Gas meter has come to the end of its working life?

wookie6

Hi,
Received an email from the energy company saying:

To ensure gas meters are safe and accurate, the government says they must be exchanged, free of charge, after a set period of time. This is part of The Gas Act legislation.
Our records show that your gas meter has come to the end of its working life, so it needs to be replaced.
We’d like to replace your gas and electricity meters with smart meters

Is this strictly true by law, or is this another way of pushing to install Smart Meters? For example it says "To ensure gas meters..." but then goes on to say "We’d like to replace your gas and electricity meters.
Any advice greatly appreciated! 

Gerry1

BIB: They're trying it on.

Tell them that you're happy to have the meter replaced, but not with a smart meter.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/consumer-guide-understanding-energy-meters-ofgem/smart-meters-guide-your-rights

wookie6

Thanks @Gerry1 for the feedback and link. So your take on it is that the Gas meter does genuinely need to be changed as its come to the end of its life (by law), however its the owners choice whether they change it for a smart meter or traditional meter. Plus ignore the electricity meter altogether as this is definitely trying it on (pushing for Smart meters).

Gerry1

wookie6 said:

Thanks @Gerry1 for the feedback and link. So your take on it is that the Gas meter does genuinely need to be changed as its come to the end of its life (by law), however its the owners choice whether they change it for a smart meter or traditional meter. Plus ignore the electricity meter altogether as this is definitely trying it on (pushing for Smart meters).

Absolutely.

They must and will replace the gas meter, you have no choice, but they're hoping you'll think you also have to agree to it being a smart meter, which isn't the case.

A gas smart meter can't phone home without a smart electricity meter, which is why they'd also like to fit one, but you can decline.

macman

It'll be a smart meter, but in dumb mode, if that's what they agree with you. 

Gerry1

And how could you be sure that it was in dumb mode, let alone that it would always stay that way?  There are thousands of non-smart meters that have been removed to make way for smart meters, so one of those would do.

Biggus_Dickus

OP,

My daughter had a letter in March this year to say that her gas meter needed to be changed due to its age etc.

However, the letter/documentation emanated from ‘National Grid Metering’ in Solihull. It didn’t come from her energy supply company which is ‘Avro’.

To the best of my knowledge Avro’s first involvement was after the gas-meter had been installed when they were informed by Network Plus that they’d changed the gas-meter. NetworkPlus were the company who actually carried out the work on behalf ‘National Grid Metering’.

The letter from ‘National Grid Metering’ stated that the gas meter exchange was, quote “ at the request of your gas supplier”. However, the ‘gas supplier’ isn’t actually specified;...does ‘gas supplier’ mean Avro?...or does ‘gas supplier’ mean the company/s who transport the gas down the pipelines to your home?...or some other associated body?

My  daughters letter also stated that the new gas meter would NOT be a smart-meter.

Notwithstanding any of the above (and I may be totally wrong!)  but on the face of it your Energy company does appear to be covertly attempting to install both gas and leccy Smart-meters,...when the requirement is just to swop your gas meter for safety reasons.

Browntoa

I had this with bulb energy with an electricity meter . They insisted it was replaced with a smart meter , I pointed out that they couldn't insist and I only wanted a standard meter . They then claimed it would cost me £125 , again I pointed out that an "end of life " replacement is free . 

They finally admitted they couldn't replace as they had no standard replacement meters. 

It's still working a year later

Gerry1

Biggus_Dickus said:

My  daughters letter also stated that the new gas meter would NOT be a smart-meter.

I wouldn't rely on it not being a smart meter.  It may be a Not-Yet-Smart meter because the existing electricity meter is traditional.  If / when the electricity meter is replaced by a smart meter, the Trojan Horse gas meter may then awaken !

Biggus_Dickus

Gerry1 said:

Biggus_Dickus said:

My  daughters letter also stated that the new gas meter would NOT be a smart-meter.

I wouldn't rely on it not being a smart meter.  It may be a Not-Yet-Smart meter because the existing electricity meter is traditional.  If / when the electricity meter is replaced by a smart meter, the Trojan Horse gas meter may then awaken !

The replacement is defo an analogue gas-meter. It looks to be unused/new’ish but the meter reading when it was installed, 14600 cu.mtrs, would suggest otherwise.  

 

macman

Gerry1 said:

And how could you be sure that it was in dumb mode, let alone that it would always stay that way?  There are thousands of non-smart meters that have been removed to make way for smart meters, so one of those would do.

And most of them have been scrapped or sold into overseas markets probably.
Two layers of tinfoil wrapped around it should suffice to keep it in dumb mode...