No space for 2 smart meters

minkeyme

I was contacted by British Gas to replace my meter as it is over 20 years old & they want to replace it with a smart meter.
My old meter is outside and the smart meter would be inside.
They came out to make the change but have said that because my electric smart meter is SMETS1 it is too large and there is not enough remaining space in the “cupboard” for them to fit their meter on the fire board and not enough space to move it to make room. They asked me to contact my electricity supplier and get it changed to a SMETS2 as this is smaller and their meter would slot underneath.
My electricity supplier has said that the DCC will not allow them to change it. My meter is providing meter readings and has updated software and is integrated and therefore is doing its job. I’ve explained the situation but been told there’s nothing they can do.
I’m not really sure what to do next? Do British Gas have to replace with a smart meter or can they just replace the classic meter outside?
Or do I have to pay to get the electric meter, fuse box etc moved somewhere else ( and find somewhere else suitable) just to get the additional meter in - which seems unfair and potentially costly. 

Any ideas please?

Neil49

Why can't they fit the new meter outside?

Regardless of that, if they want to change it then it's their problem not yours and you certainly shouldn't have to pay for anything. 

Swipe

It's not your problem. It's one for British gas to resolve. They'll probably just have to replace the outside gas meter with a smart meter running in dumb mode.

minkeyme

Thank you both for the advice, it’s really appreciated. I was getting a bit frustrated after numerous calls today. I shall go back to British Gas now I’m a bit more confident.

[Deleted User]

Why have you got two meters?

greenguppie

Dolor said:

Why have you got two meters?

One gas, one electric, presumably.

Else why would the OP have 2 different electricity suppliers?

[Deleted User]

greenguppie said:

Dolor said:

Why have you got two meters?

One gas, one electric, presumably

I doubt it.

Quote:  According to regulation, gas pipes and gas meter in domestic houses, must be spaced at least 150mm from electricity meters, switchboards, electric cables, sockets, telecommunication cables, consumer units and any other conductors. Unquote

The original post is very confusing (well at least to me).

minkeyme

[Deleted User] said:

greenguppie said:

[Deleted User] said:

Why have you got two meters?

One gas, one electric, presumably

I doubt it.

Quote:  According to regulation, gas pipes and gas meter in domestic houses, must be spaced at least 150mm from electricity meters, switchboards, electric cables, sockets, telecommunication cables, consumer units and any other conductors. Unquote

The original post is very confusing (well at least to me).

Hi, Yes I have 2 different suppliers - 1 for gas & 1 for electricity.
I can only go by what the gas engineer said when he came to change the meter over - that there was not enough room for him to install the gas smart meter within the fire boarded area, hence his suggestion to request the smaller electric smart meter which he said would then give him the space he needed. The old gas meter which they say they need to upgrade, is outside and the meter he came to install he wanted to put inside.
At the end of the day if the electric company can’t change it (as they are saying the DCC won’t let them) then as per the advice earlier it sounds like the ball is back in British Gas’s court to find a solution.

unforeseen

[Deleted User] said:

greenguppie said:

[Deleted User] said:

Why have you got two meters?

One gas, one electric, presumably

I doubt it.

Quote:  According to regulation, gas pipes and gas meter in domestic houses, must be spaced at least 150mm from electricity meters, switchboards, electric cables, sockets, telecommunication cables, consumer units and any other conductors. Unquote

The original post is very confusing (well at least to me).

150mm is only 6 inches so quite possible to have 2 side by side on a fire board and still meet the requirements. 

greenguppie

[Deleted User] said:

greenguppie said:

[Deleted User] said:

Why have you got two meters?

One gas, one electric, presumably

I doubt it.

Quote:  According to regulation, gas pipes and gas meter in domestic houses, must be spaced at least 150mm from electricity meters, switchboards, electric cables, sockets, telecommunication cables, consumer units and any other conductors. Unquote

The original post is very confusing (well at least to me).

Presumably, it is the 6 inch gap requirement you refer to that prevents BG from squeezing in the new smart meter where they would like to locate it.

[Deleted User]

So where does this classic meter outside come into the equation! You cannot move a gas meter without making adjustments to the piping. This would have to be done by a gas transporter.