How much to replace a damaged gas meter?

tallac

Long story short: My house is being renovated and during the course of the renovation work, the gas meter (non-smart type...even for non-smart it is a very old analogue dial meter) was damaged, the gas was turned off at the isolation valve before the damage. Since then, the input gas supply pipe has been moved by Cadent but they didn't move the gas meter due to the damage, so the gas supply pipe is currently capped off.

I'm fairly sure it was the building renovation company but I can't be sure. I'm hoping that I can request a smart meter from my energy company without mentioning about the damage. When they turn up, they can hopefully fit the smart gas meter without me incurring any cost (not a big deal as I was planning to request a smart meter change anyway). I'm not sure if that will work but if not then there's almost certainly going to be a cost to get the gas meter fixed/repaired. Assuming I can't get the building company to cover this cost, then I just wanted to prepare for the worst case scenario.

What would be the cost to repair/replace the gas meter? Given I want to change to a smart meter anyway, is there another way I can avoid a large cost?

[Deleted User]

Your strategy has one inherent risk. When the installer turns up to install your smart meter, he/she may well conclude that the meter has been damaged intentionally with the possibility of energy theft. Personally, I would come clean with the supplier and then see if any charges can be offset if you agree to a smart meter. Remember for the gas meter to work in smart mode, you will also need a smart electricity meter

tallac

[Deleted User] said:

Your strategy has one inherent risk. When the installer turns up to install your smart meter, he/she may well conclude that the meter has been damaged intentionally with the possibility of energy theft. Personally, I would come clean with the supplier and then see if any charges can be offset if you agree to a smart meter. Remember for the gas meter to work in smart mode, you will also need a smart electricity meter

Sound advice. Anyone know what the rough cost is for replacing a damaged gas meter?

[Deleted User]

Based on the cost of a meter change for a ‘fault’, if no fault is found the supplier normally charges c.£85. Presumably, an additional cost may be levied if there is any damage to the Regulator etc. When a gas smart meter is installed, the Regulator is changed.

Phones4Chris

tallac said:

Dolor said:

Your strategy has one inherent risk. When the installer turns up to install your smart meter, he/she may well conclude that the meter has been damaged intentionally with the possibility of energy theft. Personally, I would come clean with the supplier and then see if any charges can be offset if you agree to a smart meter. Remember for the gas meter to work in smart mode, you will also need a smart electricity meter

Sound advice. Anyone know what the rough cost is for replacing a damaged gas meter?

That doesn't seem like sound advice to me, all very well to say that when it isn't them that's paying!!

tallac said:

Long story short: My house is being renovated and during the course of the renovation work, the gas meter (non-smart type...even for non-smart it is a very old analogue dial meter) was damaged, the gas was turned off at the isolation valve before the damage. Since then, the input gas supply pipe has been moved by Cadent but they didn't move the gas meter due to the damage, so the gas supply pipe is currently capped off..................

Was the input supply moved as part of the renovations? Cadent obviously know the old meter was damaged, but they may not give a monkeys. If you are applying for a smart meter (noting the comment that you need an electric smart meter for it to work) then the old meter would be scrapped anyway, so they may not give a hoot that it's damaged. I'd get on with smart meter replacement requests and when they come to install the gas meter if they say anything about paying for the damage I'd just say I'm not sure at what point that damage happened, whether it was when the supply was moved or by the renovators before that. If they send you a bill, that's when I'd try to wriggle out of it by saying the old meter would be scarp anyway, so why do I have to pay. If you can't wriggle out of it, just pay up, but don't volunteer to pay first!

Oh, one other very relevant point, did you take a meter reading at the time the gas was turned off when the renovations started?

jefaz07

You mention the service has been moved and Cadent wouldn’t move the meter, am I to assume the existing meter and in the case pipework is some distance from the nee service?
If so then a meter fitter won’t pipe it back up for you. Therefore won’t change the meter. 

