Wanting to cap gas supply

Pinksun15

Hi, 
We're about to move into our new home. It's currently got electric storage heaters and the gas supply is only for a fire in the front room which we are wanting removed. I've spoken to our planned energy supplier but they seem to be contradicting what I've researched. We are looking into having the gas supply ideally capped so the fire can be removed and then wish for it to remain capped as we would not need the gas supply. We are aware we could then have to pay a standing charge. Our energy supplier said we would need to contact the national board in order for the supply to be capped. Is this correct? They have said they can only remove the meter. Would the meter be best to be removed? 
Thanks in advance! 

Mr.Generous

If the meter is removed you won't pay a standing charge. There will be a charge for this, probably quite high. If you leave the meter the pipe can be capped very easily and safely by any gas safe engineer. They fit a round disc inside the supply pipe (usually called a cap) so that its gas tight if the isolation lever is on or off, either way no gas enters the property. This is very simple to reverse if gas is needed in the future. This is usually done for safety reasons - for example a leak found but not repaired.

[Deleted User]

From the EDF website:

I don't need my meter anymore – how do I get it removed?

First, please ask your local network operator to disconnect your electricity or gas. You might have to pay for this.

Your network operator will then contact us to ask us to remove your meter within ten working days.

At this point, we'll get in touch with you to arrange an appointment to remove your meter. We'll charge you £80 to remove your meter; you'll need to pay this before we can confirm your appointment.

You’ll need to be at the property when we come to remove your meter – even if the meter is outside.

FreeBear

Pinksun15 said: We're about to move into our new home. It's currently got electric storage heaters and the gas supply is only for a fire in the front room which we are wanting removed.

Before you get the gas supply removed completely, have a look at installing a wet central heating system. Properly designed with larger(er) bore pipes and bigger radiators, you have the choice of a gas boiler or a heat pump (or start out with gas & switch to a heat pump later). Yes, it is a big up front cost, but it will be a lot cheaper than running storage heaters.

I believe there is currently a £7500 grant available towards installing heat pumps, so that may help with the decision.

Gerry1

Beware of the effect on your house price if you go all electric.  You may be overjoyed with your system and cooker but some prospective purchasers may not be quite so keen, especially if any future Winter of Discontent results in widespread blackouts.

Having gas available may become an increasingly attractive feature.

matt_drummer

Gerry1 said:

Beware of the effect on your house price if you go all electric.  You may be overjoyed with your system and cooker but some prospective purchasers may not be quite so keen, especially if any future Winter of Discontent results in widespread blackouts.

Having gas available may become an increasingly attractive feature.

How is the gas heating going to work without electricity in these widespread blackouts?

Gerry1

matt_drummer said:

Gerry1 said:

Beware of the effect on your house price if you go all electric.  You may be overjoyed with your system and cooker but some prospective purchasers may not be quite so keen, especially if any future Winter of Discontent results in widespread blackouts.

Having gas available may become an increasingly attractive feature.

How is the gas heating going to work without electricity in these widespread blackouts?

With a gas cooker you can still have a cup of tea or a hot meal.  If push comes to shove then you can simply turn on the burners and the oven and sit in the kitchen.  Leave the doors open and it'll take the chill off the rest of the house.

If power cuts are likely to be frequent and/or prolonged then it's also relatively cheap and straightforward to provide some battery backup for the boiler and pump.  Difficult and/or very expensive to do to the same if you've put all your eggs in one basket and gone all electric.

Above all, it's the perception of potential buyers that counts.  If I were looking to buy a property I'd probably specify All Mains Services so the OP's property wouldn't get a glance.

Ectophile

There's an important rule in the Gas Act that you need to know.

You become a deemed customer of the current gas supplier the moment you "take a supply" of gas.  See https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/44/schedule/2B section 8. "Where a gas supplier supplies gas to a consumer otherwise than in pursuance of a contract, the supplier shall be deemed to have contracted with the consumer for the supply of gas as from the time".

If you never intend to use any gas at all, then while you are reading the meters after moving in, turn off the big valve next to the meter.  Make sure that you tell the gas supplier that you will not be using any gas.  Do not agree to any contract.

They then have no right to bill you standing charges, as you are not their customer.

mmmmikey

I appreciate this isn't really answering the question, but, particularly if you haven't used electric storage heaters at all, I'd think carefully about whether you're going to need more heat in the evening than the storage heaters can provide. If you find you need supplementary heating in the evening and you find yourself using some form of electric heater instead of the gas fire you may find that it's actually cheaper to pay the standing charge and use the gas fire. Also, if you cook a lot keep in mind that anything that uses electricity will likely be doing that at peak rates so you may find a gas cooker gives you a worthwhile cost saving. 

It really depends on your reason for taking out the gas fire - if you're doing it to save money I suspect you won't. 

Finally, not an issue if this is your "forever" home, but if you see yourself moving on in a few years time then as @Gerry1 points out not having gas will potentially devalue your house and/or make it harder to sell. Again, picking up on @Gerry1 point, it's a question of what potential buyers want which isn't always the same as what many would argue makes sense.

markin

Octopus i think offer free removal. After a year the grid company are legally required to remove the pipe for safety, for free, if you request for it to be removed though they will charge for it.

But if its a house outside of town the may be power cuts from storms damage, ask around when the last power cut was and how long it was..

35har1old

FreeBear said:

Pinksun15 said: We're about to move into our new home. It's currently got electric storage heaters and the gas supply is only for a fire in the front room which we are wanting removed.

Before you get the gas supply removed completely, have a look at installing a wet central heating system. Properly designed with larger(er) bore pipes and bigger radiators, you have the choice of a gas boiler or a heat pump (or start out with gas & switch to a heat pump later). Yes, it is a big up front cost, but it will be a lot cheaper than running storage heaters.

I believe there is currently a £7500 grant available towards installing heat pumps, so that may help with the decision.

For a heat pump to work effectively the house needs to be highly insulated