SGN/National Grid - Meter change?

SevenOfNine

My 92 year old mother has received a card from a company SGN (working on behalf of National Grid Metering, apparently), giving her a 12hr time slot & claiming her gas meter has come to the end of it's life cycle.

It states it will NOT be a smart meter (she has resisted EON's numerous attempts to bully her into having one), the exchange is free of charge & will take 45 minutes.  She lives alone, never allows anyone into her home under any circumstances (rarely even answers the door).  Clearly, I'm not going to sit there for 12 hours waiting, but before even attempting to arrange a proper appointment I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is completely legitimate work that they claim needs doing?  Mainly because strangers, change & even the slightest disruption to her daily pattern makes her muddled & stressed.  I could dump her in my house, while I sit in hers but that is also going to create emotional havoc & she can't fend for herself outside of her own home environment.

Is it likely that this is just a routine schedule that isn't hugely necessary?  She's had no problems & there's no leak. Thanks.

DawnCrush

SevenOfNine said:

My 92 year old mother has received a card from a company SGN (working on behalf of National Grid Metering, apparently), giving her a 12hr time slot & claiming her gas meter has come to the end of it's life cycle.

It states it will NOT be a smart meter (she has resisted EON's numerous attempts to bully her into having one), the exchange is free of charge & will take 45 minutes.  She lives alone, never allows anyone into her home under any circumstances (rarely even answers the door).  Clearly, I'm not going to sit there for 12 hours waiting, but before even attempting to arrange a proper appointment I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is completely legitimate work that they claim needs doing?  Mainly because strangers, change & even the slightest disruption to her daily pattern makes her muddled & stressed.  I could dump her in my house, while I sit in hers but that is also going to create emotional havoc & she can't fend for herself outside of her own home environment.

Is it likely that this is just a routine schedule that isn't hugely necessary?  She's had no problems & there's no leak. Thanks.

It sounds like it is a just a routine schedule BUT that it is hugely necessary to ensure ongoing accurate billing.

If the appointment is not suitable, I'm sure a mutually acceptable alternative can be arranged, perhaps when someone else could also be at the property, either with your 92 year old mother, or without her.

Suppliers are often prepared to arrange a morning or afternoon (or sometimes evening) appointment on request.
Check the time windows for what is available/offered.
When we had our gas meter replaced, we negotiated a 2 hour appointment window.

Is your 92 year old mother on her supplier's priority services register?

SevenOfNine

Yes, EON put her on their priority/vulnerable list (but still pester her to have a smart meter - apparently I'm supposed to renew her refusal every 6 months!).
I'll give negotiating a short window a try with the SGN company, as she's old & frail her heating is full blast the majority of the time (it's like a flipping sauna - yet there she is with a jumper, fleece, trousers & woolly socks on), another problem if I can't persuade her out of the property, anything below 28 degrees & she's "cold".
I expect to go there one day & find her completely cooked, like a Christmas turkey!