All suppliers refusing to install new gas meters

Sea_Shell

nicepurpleshirt said:

@Sea_Shell- I have just spent a few thousand having the new central heating installed - we were just waiting to get it connected before we move in

Oh I see.   You've developed the property yourselves, rather than buying from a developer.

MWT

nicepurpleshirt said:

It's a brand new connection - there wasn't gas there before.
And it's a renovation so all the old electric storage heaters were removed.

So is this really just missing the meter, or do you still need to get a gas supply pipe to the house?

If you've got the supply there and just need the meter then Shell Energy is your best bet...

Cardew

With the SVT(Standard variable Tariff) being mandated for all properties who are not on a fixed tariff, it means that any distribution company will now lose money if they connect you to gas. Your current company will also lose money on your electricity supply.

I doubt if any company will allow you to switch supplier to their SVT tariff.

I also doubt if the Ombudsman can make a company connect you to gas and thus lose money - although it is worth a try. The argument being you can heat with electricity; albeit at great expence.

Perhaps you will be forced to have a very expensive fixed tariff.

Cardew

If the gas line is to your property and just capped off, another solution would be to buy a gas meter; plenty available on Ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l2632&_nkw=gas+meter&_sacat=181939&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=mains+gas+meter&_osacat=0

Get it fitted by a gas safe plumber with the connections wired with seals and photograph meter reading.

IMO the plumber will have done nothing wrong; his only responsibility is to make sure the connection is safe. It is no different to connecting a larger bore pipe to an existing gas meter.

Your position is questionable, but there is no intention of 'stealing' gas; so would the gas company take action?

MWT

Cardew said:

Get it fitted by a gas safe plumber with the connections wired with seals and photograph meter reading.

IMO the plumber will have done nothing wrong; his only responsibility is to make sure the connection is safe. It is no different to connecting a larger bore pipe to an existing gas meter.

I'd be very surprised if you could get a properly qualified gas safe engineer to work on the distribution side of the gas pipes, and to be frank, we don't even know at this point if there is even a gas supply available on that capped pipe, this is why it is necessary to get this done properly as Cadent or whoever is the gas distribution operator needs to confirm that it is safe to connect a meter to that supply.

On the stealing point, how could you view connecting to a supply pipe without an MPRN and a shipper as anything other than stealing... ?

Hopefully Shell Energy will be the answer though...

Cardew

MWT said:

Cardew said:

Get it fitted by a gas safe plumber with the connections wired with seals and photograph meter reading.

IMO the plumber will have done nothing wrong; his only responsibility is to make sure the connection is safe. It is no different to connecting a larger bore pipe to an existing gas meter.

I'd be very surprised if you could get a properly qualified gas safe engineer to work on the distribution side of the gas pipes, and to be frank, we don't even know at this point if there is even a gas supply available on that capped pipe, this is why it is necessary to get this done properly as Cadent or whoever is the gas distribution operator needs to confirm that it is safe to connect a meter to that supply.

On the stealing point, how could you view connecting to a supply pipe without an MPRN and a shipper as anything other than stealing... ?

Hopefully Shell Energy will be the answer though...

You are probably correct about the gas safe plumber not being willing to do the work.

It wouldn't be stealing if you informed the company of the gas you had used.

We used to have some meter readers on this forum, including one on the fraud detection team, and they found loads of gas meters bypassed in the most dangerous manner - a bicycle inner tube for example - yet few were taken to court; or had their gas cut off.

But on reflection probably not a good idea!

MWT

Cardew said:

It wouldn't be stealing if you informed the company of the gas you had used...

...But on reflection probably not a good idea!

Totally agree on the last part, too many ways for that to bite someone.

Problem with the 'informing the company' bit is who to inform as there is potentially no shipper if there isn't an MPRN.

nicepurpleshirt

Thanks all - just to reiterate - Shell were no use.
It's illegal to install a gas meter yourself/by an engineer - I looked into this.
I have already contacted my MP who is on the case, but I'm not holding my breath.

We won't have hot water as a new gas central heating system has been installed - ready to be connected........

@wittynamegoeshere, £5-10 a day is a lot for us


My only hope now is that something comes back from my MP (friends in high places?) or Ofgem......or that suppliers will begin installing soon......in the meantime, we revert back to the Victorian times.

emmajones1976

As an aside - is this currently affecting new builds that need both a gas and an electric supply?

nicepurpleshirt

@emmajones1976 - I have read that it is on the thread that was posted on here earlier