Who is Responsible for External Meter Box?

CelticStar

Just wonder if any of you lovely MSE peeps could advise me about this. My Nan's gas meter located in a box that is outside her house and is locked with a special key - it was like this when she bought her house.

A few months ago the key stopped opening the lock on the box and when the meter reader came he estimated her bill and said that he would arrange for a new key to be sent to her by her supplier (Scottish Power). However, the new key never materialised and when another meter reader turned up and estimated another bill my Nan wrote to Scottish Power asking for a new key. They were pleasant enough but the key they sent was too big and when my Nan spoke to them again they said that they had done everything they could and that they didn't own the box anyway and it was up to my Nan to sort it out. Does anyone know if this is true? Who does the actual equipment belong to and does the box belong to them as well?

I'd appreciate any help or advice as my Nan is quite concerned about it as she no longer has access to her meter and can't monitor what Scottish Power are charging her.

Thanks in advance.
CS

malamute

No ifs no but's the responsibility and ownership is the homeowner/landlord.
Have seen the keys in B&Q and Home base have a look, if neighbors near by borrow their key if the same box and this will help getting the exact match.

Debt_Free_Chick

Well, I can't find a specific reference for you, but the meter housing (box) belongs to the property. If you put "maintenance domestic meter housing" into Google, you'll find references to a number of gas & electricity suppliers confirming this.

Here's a handy list of companies that supply meter boxes, spare keys and repair kits.

malamute

Here you go



http://www.meterboxes.co.uk/content/METERBOXESrepairsolutions.asp?TypeID=2&CatID=29

CelticStar

Appreciate your help both of you. Neither of us have ever had an external meter/meter box so we were just a bit ignorant about it - certainly not trying to evade responsibility!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

most external gas or electric boxes use the same key, similar to these,





so the meter reader should have one with him, as it saves time having to wait for customer to find it and also reduces estimates.

mattcanary

Yeah, most meters outside are located in a box where this type of key works.

However, there are a minority that are outside yet require a different type of key. In my experience, this most often occurred with Housing Association or Council owned properties