Do you pay for just having a gas meter?

misticgem

Hi,
I'm hoping someone can help me. I want to know can an energy company charge you for just having a gas meter, with no actual gas? I've had my gas capped and my energy company says I still need to pay for the meter but I don't understand why. I'm not using any gas so why am I to pay for a meter that won't have a change until I uncap the gas.

Please help!

Nicole

System

This has been raised before.....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4491727

You could try switching to a supplier with no standing charge.

Neil_Jones

Sure they're not referring to the standing charges? These are charged regardless of whether you use any gas or not.

House_Martin

My standing charges are zero in a vacant property I own for both electric and gas.
I`m on Ebico`s zero tariff for credit meters only..Very high unit costs though. The property does nt use any gas and only a few kwhs of electricity
Good monthly saving of around £15 against BGs tariffs

edwink

I had the same scenario several years ago when we had our gas capped off after having stoves fitted. The standing charge is still payable to your utility company even though you can not use the gas whilst it is capped. This charge is still made because your meter will still need to be maintained and periodically read by your utility company even though it will give the exact same reading every time they read it. Which tbh is their way of checking that you have not had it uncapped and are using gas again.

The only way we could avoid paying the standing charge was to have the meter removed, which we did.

HTH

Carrot007

edwink wrote: »

The only way we could avoid paying the standing charge was to have the meter removed, which we did.

It should be said that doing this will mean the gas supply is classed as dead after about a year and will cost highly if you want a supply again.

edwink

Carrot007 wrote: »

It should be said that doing this will mean the gas supply is classed as dead after about a year and will cost highly if you want a supply again.

Yes we do understand that. At the time, 7 years ago now, we installed a wood burning kitchen stove and another multi fuel stove in the living room which heats the hot water and all our radiators. In the summer our hot water is heated by electricity generated by our solar panels.

But, that's not to say that it is ideal to have the meter removed for everyone. Personally for us we will never need gas again in our home hence the reason for having it removed.

Edwink

footyguy

misticgem wrote: »

Hi,
I'm hoping someone can help me. I want to know can an energy company charge you for just having a gas meter, with no actual gas? I've had my gas capped and my energy company says I still need to pay for the meter but I don't understand why. I'm not using any gas so why am I to pay for a meter that won't have a change until I uncap the gas.

Please help!

Nicole

If you have no supply, you should not be charged.

But if you have no supply, suppliers don't give you a supply meter

So if you have a supply, you will be charged in accordance with the tariff you agree to (or the supplier's very expensive default tariff if you don't select a cheaper one)

Consult a comparison site to find the best deal for you
(Comparison sites don't usually allow you to enter zero consumption, so use 1kWh per year if that is appropriate)

Good luck!