Move a gas meter 18inches

Ntom

I'm looking at knocking a window through to put some patio doors in to create a wider opening door to the back garden.

Unfortunately half the gas meter box is just bekow the edge of the existing window so i'd like to get it moved.  The actual gas main and on/off valve are not in the way, just the meter and box.  I've attached a picture.

We live in south Wales so I contacted Wales & West Utilities.  They claim to do this the main will have to be dug up & moved.  

Is it not simply possible to make an iron connection directly after the isolation valve with a 90degree bend to take it 12" to one side then simply reconnect the meter?

It would seem from what I can ascertain West & Wales is the only contractor I can use, so I can't even get another quote unless anyone can make and alternative suggestion.

They tell me the main must be dug out & moved -total bill £1,124!!

Given this was going to be a DIY project utilising a donated set of doors this is a non starter.

If anyone can make an alternative suggestion as far as contractors are concerned or comment on why a simple reroute of the incoming pipe is not allowed i'd very much appreciate it.

Thanks.

Brie

Do you have a tame gas person who could look the situation over and give their opinion on it?  It's possible that W&W have misunderstood what you want doing.  I mean, it looks to me it's just a case of swapping the meter to the other side of the pipe work but what do I know!!  It's entirely possible that there's some regulations about any new work in your location requiring all the pipe work from the main being replaced due to it being 1/2" pipes instead of 3/4" specified for new builds.  

jefaz07

No, that isn’t possible by leaving it in place. And you can’t just add bits to a gas service, it will need tested properly. 

MysteryMe

You need a specific gas safe certification to move a gas meter and most gas safe engineers do not hold them. Moving a meter is never cheap.

Would a narrower set of French doors rather than patio doors be feasible? 

FreeBear

MysteryMe said: Would a narrower set of French doors rather than patio doors be feasible? 

Or install a new lintel and move the door over by ~300mm.

Ntom

To be clear I'm looking for a contractor to do this.  Just it seems only W&W can do this.  And they insist the incoming main must be moved.  I really don't understand why!!  Was hoping someone might know why, or might know what other contactor I might approach to move the meter.

So far no contactor I have spoken to has even been prepared to come and look at this.

Lorian

I'm not in Wales. Last time I had cadent move one a few years ago, just 1m they charged me about £800 including the digging and making good and the internal pipe alteration.

jefaz07

Ntom said:

To be clear I'm looking for a contractor to do this.  Just it seems only W&W can do this.  And they insist the incoming main must be moved.  I really don't understand why!!  Was hoping someone might know why, or might know what other contactor I might approach to move the meter.

So far no contactor I have spoken to has even been prepared to come and look at this.

It needs moved because you can’t just add bits on the end of a gas service. Any alternations will also need tested. Which is done from the other end so would need to be dug up in any event. 

BarelySentientAI

Ntom said:

To be clear I'm looking for a contractor to do this.  Just it seems only W&W can do this.  And they insist the incoming main must be moved.  I really don't understand why!!  Was hoping someone might know why, or might know what other contactor I might approach to move the meter.

So far no contactor I have spoken to has even been prepared to come and look at this.

On both gas and electricity supply network modifications, which this is, there are contestable works (which you can get your own contractor to do or pay the network operator to do) and non-contestable works (which only the network operator can do).

The network operator's design guide must be followed, so if that means the main needs to be moved, so be it, regardless of contractor.