Moving the meters

beeg0d

My mother has a prepaid gas meter. It is located on the in the back of a deep kitchen cupboard on the floor. She suffers severe arthritis (registered disabled) and it is completely impossible for her to use (hell its virtually impossible for me, a fit 31 year old). There have been occasions when I get a phone call in the middle of the night because the gas has run out. very annoying if I've had a few drinks and so have to walk 20 minuites in the snow to put some more gas on for here (yes I do check it whenever I visit but sometimes she will use more then expected). More seriously she would never bee able to use the emergency cut off due to its location.

ive concidered getting the meters (electric is lesd of an issue as that is pay on account, but shes still unable to read it as its also at the back of a different cupboard) moved but there is no way she could afford the extortionate costs of doing so.

I eas wondering if I could invoke the DDA to get the meters for free (or at least subsidised). she dosnt receive any benefit s as she workd and is too proud to apply for DLA/PIP enen though her doctors keep telling her to.

matelodave

You could try, but if she isn't on any benefits then its a lot harder.

If you are on pension credit or any of the others you seem to be able to get anything, but once you flip over the threshold and don't qualify, then you get virtually nothing. It's worth applying though because you might be lucky, especially if you've got your doctor's support.

My mum & mother-in-law, lived in identical bungalows three doors apart. Mum got a small pension from my Dads pension scheme and owned her own bungalow and therefore didn't get any assistance at all. Not even free loft insulation.

MIL had just the state pension so got pension credit, free rent, free rates, glasses, teeth virtually everything. Guess who had the most money to spend

Wywth

beeg0d wrote: »

My mother has a prepaid gas meter. It is located on the in the back of a deep kitchen cupboard on the floor. She suffers severe arthritis (registered disabled) and it is completely impossible for her to use (hell its virtually impossible for me, a fit 31 year old). There have been occasions when I get a phone call in the middle of the night because the gas has run out. very annoying if I've had a few drinks and so have to walk 20 minuites in the snow to put some more gas on for here (yes I do check it whenever I visit but sometimes she will use more then expected). More seriously she would never bee able to use the emergency cut off due to its location.

ive concidered getting the meters (electric is lesd of an issue as that is pay on account, but shes still unable to read it as its also at the back of a different cupboard) moved but there is no way she could afford the extortionate costs of doing so.

I eas wondering if I could invoke the DDA to get the meters for free (or at least subsidised). she dosnt receive any benefit s as she workd and is too proud to apply for DLA/PIP enen though her doctors keep telling her to.

Could you not remove the cupboard for her, so allowing unrestricted access?

Perhaps you could replace it with a less deep cupboard?

SwanJon

Definitely worth calling her supplier and asking.
Have a think about where you'd like the meter to go before you call.
What about changing the meter from prepay to DD etc?

Get registered on their Priority Services Register too as there may be other things they can offer.

beeg0d

Wywth wrote: »

Could you not remove the cupboard for her, so allowing unrestricted access?

Perhaps you could replace it with a less deep cupboard?

removing the cupboards woulnt really help with her getting access as the meters are both floor level. She has to use a grabber to pick stuff up from the floor so there would bee no chance of her getting on her hands an knees to check the meters.

the deep cupboards only make it difficult for me and I would ruther do the fortnightly contortion act the remove the only storage options she has in a very small kitchen just to make my life easier.

Joyful

Who is her supplier as they should all have registers for disabled customers. Very often the meter can then be moved free of charge or at a small cost compared to the hundreds /thousands it will normally cost a customer.

spiro

Normally they will normally only move it vertically a short distance (1 metre or so) FOC so in this instance it would end up on top of the kitchen worktop.

As other have said, why not swap to a credit meter, you then only have to access it every 3 months to provide a reading.

Also given the location of the meter have you thought about how you mother could access then emergency control value if required.

Wywth

spiro wrote: »

...Also given the location of the meter have you thought about how you mother could access then emergency control value if required.

Yes, she can't.

beeg0d wrote: »

...More seriously she would never bee able to use the emergency cut off due to its location. ...

Although, she probably could with her grabber if the cupboard was removed.

Wywth

beeg0d wrote: »

removing the cupboards woulnt really help with her getting access as the meters are both floor level. She has to use a grabber to pick stuff up from the floor so there would bee no chance of her getting on her hands an knees to check the meters.

the deep cupboards only make it difficult for me and I would ruther do the fortnightly contortion act the remove the only storage options she has in a very small kitchen just to make my life easier.

The only storage option?

So one of the reasons for restricted access is presumably all the food and stuff stacked in front of the meter?

Which begs the question, how does she manage to put the things in, and take them out of the only cupboard she has given her medical condition?

lemontart

if she is registered disabled contact the gas network for your area and see if the have exemptions for such. I know national grid did have but not sure if that is still the case - naturally they would want proof that registered as disabled
Email: [EMAIL="cos.enquiries@uk.ngrid.com"]cos.enquiries@uk.ngrid.com[/EMAIL]

but they are not open weekends