Who is responsible for the gas pipe on your land, leading to the gas meter?

Fluff1956

The yellow gas pipe in our front garden is approximately 3-4 inches below the soil. This makes it tricky when weeding !, it then leads to the gas meter. Contacting British Gas, they say, it’s our problem as it’s on our land, our current supplier doesn’t want to know, who’s responsible for making it the correct/ safe depth. Thanks.

mumf

I have a similar situation to you. My electricity feed is at the same depth,and runs parallel to the gas six inches apart. I know it’s there,so I am careful. Problem solved. I wouldn’t mess and worry,personally.

J_B

https://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/energy/2017/05/25/who-owns-the-uks-energy-distribution-networks/

Any use?

Mickey666

I'm not sure the land itself is relevant.  I've always thought it was the meter that was the demarcation point for supplier-consumer responsibility.  Indeed, the meter itself is not the consumer's responsibility as it belongs to the network, yet it is always on the consumer's property.

I'd certainly push back on anyone saying that anything on the network side of a meter is my responsibility simply because it's on my land - and that applies to water, gas or electricity.

In this case I can understand the gas SUPPLIER saying it's not their responsibility because they are not responsible for any of the pipe network, they only sell gas.  But the gas network company for the OP's area must surely be responsible for the high pressure pipework up to the meter.

matelodave

My guess, (and its only a guess) is that maintenance of the pipe is resposnibilty of the gas supplier/distribution company right up to the meter however the fact that it's on your land and how deep it is probably isn't relevant unless you want it shifted and then they'll more than likely charge you for the privilige. I doubt they'll bother to bury it a bit deeper unless theres a significant danger of damage

Likewise if it gets damaged by your actions, whatever it's depth then possibly they'll also charge you for the cost of repairing it although they might not. Probably best to not try and find out. Even if you did damage it and they had to repair it they probably wouldn't bury it any deeper especially if it's pretty near the surface at the boundary.

Many years ago we had our driveway replaced and the cast irongas pipe was buried in the old concrete slab and was pulled up (but not fractured by a JCB). The gas company attended within an hour and replaced the whole run with a plastic pipe at no cost to us (however this was around 1980 and the whole situation regarding ownership and responsibities has changed since then).

It wasn't buried any deeper because the bit in the road to our boundary and the bit that went under the house couldn't be lowered - they cut the cast iron feed at the boundary and joined on a plastic pipe which they fed inside the existing iron pipe under the garage floor to the meter.

spiro

British Gas are an energy supplier they have nothing to do with the pipes in the street/under your garden. I think you will find on your gas bill it says who the network operator is. I would phone them and say you are concerned about the depth of the pipe and that it could get damaged while you are gardening.

Cardew

spiro said:

British Gas are an energy supplier they have nothing to do with the pipes in the street/under your garden. I think you will find on your gas bill it says who the network operator is. I would phone them and say you are concerned about the depth of the pipe and that it could get damaged while you are gardening.

I would WRITE!