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

wookie6

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice! 

hozza94

Tbf a smart meter doesn't do much more than sending meter readings to DCC anyway, save time for getting metering reading and I get a better understand in my consumption pattern. 

Takmon

wookie6 said:

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! 

It would be pretty silly of you to refuse smart meters when they have to come and change the gas meter anyway.

bootsyboots

I have received a letter from network plus saying for safety reasons it is essential gas meter has to be changed . problem is my meter is in corner cupboard under sink in newly fitted kitchen the shelves come out to get to it but not sure if they can change it over, I phoned them and he said we had loads like that and can't change it, but I said letter says it must be changed, he very unprofessional as if couldn't be bothered at all so sending someone out to look. so what happens if they can't change it

molerat

The meter has to be changed for safety reasons unless it is too difficult then it doesn't need changing

[Deleted User]

Beware - a supplier can raise a charge if the consumer insists on a non smart replacement meter:

Quote:

Can my supplier charge me for a Traditional Meter?

Although you can simply refuse a Smart Meter when offered, you can be charged for the installation of an old fashioned traditional meter when your current meter must be replaced because it is faulty or has reached the end of its certified life. In June 2020 BEIS stated that they considered such a charge can be reasonable, for example, if a non-standard metering service is requested by the consumer where a smart meter could be deployed. (Updated: 2020-10-25)

Unquote

Read more at: https://www.smartme.co.uk/customer-rights.html 

Gerry1

Dolor said:

Read more at: https://www.smartme.co.uk/customer-rights.html 

That's an interesting site, but it's not always accurate.

For example, it says that "most suppliers seem to have decided it is too dangerous to remotely disconnect or reconnect, as in the case of disconnection they cannot always be sure that the customer isn't relying on a supply for serious health reasons and in the case of reconnection the customer may have left a cooker on for example.".

That would rule out all pre-payment meters !  Smart gas meters check that the supply is not being used before reconnecting it.

They also seem to have misunderstood the estimated savings: "The average household can expect to see savings improve from an additional cost of £11 in 2018 to annual savings of £36 by 2034.".