You’d need to get the old meter moved to the new location and piped in. Then request a smart meter. 

Phones4Chris

jefaz07 said:

You mention the service has been moved and Cadent wouldn’t move the meter, am I to assume the existing meter and in the case pipework is some distance from the nee service?
If so then a meter fitter won’t pipe it back up for you. Therefore won’t change the meter. 

You’d need to get the old meter moved to the new location and piped in. Then request a smart meter. 

He said Cadent wouldn't move the meter because it was damaged. You can't pipe in a damaged meter now can you, and if the new supply pipe is capped, the only people allowed to touch that is Cadent! Why exactly do you think they wouldn't fit the meter? Of course the pipework is the responsibility of his own gas fitter, but if that is yet to be "installed" does that actually stop the meter being installed? Need a qualified Gas Installer to answer that one.

jefaz07

Phones4Chris said:

jefaz07 said:

You mention the service has been moved and Cadent wouldn’t move the meter, am I to assume the existing meter and in the case pipework is some distance from the nee service?
If so then a meter fitter won’t pipe it back up for you. Therefore won’t change the meter. 

You’d need to get the old meter moved to the new location and piped in. Then request a smart meter. 

He said Cadent wouldn't move the meter because it was damaged. You can't pipe in a damaged meter now can you, and if the new supply pipe is capped, the only people allowed to touch that is Cadent! Why exactly do you think they wouldn't fit the meter? Of course the pipework is the responsibility of his own gas fitter, but if that is yet to be "installed" does that actually stop the meter being installed? Need a qualified Gas Installer to answer that one.

Correct. That’s exactly what was said. Cadent have said that because the meter or other pipework isn’t theirs. You can’t pipe in a damaged meter no but you can pipe to a meter bracket, very easily. What do you mean no one is allowed to touch that pipe? It’s installed, will have a standard cap and any gas safe engineer can remove that cap...all you need is MET1 to attach a meter and governor to it. 

This brings me on to your next point of ‘Why wouldn’t they fit the meter?’ Let the OP ring and ask their supplier if they will move the meter to a new position for free. Normally within 600mm of the new ECV position. 

And no, you can install a meter at any point as long as it is left safe. 

Phones4Chris

jefaz07 said:

 Let the OP ring and ask their supplier if they will move the meter to a new position for free. Normally within 600mm of the new ECV position.

Now you've explained, fine, but it's not really a case of "their supplier being asked if they'll move the meter" is it? As Cadent have already moved the supply and the OP wants a Smart meter, that's not really a "move"! The OP needs to get his Gas Safe Engineer to sort this out  ...... without any admission at the outset about how the old meter was damaged, that's something to deal with if and when something is said about it. It's really this very last point was the only reason I saw to comment and ask in the first place.

jefaz07

Phones4Chris said:

jefaz07 said:

 Let the OP ring and ask their supplier if they will move the meter to a new position for free. Normally within 600mm of the new ECV position.

Now you've explained, fine, but it's not really a case of "their supplier being asked if they'll move the meter" is it? As Cadent have already moved the supply and the OP wants a Smart meter, that's not really a "move"! The OP needs to get his Gas Safe Engineer to sort this out  ...... without any admission at the outset about how the old meter was damaged, that's something to deal with if and when something is said about it. It's really this very last point was the only reason I saw to comment and ask in the first place.

Unfortunately they will class it as a move. You may get lucky of course. Every-time I’ve seen a meter move done the internal works are entirely at the cost of the homeowner unless it was part of the quote. 

So the meter position as is now (the new one) won’t be where the old one is hence classed as a move. 

I work for a network and I’m a GSI and this is what I’ve seen most times mate. 

Phones4Chris

Whilst I'm not going to dispute what you say, obviously, surely the supplier hasn't a clue where the old meter was, especially as Cadent have already moved the supply and if the OP's Gas safe Engineer sorts out his internal pipework.