Is there a law or rule that says I have to have a gas supplier?

MagicarpalTunnel

More of a hypothetical question than anything I'm actually planning on doing, but we switched from gas central heating to a heat pump last year, and we've just replaced our gas hob with in induction one, meaning we have now have no gas appliances at all. 

Obviously we're not to happy paying a standing charge for nothing, but the alternative seems to be paying my supplier about £160 to get the meter removed... but if I'm not buying Gas, why can't I just not have a contract with a gas supplier?

If I switched suppliers, then exercised my 14 day right to cancel with the new supplier, would that leave me with no supplier and therefore no bills?

I assume there's some reason I can't do this, I'm just interested in knowing what that reason is.

elsien

Because if you cancel the new supplier, it reverts back to the old one.
Or rather it doesn’t revert, because it stayed with them because the move never fully took place.

Netexporter

If you'd got your heat pump from Octopus, they remove the gas meter as part of the deal. Too late for that, though.

On the bright side, you'll have saved your £160 in less than two years of not paying the standing charge.

Petriix

Octopus were removing gas meters for free and, unless they've very recently changed that, it should still be the case. If you're not already with them then you can grab a £50 sign up bonus too. 

Scot_39

You pay for the meter.

And at least according to their blog post.

Octopus at least pays a third party for their in this post re gas - gas meters.

https://octopus.energy/blog/disconnecting-your-gas-supply/

So we effectively rent from supplier who pays a meter asset provider for them.  Terms??? 


But note it says MAPs can charge suppliers themselves.

FlorayG

You have to have a supplier because you have a supply
The fact that you don't use it is irrelevant

EssexHebridean

You already have a contract for gas supply - and in essence, changing supplier doesn't change that, it just changes who that contract is with. As explained, cancelling a switch would simply mean things revert back, you won't be left "floating" as it were. 

That £160 quote for removing the meter is one of the cheapest I've heard, though. 

michaels

Perhaps you could get disconnected for non-payment?!

Scot_39

EssexHebridean said:

You already have a contract for gas supply - and in essence, changing supplier doesn't change that, it just changes who that contract is with. As explained, cancelling a switch would simply mean things revert back, you won't be left "floating" as it were. 

That £160 quote for removing the meter is one of the cheapest I've heard, though. 

I suspect that might be only the suppliers component.  Based on 2 answers I found on EOn forum it's probably not tge total.

As seen other quotes nearer £400 including say cadent / GDN to cover capping.

That £400 from a £330 + vat from a similar question on EOn customer forum - see my post in thread on similar topic

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81109691/#Comment_81109691

In the EOn replies - 1 gives one price for meter £148+vat and a warning about needing gas distributor present to cap  - and another a far  higher price £330+ vat including capping at existing valve.   And that's 2 years old pricing.

matelodave

michaels said:

Perhaps you could get disconnected for non-payment?!

Good idea but the court and bailiff fees, together with the default notices on your credit ref file could cost you vastly more than £160

wrf12345

I think Ofgem has suggested a refund for s/c if no gas used for 12 months, some companies comply. Capping at the meter is one thing and may or may not be free depending on supplier, cutting off the supply at source is nothing to do with the consumer as it is on the other side of the meter which is not his responsibility.