Is It Mandatory That A Gas Meter........?

wavelets

House_Martin wrote: »

Gas meter remains in situ with Ebico Zero. There is nothing stopping you using gas but its at a high tariff, over 5 p /kwhr in my area S.Yorks. The supplier may want to check the meter reading occasionally even if you do not use any gas
Someone who has just a gas hob with no gas central heating would benefit by a no standing charge tariff even if its set at a high 5 p/kwh

If you don't use any gas, then of course it doesn't matter what unit charge applies.

But if you are going to use a small amount of gas, it does make sense to take the zero standing charge tariff with the lowest unit charge

There are alternatives to Ebico, and they charge less than 5p/kWh
Depending on supply region, there is one supplier that charges as little as 3.3p/kWh (but there is a tiny standing charge of 0.4ppd i.e. £1.50 p.a)

Best solution is to consult a good comparison site :money:
Depending on anticipated consumption (i.e. >0), then a zero standing charge tariff may not be the best solution.

wavelets

Revoraman wrote: »

Thank you members for your replies.

So, let me get this nailed spot-on. If I switch to a supplier that has no Standing Charges, then the existent Gas Meter can stay put even if I have no gas supply connected. Else, as poster Andy PK has suggested it has to be removed, although in his case it was an Electricity Meter, which in my view is a different 'kettle of fish' compared to a Gas Meter alone.

If I switch to a supplier that has no Standing Charges, you will still have gas connected.

Whether or not you elect to use it is up to you

Revoraman

@gsmlnx, House Martin, wavelets

Thank you very much for those elucidating posts. Now I know which way to go forward..................now, if only solarplicity.com were as responsive as the advertising blurb they put out, that indeed would be helpful. Over 15 days and counting their so-called 'We will be in touch in 5 working days.....' nonsense!

Guess, I will switch to Ovo Energy who members here have commented favourably on.

Revoraman

Just spoken to Bulb Energy as recommended in a flyer email received from the CheapEnergyClub, but they charge Standing Charges for both a Gas Meter and an Electricity Meter, which I think and others do too, in this day and age is not only diabolical, but a rip-off considering that the Meters are on one's own property and not the Energy Supplier's!

Same story with Ovo Energy.

So, to cut short, other than the useless solarciityplus who bear out the MSE scores displayed today's email for abysmal customer services, does anyone know of an Energy Supplier/Provider who does not have Standing Charges?

System

Revoraman wrote: »

Just spoken to Bulb Energy as recommended in a flyer email received from the CheapEnergyClub, but they charge Standing Charges for both a Gas Meter and an Electricity Meter, which I think and others do too, in this day and age is not only diabolical, but a rip-off considering that the Meters are on one's own property and not the Energy Supplier's!

Same story with Ovo Energy.

So, to cut short, other than the useless solarciityplus who bear out the MSE scores displayed today's email for abysmal customer services, does anyone know of an Energy Supplier/Provider who does not have Standing Charges?

Yes - Ebico has a no standing charge tariff. Paying standing charges isn’t a ‘rip off’: the cost getting electricity and gas to a property has to be paid for in some way. The meter may well be on your property but there is a requirement for a safety check which is the supplier’s responsibility.

Revoraman

@Hengus Thanks for the reply and heads-up on Ebico. It is not just me that has a beef about Standing Charges. I have seen the abhorrence towards them on other Forums too, and heard on radio too. Energy Companies, IMHO, already charge energy customers far above what it costs to deliver energy otherwise the Ofgen Regulator would not be needed. So, they do not have to 'fleece' customers with Standing Charges.

House_Martin

Revoraman wrote: »

@Hengus Thanks for the reply and heads-up on Ebico. It is not just me that has a beef about Standing Charges. I have seen the abhorrence towards them on other Forums too, and heard on radio too. Energy Companies, IMHO, already charge energy customers far above what it costs to deliver energy otherwise the Ofgen Regulator would not be needed. So, they do not have to 'fleece' customers with Standing Charges.

Suppliers are definitely not fleecing anyone. They pass the standing charges on to either the local DNO s or the National Grid for upkeep on gas supply pipes to the properties. Nat Grid spend millions repairing old gas pipes.
Every winter there are gas leaks with old cast iron pipes needing to be replaced and that is not a cheap operation

[Deleted User]

House_Martin wrote: »

They pass the standing charges on to either the local DNO s or the National Grid for upkeep on gas supply pipes to the properties.

Suppliers have to pay certain amount of money based on the number of customers they have BUT they do not pass on all the money collected that they claim to be standing charges.
That is self evident by the wide range of prices for standing charges. I've been quoted anywhere 10p to 50p per day per fuel.
If it was simple amount to be paid in full to the DNO/Grid, it will be identical across suppliers.

Anthorn

Revoraman wrote: »

I am thinking of switching to Ovo Energy or another as soon as I get some answers that I am seeking but are not so forthcoming.

As I use no gas at the moment, but want to get rid of nPower once and for all, seeing they are making a nice fat earner on Standing Charges, I want their gas supply terminated. But are they correct in stating that they must remove a gas meter to terminate a gas energy supply? As far as I can see, a gas meter is not a stop-!!!! to cut off an energy provider's gas supply, so why are they insisting on the gas meter removal?

Can a gas supply not be terminated elsewhere, at source, the street, etc? Makes no logical sense to me if I do decide at a later date to get connected to a different gas energy provider.

Any correct answers in this Forum rather than hearsay and guesses?

You are not using gas at the moment but still have to pay the standing charge because you have a supply to your property which has to be maintained. So have the gas meter removed and the gas supply capped so ergo no standing charge. If you want gas sometime in the future then the chosen supplier will have to fit a meter.

Be sure to check whether a charge will be payable to cut off the gas supply. Also consider that if you have the supply reinstated there could be a deposit payable or a prepay meter installed because you will have no history of gas energy use, depending on the state of your credit history.