Connecting Gas Supply

Mrs_Optimist

We have just moved into our new home and there is no gas supply. There used to be a gas supply but the meter was removed from the house and the pipe capped off. To cut a very long story short we have got a quote from NPower to reconnect the Gas Supply and instal a meter which they have estimated at £635!!!!! Can this be right? There is a gas supply for the whole street so its not like they are starting from scratch. Any experience or advice from you readers would be very gratefully accepted.

I suspect that they don't want to do the job hence the large estimate but I need to be able to guage this price against something.

tripled

Try ringing other suppliers. Provided the supply to your property is still live then many companies will usually fit it free, but if it has been turned off at the main by Transco then it is likely you will be charged.

david29dpo

you need to ring national grid.

lindabea

I had to do this in a property I bought about 6 months ago. In my case, I Southern Gas Networks (Formerly TRANSCO) to install the gas supply and than I phoned EDF to install the meter. I don't think Npower can install the gas supply. SGN charged me £250 to install the gas and no charge for having the meter fitted. Hope this helps

pickles110564

I have just rang British gas today, they were very helpful. They put me onto ofgem.gov.uk who have told me £550 + VAT for them to do everything or I could save £300 if I dig the trench and after make good. After they are finished British Gas will fit brand new gas meter for free.
Best Rgds
Pickles

Mrs_Optimist

Thanks for taking the time to respond, and apologies for the delay in acknowledging your responses. We have submitted an online application with Wales and South Utilities who have apparrantly taken over our area from TRANSCO and will have to see what they come up with. I can't believe in this day and age that there is so much expense to reconnect a gas supply - the whole road has gas supplies to the house so where the £600 odd quote comes from is beyond me!

Thanks to you all again.

red

hi, i have just seen your post and thought i (may) be able to help. if you have had the gas supply cut off and no longer have a meter, you will have all the gas suppliers in your area desperate for your business, so do not worry about having to pay the charges. you may have to go to transco (previously called the national grid) to get the meter reference number. you should be able to get that from any provider but may find it is quicker to go to transco. once you have this you can then give it to the gas companies to provide a new supply. the charges you have been quoted is probably for the new pipes etc. however, if the original supply has just been capped, it is probable you can use the old supply. the application is a long process and takes weeks to send somebody round. however, if you get the meter reference number it will cut the time down and the majority of the time is for getting permission from the council for laying down new pipes, etc. check what is happening with your neighbours, where their gas supplies come in and where their boxes are as the closet one you have will mean the cheapest cost to you. good luck!

Mrs_Optimist

Blimey! Thanks Red, will try that. Have had a quote of £430 from South and Wales Utilities (formerly TRANSCO) which was an improvement on the initial quote. I still can't believe that reconnecting a Gas supply can be so expensive. I will speak with our neighbour (we are on an end corner plot so only have one immediate neighbour) and enquire where her gas meter is which will give us a good idea. We really want to get it reconnevcted saooner rather than later so that central heating can be installed before winter sets in. WIll let you know how I get on !

tazandtommy

Hate to put a downer on things but I work for NG Gas (formerly TRANSCO), South and Wales Utilities have never been TRANSCO they just bought the area from us.
You're better off going direct to South and Wales Utilities to get a quote, if you go through a 3rd party (eg BG, Npower) they will just get a quote South and Wales Utilities and add a addmin charge on top the only thing you get different is a meter with the quote which they will also add into the quote. £430 sounds about right (provideing that the gas main is LP and within 20m of your property), If your gas pipe/service has been capped off for 12months or more you will need a new gas pipe (due to gas safty regs) you could make the quote cheaper is you pre-ex your own land (dig and back fill the trenches on your own land)

Ring South and Wales Utilities and discuss options with them, or energywatch (their governing body) 0845 9060708

Hope this helps