National grid wants to take gas pipe out.

Mysteriousgirl_2

I moved in a property nearly 2 years ago. The previous tenant had the gas capped so the propery is all electric. I was getting a bill every month from British Gas for a standing charge for the meter that was still in place. I contacted them to take the meter out which they did nearly a year ago. The National Gridcontacted me to say they will have to take the gas pipe out which means digging up the path at the side of my house. 3 days later an engineer called to have a look at where the gas meter had been situated. When I asked him why did they need to take the gas pipe out when it had been capped, he said there was a danger that gas could fill the house up. He said they would write to me and let me know when they would be coming. A week later they turned up at my door with no appointment and in a loud voice said "We have come to disconnect your gas" for the whole street to hear. I explained we did not have gas and that they were just digging up the gas pipe. They had a look and then left with no word to me about what was happening.

Now I have got another letter and on the front of the envelope written in big red letters for everyone to see is " Intention to disconnect Gas supply" which is embarrassing as it makes me look like I don't pay my bills. It says again that they will be coming to take up the pipe and that a representative will be coming to inspect the property and I have to allow access.

Can someone on here or from National grid tell me why they need to dig up a pipe when its been capped? Why they keep coming to the house and doing sod all!? Why they feel the need to write in big red letters on the front of an envelope that they are coming to cut me off? :mad:

Also am I in danger of having my house filled with gas if the pipe is
left in? :eek:

Owain_Moneysaver

It is not unknown for naughty people to make unauthorised connection to capped off pipes inside the house and thereby obtain a supply of free gas.

There is also a possibility that the cap might cause a gas leak. If you don't have a meter there is no inspection by a meter reader periodically. Also someone might think that as there is 'no gas supply' to the house that the pipe is dead and cut it.

They print in big red letters on the outside of the envelope because some people don't open letters.

If you are a tenant then you must discuss this with your landlord. Normally landlords expect gas and electricity supplies to be maintained and standing charges to be paid by the tenant. If you allow the gas to be disconnected the landlord can charge you for reconnection costs.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Can't answer the technical questions, I'm sure someone will be around soon that can.

Disconnecting the gas supply doesn't make it look like you don't pay the bills - if you didn't pay the bills the supplier (not National Grid) would just fit a pre-payment meter. Almost nobody gets cut off for non-payment.

Do you really care what your neighbours think anyway?!

macman

How do the neighbours get to see your letters?

ChumpusRex

It is a legal requirement for national grid to dig up and remove gas pipes which are no longer in use.

This is to reduce the risk of leaks from abandoned pipes which do not have regular safety checks and inspections.

footyguy

Mysteriousgirl wrote: »

I moved in a property nearly 2 years ago. The previous tenant had the gas capped so the propery is all electric. I was getting a bill every month from British Gas for a standing charge for the meter that was still in place. I contacted them to take the meter out which they did nearly a year ago. ...

I read that far, and then checked when the brand new user logged out and saw it was just 4 mins after posting.

molerat

footyguy wrote: »

I read that far, and then checked when the brand new user logged out and saw it was just 4 mins after posting.

..... and ???

OP, if you are a tenant what does your landlord say about this ?

footyguy

molerat wrote: »

..... and ???

Like the OP, I moved on

C_Mababejive

It isnt NG enforcing their own rules. It is a legal requirement within the gas safety regulations that where a supply is not used the gas transporter is required by law to attend and disconnect the service as close to the main as possible.

Depending on the type of service you have it may be possible to isolate closer to the property rather than dig and cut.

Mysteriousgirl_2

footyguy..Yes I logged out after posting the comment..and? I had to go to work so could not hang around waiting for replies.

Thank you to all the sensible answers about why they are taking it out and yes, I suppose it makes sense. The postman posted the letter to the wrong house so yes my neighbours saw it. They still should not have put it on the front and not everyone knows it doesn't mean you haven't paid your bills. They could just have put "Urgent" on the front or something like that. Anyway thanks for the replies.

Mysteriousgirl_2

Oh and my landlord has been informed and is fine with it.