n [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (WHSR);[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]n [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR);[/FONT]

C_Mababejive

You see when we had a nationalised gas industry..the mighty and world respected British Gas Corporation..a team would have come round to your place,dug the road up,fitted a new gas service and a meter all for free save for a mug of tea and a digestive...

chanz4

dont.ask.dont.get wrote: »

Just wondered if you have to have Southern to fit pipe or can any Gas Safe fitter do it ready for meter to be fitted. Her brother in law is fitting the central heating wonder if he could do it.

A gas fitter is not authorised / qualified to touch anything from before the meter.

chanz4

dont.ask.dont.get wrote: »

They don't have to provide a supply for the whole street, most of them already have it.
It was confirmed that there had been gas in the property at some point, so whatever happened it should have only been a temporary disconnection. Why would they remove a massive amount of pipe work when there is a chance of it being required by a new customer at some point.
It seems to me as though it a cushy way of making a few hundred quid. To be blunt, taking the urine!!!

They still have to dig in the highway to upgrade the propertys supply to standard, when they do it in a street on a roll out upgrade they hire the manpower / permits etc to cover it. Adhoc connections are expensive.

The pipe that goes into the property will of been cut, and not upto standard so would need an upgrade.

lemontart

dont.ask.dont.get wrote: »

They don't have to provide a supply for the whole street, most of them already have it.
It was confirmed that there had been gas in the property at some point, so whatever happened it should have only been a temporary disconnection. Why would they remove a massive amount of pipe work when there is a chance of it being required by a new customer at some point.
It seems to me as though it a cushy way of making a few hundred quid. To be blunt, taking the urine!!!

No one said they would have to supply the whole street, but every time some one even thinks of putting a spade in the ground, let alone touching a gas pipe beit for a single property or more all of the above happens.

C_Mababejive

dont.ask.dont.get wrote: »

They don't have to provide a supply for the whole street, most of them already have it.
It was confirmed that there had been gas in the property at some point, so whatever happened it should have only been a temporary disconnection. Why would they remove a massive amount of pipe work when there is a chance of it being required by a new customer at some point.
It seems to me as though it a cushy way of making a few hundred quid. To be blunt, taking the urine!!!

Unfortunately it isnt down to the network operator. Its the law of the land.

The Gas Safety Management Regulations/GSIUR require a network provider to disconnect a gas service as close to the main as possible where no gas is used and a meter isnt fitted.

This ensures that live and unused gas supplies are not left in premises where they may present a future risk.

Once a meter is removed the live network exit point is monitored and if no meter/new supply is taken within a year,steps will be taken to cutoff the service.

Its all a bit of a faff and expensive but as i say,its over to UK law and not a network operator issue.

Quoting from Gas Safety Installation and Use Regs...

Primary meters

16.—(1) No person shall install a prepayment meter as a primary meter through which gas passes to a secondary meter.
(2) Any person—
(a)who first provides gas through any service pipe or service pipework after the coming into force of these Regulations to more than one primary meter; or
(b)who subsequently makes any modification which affects the number of primary meters so provided,
shall ensure that a notice in permanent form is prominently displayed on or near each primary meter indicating that more than one primary meter is provided with gas through that service pipe or service pipework.
(3) Where a primary meter is removed, the person who last supplied gas through the meter before removal shall—

(a)where the meter is not forthwith re-installed or replaced by another meter—
(i)close any service valve which controlled the supply of gas to that meter and did not control the supply of gas to any other primary meter; and
(ii)seal the outlet of the emergency control with an appropriate fitting; and
(iii)clearly mark any live gas pipe in the premises in which the meter was installed to the effect that the pipe contains gas; and

(b)where the meter has not been re-installed or replaced by another meter before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of removal of the meter and there is no such service valve as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)(i) above, ensure that the service pipe or service pipework for those premises is disconnected as near as is reasonably practicable to the main or storage vessel and that any part of the pipe or pipework which is not removed is sealed at both ends with the appropriate fitting.


(4) Where a person proposes to remove a primary meter he shall give sufficient notice of it to the person supplying gas through the meter to enable him to comply with paragraph (3).