Park Home Gas Meter Relocation

Liz65

Hi, my husband, myself and my son have recently moved to a park home in Surrey.
All the park home gas meters are placed outside of each property and we are worried about ours because it is virtually underground, surrounded by soil and near a drainpipe, it is located at the front of the house.

I did contact our gas supplier (E.on) and was told they couldn’t move it and to contact SGN who supply the pipe work etc.  We had a visit from a representative from SGN and he said that that don’t fit them in the ground like this anymore but it isn’t the worse he has seen, and if we want it moved it will cost nearly a thousand pound! 

I find this a bit annoying as it has probably been there for over 30 years (same age as home) and surely it could be rotting being in the ground in a box that is filling up with soil.

Would we be able to get any help with the cost of this as we are not wealthy hence the move to park home?

Thanks

macman

I'd request a smart meter, that means you won't need to tunnel in to read it, and if it's actually dangerous they'll have to make it safe.
Moving a meter is a major undertaking and no-one is going to help you with the cost if it's not actually considered unsafe.

gm0

Very unlikely.

It was a good idea to have had the SGN check visit given you were concerned. Safety first with any and especially older gas supplies. 

There are many such gas meters operating safely and invisibly or some less tidily - with land shift and failed covers.
Business and domestic supplies fitted in holes in the ground below a cover rather than surface boxes or attached to buildings.   When they actually reach certified life expiry (or if they are failing) - the infrastructure company will be obliged to change it out at their own cost and fit something which conforms as best the site allows to their (more recent) fitting policies - dumb/smart, location etc.  The "box" it is in and what it is attached to all play a part. 

If it is safe. They won't do much ahead of time just because you would like it - unless you pay them.   And there is no customer hardship fund (so far as I know) or anything similar for this sort of thing.

From their perspective it isn't necessary to do at all before the end of life replacement absent a fault/safety issue both of which they are paid for via a levy in your standing charges.  If you wait it will eventually get sorted.  But eventually could be a very long time - years - based on the age of what is there (The meter in the hole may have some date info on the plate if it's readable).

Liz65

Thanks, they didn’t actually inspect it just lifted the cover and glanced at it.  

How old does a meter have to be before being replaced roughly? We are worried it could be rotting underneath and that wouldn’t be visible by just glancing at it.

If we were to have a smart meter, would we have to pay for it and does anyone know if it would be fitted in same place?

Many thanks