time for your meter safety inspection

frenzy382

HI,
I got an email from Scottish Power telling me it's time for a meter safety inspection....a visual check
I assume that it's all legit (as in needing to check), but does anyone know what they are actually looking for?  I've never ever had this request before....

thnx

[Deleted User]

frenzy382 said:

HI,
I got an email from Scottish Power telling me it's time for a meter safety inspection....a visual check
I assume that it's all legit (as in needing to check), but does anyone know what they are actually looking for?  I've never ever had this request before....

thnx

When Ofgem relaxed the rules on meter readings it directed suppliers to ensure that they had procedures in place to carryout meter safety checks. This I suspect is little more than a visual check of the meters; possibly a gas pressure check, and a check of the meter seals. They will report back on any evidence of meter tampering and they will probably take meter readings at the same time.

Edit: I have some work done on my smart meters earlier this year. The engineer wasn’t happy with the seals that had been applied to the main fuse and the electricity meter. Fortunately, I was able to give him the number of the DNO engineer who had fitted and removed a voltage recorder in the early part of last year. The new seals were fitted by SPEN.

Gerry1

It's the equivalent of Random Scan at a supermarket when you've used a handheld scanner.  They just say it's 'to make sure that everything is working properly' but it's a euphemism; they want to make sure customers aren't shoplifting.

Yes, there's a safety aspect (can they smell or detect gas near the meter) but in reality they'll be looking for meters being bypassed.

There have been instances of explosions where gas meters have been bypassed or pipes have fractured because of earth movements and gas has accumulated in cavity walls.

Scot_39

I am not convinced it's anything abnormal - perhaps just new terminology - now they cannot just say meter reading.  As even Smart installs have to be safety checked periodically.

I am not aware of any more recent changes - but there was an Ofgem consultation exercise c2016 that scrapped the old 2 year rule - until then the law used to stipulate a safety check every 2 years.

But that doesn't remove the need for them to be checked - just that not everyone now gets a 2 yearly visit.

It's not a very detailed check normally - unless a casual inspection suggests needs otherwise. 

Typically looking for anything really abnormal - wiring/shrouding issues (deterioration / wear), excessive rust on gas pipes, smell of gas etc. that might need investigation. 

[Deleted User]

Hi,

if you've not tampered with anything then nothing to worry about.

If you put it off or deny access, then that'll arouse suspicions, could end up with a warrant to force entry.

frenzy382

ok..thanks.  It's for an old electricity meter in my garage....they've been pestering me to get a Smart Meter for a while and I never responded.  Now i get a request to inspect the meter...so naturally my conspiracy theories start creeping in and I'm thinking it's just another way of getting the meter swapped out.  I reckon they don't believe that i use pretty much 0 kwh/month...

[Deleted User]

Hi,

if garage close to house, get meter removed, saves paying standing charge, and if no machinery, only an odd light, run a line from house.

Spoonie_Turtle

frenzy382 said:

ok..thanks.  It's for an old electricity meter in my garage....they've been pestering me to get a Smart Meter for a while and I never responded.  Now i get a request to inspect the meter...so naturally my conspiracy theories start creeping in and I'm thinking it's just another way of getting the meter swapped out.  I reckon they don't believe that i use pretty much 0 kwh/month...

Just so you know, when that meter reaches the end of its certification period they are required to replace it.  It will be replaced with a smart meter under there is "good reason" not to (something like if the installation is impossible, not simply a customer not wanting one).

(Obviously if it's deemed unsafe or broken before that, they can replace it anyway.)

debitcardmayhem

frenzy382 said:

ok..thanks.  It's for an old electricity meter in my garage....they've been pestering me to get a Smart Meter for a while and I never responded.  Now i get a request to inspect the meter...so naturally my conspiracy theories start creeping in and I'm thinking it's just another way of getting the meter swapped out.  I reckon they don't believe that i use pretty much 0 kwh/month...

Are you paying for two Standing Charges ? Oh and when you say 0kWh have you another source for electricity e.g. PV panels , wind turbine etc

Scot_39

frenzy382 said:

ok..thanks.  It's for an old electricity meter in my garage....they've been pestering me to get a Smart Meter for a while and I never responded.  Now i get a request to inspect the meter...so naturally my conspiracy theories start creeping in and I'm thinking it's just another way of getting the meter swapped out.  I reckon they don't believe that i use pretty much 0 kwh/month...

It's not unusual to need a seperate meter in a garage - to just supply the garage - especially in blocks of flats / terraced garage rows etc.

If thats the case.

Zero usage on a complete home would however scream potential tamper to a supplier - even one with solar arrays in winter - but in a remote garage - not used as a workshop - say just a few 10 min PIR light sessions weekly - as come and go - really won't add up to much energy - even in winter.

Perhaps 0kWh is a trigger - but would they really pre-notify the visit if expected tampering - it would surely defeat the point.

It could be a non trivial cost - even compared to the now £200+ per year SC in some areas - to wire to a remote garage from the house - say one at the bottom of rear garden - if needed trench work etc. - could be into £1000s.  Years of pay back - if have the money.

And they wouldn't come to inspect it to to tell you your meter is going out of date - that comes from installation records.

As another poster above - if you have done nothing wrong - you have nothing to fear.

Safety inspections are normal - always have been - probably always will be - albeit at a lower frequency.

frenzy382

Scot_39 said:

frenzy382 said:

ok..thanks.  It's for an old electricity meter in my garage....they've been pestering me to get a Smart Meter for a while and I never responded.  Now i get a request to inspect the meter...so naturally my conspiracy theories start creeping in and I'm thinking it's just another way of getting the meter swapped out.  I reckon they don't believe that i use pretty much 0 kwh/month...

It's not unusual to need a seperate meter in a garage - to just supply the garage - especially in blocks of flats / terraced garage rows etc.

If thats the case.

Zero usage on a complete home would however scream potential tamper to a supplier - even one with solar arrays in winter - but in a remote garage - not used as a workshop - say just a few 10 min PIR light sessions weekly - as come and go - really won't add up to much energy - even in winter.

Perhaps 0kWh is a trigger - but would they really pre-notify the visit if expected tampering - it would surely defeat the point.

It could be a non trivial cost - even compared to the now £200+ per year SC in some areas - to wire to a remote garage from the house - say one at the bottom of rear garden - if needed trench work etc. - could be into £1000s.  Years of pay back - if have the money.

And they wouldn't come to inspect it to to tell you your meter is going out of date - that comes from installation records.

As another poster above - if you have done nothing wrong - you have nothing to fear.

Safety inspections are normal - always have been - probably always will be - albeit at a lower frequency.

yeah...i've nothing to worry about on the 'tampering' front...it's all legit.  As mentioned, it's a garage..and it's a garage that is separate from the house.

What will be amusing is them trying to get into the place...they can't just knock on the garage door and hope i'm in there to let them in and it's not registered/connected to my home address.  Unless they actually contact me in advance to arrange a specific time, then it isn't going to happen.  The email says  'sometime in the next 3 weeks'...helpful.