SGN Quote / Gas Meter Move

nlj198705
nlj198705 Forumite Posts: 1 Newbie
Hi everyone, SGN has quoted £13k to do the following: 

1) Cap inlet pipe outside our main door
2) Dig pavement and connect new pipe under garden wall (approx 1 meter)
3) Position 3 gas meters on garden wall (3 flats in building)

We would then need to separately pay a gas engineer to connect from gas meters to house.

SGN said it would be 2 engineers for 2 days (4 man days) and a licence is needed.

If labour is £500/worker/day and I know licence is £676, costs would be £2,676. So I can understand £3k job cost, but how can it be £13k?! I have requested a breakdown.

SGN is the only company that can do the work so it’s a monopoly. Any advice? Should I go to Citizens Advice, Energy Ombudsman or local MP? Contact media? It’s an abuse of power due to no competition.

We want to move gas meters as they are at head level by main door and not boxed in, so not really safe or compliant.

Please advise.

Thanks,

Nick  

Comments

  • CSI_Yorkshire
    CSI_Yorkshire Forumite Posts: 1,792
    1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
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    nlj198705 said:
    Should I go to Citizens Advice, Energy Ombudsman or local MP? Contact media? 
    No, no, and no.  And no.

    What do you think any of those would do?

    Ask for a breakdown of the costs into contestable and non-contestable works.  You can get your own quotes to do the first, so if you think you can find someone cheaper, do it.  The cost of the second is reviewed and approved by the regulator, so complaining is unlikely to help.

    nlj198705 said:
    It’s an abuse of power due to no competition. 
    It's specifically regulated where there is no competition, and competitive where it is possible.
  • Dolor
    Dolor Forumite Posts: 7,563
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    There is competition if people do their research. You are free to approach an Independent Gas Transporter:

    GTC Pipelines

    Independent Pipelines Limited

    Indigo Pipelines Limited

    ES Pipelines Limited

    Last Mile Gas Limited

    Energy Assets Pipelines Limited

    Fulcrum Pipelines Limited

    Mua Gas Limited

    Leep Gas Networks Limited

    Harlaxton Gas Networks

    Quadrant Pipelines Limited

    ESP Connections Limited

    ESP Networks Limited

    ESP Pipelines Limited

    Squire Energy Limited.

    That said, most of them work with developers on new builds because they are cheaper.

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