No Gas Meter at Property

Still_trying_to_work_it_out

Hello, This is my first post so apologies if this isn't the correct board and the long post.

We bought a property at the end of July that had the gas meter removed many years ago.  The previous owner bought the house new in the 60's and had the meter removed at some point between then and when we bought it this year.  I assume when they bought it it had a gas back boiler and fire.  These have all been removed.  I only assume this because there is a pipe running from the gas supply point into the lounge.

The energy provider for the electricity is Octopus. I've been trying to organise a gas meter to be reinstalled at the property since the beginning of August with them without any luck.

We naively thought it would be a simple process of contacting the energy provider and asking for a meter to be installed.  At nearly the end of 4 months this has proven not to be the case.  

Is it just Octopus being slow, do I need to change energy provider or should I have been contacting someone else and Octopus just aren't passing that information on to me.  Twice they have told me they are escalating it, not sure who to?

Has anyone else had to do anything similar?

DE_612183

I would presume as the meter was installed a while ago the supply point has not MPRN - so the first action would be for the supplier to get that created, then they'd need to get a gas company to re-install and check the existing gas connection - this used to be British Gas, but I think they are called something else now.

I think Octopus could manage all this for you - whether they will or not is another question - you may be better off speaking to someone like Cadent.

Keep_pedalling

There are going to be significant costs in getting a gas supply installed, as an alternative you should look at the suitability of a heat pump for your property.

It is the network operator you need to contact about a new supply, you can find out who that is with a postcode search on the following link.

https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator

FreeBear

Keep_pedalling said:

There are going to be significant costs in getting a gas supply installed, as an alternative you should look at the suitability of a heat pump for your property.

If the original gas supply dates from the 1960s, it could well be a 1/2" iron pipe from the road. After 60 years, rust would be a major problem, and 1/2" just isn't big enough for a modern gas boiler (unless the mains pressure is very high). In addition, the location of the original gas meter may not be suitable for a new install.

To get a new gas supply will involve digging up the road, laying in a new pipe to supply your property, and of course, fitting a meter. Once that is done, you then have to organise a Gas Safe engineer to run pipes to where ever gas is needed inside the property (22/28mm for a boiler, 15/22mm for a hob/oven). A major disruption if you have suspended timber floors, major hassle if you have solid concrete (pipes would need to be run around the outside of the building).

Getting a gas supply could be as cheap as £2K - If you are some distance from the gas main, easily £10/20/30K. A heat pump may well be a more cost effective source of heating. Unfortunately, unless you have a coal or oil fired heating system, you won't get the £7500 Boiler Upgrade grant. Even so, long term, a heat pump is a sensible option in my opinion - On the right tariff, it should work out cheaper to run except on the coldest of days.

p00hsticks

It won't be the energy supplier, although I would have thought they would be able to point you in the right direction. you need whoever looks after the supply from the mains to the house itself. I know in the midlands that's Cadent, not sure of other companies in other regions
New Gas Connection - Cadent Gas Ltd

Still_trying_to_work_it_out

Thanks for the comments.  Lots to take away.  We have been looking at different heating options, we'll do a little more digging in the new year.

Keep_pedalling

Still_trying_to_work_it_out said:

Thanks for the comments.  Lots to take away.  We have been looking at different heating options, we'll do a little more digging in the new year.

How do you heat currently.

Netexporter

Still_trying_to_work_it_out said:

Thanks for the comments.  Lots to take away.  We have been looking at different heating options, we'll do a little more digging in the new year.

 I'm sure Octopus would be pleased to give you a quote for a heat pump and will fit a smart mete, free of charge, if you don't already have one. Could work out a lot cheaper in the long run.

DE_612183

Still_trying_to_work_it_out said:

Thanks for the comments.  Lots to take away.  We have been looking at different heating options, we'll do a little more digging in the new year.

Only need to dig down a few metres for a heat pump

FreeBear

DE_612183 said:

Still_trying_to_work_it_out said:

Thanks for the comments.  Lots to take away.  We have been looking at different heating options, we'll do a little more digging in the new year.

Only need to dig down a few metres for a heat pump

For a ground source heat pump, 2m for slinkies, 100-300m for a borehole.

Did briefly contemplae a GSHP here. Reckoned I'd need ~150m of borehole, but unable to get a suitable drilling rig in.

Still_trying_to_work_it_out

Keep_pedalling said:

Still_trying_to_work_it_out said:

Thanks for the comments.  Lots to take away.  We have been looking at different heating options, we'll do a little more digging in the new year.

How do you heat currently.

The house had a coal (open) fire with a back boiler that heated the water.  We have had that removed. Currently using oil filled radiators.