Smart meter installation problems.

yved33

Hi, I live in a privately rented flat, and recently asked British Gas to change my prepayment meters to smart meters ( with full agreement from my managing agents). I excitedly awaited the installation, no more running out of gas on a cold Sunday night, when all the pay points are closed ( I know, simple things lol). A very personable young man turned up on the day and had a look at the gas and electric meters ( my electricity meter is actually in the foyer of the flats upstairs, separate entrance, where all the meters were relocated after a devastating fire in the building 3 years ago). He then said that he couldn't continue with the installation because he couldn't get access to the Ryefield board , which is in a locked cabinet ( official looking, grey metal cabinet with electricity board seal on it). He said I would need to get the key and rebook an appointment. I was very disappointed, having waited 6 weeks for this appointment and changing plans to accommodate the engineer. I was also rather surprised that he, as an engineer, didn't have all the tools to do the job. I contacted British Gas, who , rather snottily, told me that their engineers couldn't possibly have keys to every box. I also contacted my managing agents, who spoke to their contractors, who said that all electrical contractors should have access to these keys, and also couldn't understand why the British Gas engineer didn't. British Gas have rebooked an appointment for me, and my managing agents are trying to locate said key, but I just wondered if anyone else has had this problem? Feeling frustrated.

FullForce

yved33 wrote: »

Hi, I live in a privately rented flat, and recently asked British Gas to change my prepayment meters to smart meters ( with full agreement from my managing agents). I excitedly awaited the installation, no more running out of gas on a cold Sunday night, when all the pay points are closed ( I know, simple things lol). A very personable young man turned up on the day and had a look at the gas and electric meters ( my electricity meter is actually in the foyer of the flats upstairs, separate entrance, where all the meters were relocated after a devastating fire in the building 3 years ago). He then said that he couldn't continue with the installation because he couldn't get access to the Ryefield board , which is in a locked cabinet ( official looking, grey metal cabinet with electricity board seal on it). He said I would need to get the key and rebook an appointment. I was very disappointed, having waited 6 weeks for this appointment and changing plans to accommodate the engineer. I was also rather surprised that he, as an engineer, didn't have all the tools to do the job. I contacted British Gas, who , rather snottily, told me that their engineers couldn't possibly have keys to every box. I also contacted my managing agents, who spoke to their contractors, who said that all electrical contractors should have access to these keys, and also couldn't understand why the British Gas engineer didn't. British Gas have rebooked an appointment for me, and my managing agents are trying to locate said key, but I just wondered if anyone else has had this problem? Feeling frustrated.

Tell your landlord he has until 5pm to get you a key, else you will be booking your own locksmith to gain access ... and sending the landlord the bill. It'll be at emergency rates if you need to do that after 5pm tonight.

You have a right to access to your meter. It is your responsibilty to grant access to a meter reader as and when reasonably required. If you fail, the supplier may get a court warrant to obtain access to the meter. Then you will suffer court fees plus the cost of the locksmith that will be required to enforce the warrant.

This is nothing to do with smart metering. You have a right to access the meter to check the meter reading. What if you had a pre-payment meter - how would you top it up?

molerat

Sounds like he could access the meter but not the main feed to the property / meter board. I would have thought that if it has a DNO seal on it then it is exactly the type of general key that he should have. The problem here is I suspect that he is one of those meter fitters that have been taken on purely for the smart meter roll out and have little or no background knowledge and are very poorly trained. The slightest thing out of "simple" is too difficult and marked as a can't do.

FullForce

molerat wrote: »

Sounds like he could access the meter but not the main feed to the property / meter board. I would have thought that if it has a DNO seal on it then it is exactly the type of general key that he should have. The problem here is I suspect that he is one of those meter fitters that have been taken on purely for the smart meter roll out and have little or no background knowledge and are very poorly trained. The slightest thing out of "simple" is too difficult and marked as a can't do.

That's probably even worse. This is a Ryefield board



A Ryefield board is simply a distribution fuseboard manufactured by Ryefield Engineering - other manufacturers are available.

I would think the OP should have access to that too.

Well it's now gone 6pm, so hopefully the OP either has the key to gain access, or has the locksmith on the way to assist.

But I don't understand why the OP says his fusebox is sealed with an electricity board seal. :huh:
Electricity board seals should only be applied to electricty board equipment, and shouldn't be tampered with, except by an authorised person.

MeterMan

So a ryefield board, or multi service distribution board is the responsibility of the DNO and the tenant/owner/letting agent should not have access to this equipment. This is the main fuse to the property and exists before the meter. It has nothing to do with the tenant/landlord. They are locked because there is a very serious risk of electrocution if someone who goes in, does not know what they are doing.

To the OP, the local DNO to your will have the keys to the ryefield cabinet and is kept locked for a good reason. You should contact BG once more and explain that you require a 3phase meter fitter. The 3phase engineers which are employed should receive their 'J' key from the DNO when they give authority to work on their equipment (Ryefield).

yved33

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Robin9

MeterMan wrote: »

So a ryefield board, or multi service distribution board is the responsibility of the DNO and the tenant/owner/letting agent should not have access to this equipment. This is the main fuse to the property and exists before the meter. It has nothing to do with the tenant/landlord. They are locked because there is a very serious risk of electrocution if someone who goes in, does not know what they are doing.

To the OP, the local DNO to your will have the keys to the ryefield cabinet and is kept locked for a good reason. You should contact BG once more and explain that you require a 3phase meter fitter. The 3phase engineers which are employed should receive their 'J' key from the DNO when they give authority to work on their equipment (Ryefield).

The Ryefield board or similar is quite common - as a design engineer for an Electricity Board I used these for blocks of flats and for offices. The type we used did not require a lock but had a seal. The landlord/tenant does not require access.

When I first read Meterman I thought he was saying a 3ph meter was required. It's not its a standard single phase meter but the 3 phase meter fitters have this specific key.

MeterMan

Yeah robin, BG 3phase meter fitters are trained to do bemco/MSDBs too so they have the keys, but we just call them 3phase guys.

Yved, the fact that there is a seal sticker on that box suggest that the key is not in use, I could be wrong though.

Original statement stands, contact BG and request a 3phase meter engineer to exchange your meter and you should be good to go.... providing...

That there is space to fit it, of course.

MeterMan

Yeah robin, BG 3phase meter fitters are trained to do bemco/MSDBs too so they have the keys, but we just call them 3phase guys.

Yved, the fact that there is a seal sticker on that box suggest that the key is not in use, I could be wrong though.

Original statement stands, contact BG and request a 3phase meter engineer to exchange your meter and you should be good to go.... providing...

That there is space to fit it, of course.