Looking for gas meter no standing charge

petefromkent

Hi. I’m new and this is my first post .
i had my gas cut off a year ago and SGN have just come round and said my meter is gone but the gas feed is still coming into the house .

they have told me I have a month to get a meter installed or they will cut my gas off in the road outside - and to reconnect it will be over £1000 .
it was cut off in the first place due to struggling to pay the gas bill. I’ve just gone the whole cold winter with no heating at all - and now it’s summer they want me to reconnect it ! 

Thé engineer told me there are some companies that can install a meter but not charge a standing charge fee. I would like this as my current plan would be to install the meter but NOT use any gas …. Maybe for a year or more while I save money to get the boiler working etc

Does anyone know who does this? Ideally I would like direct debit as I hate those pre-pay meters.

ive been told thé charges for when you DO eventually use gas will be higher ( but I don’t know how much higher )  - would  I be able at some point ( let’s say in a years time as an example ) to change my tariff to one with a standing charge but lower unit charges ? would I also be able to change gas supplier ? I’m assuming the fee to install a meter will mean I should be able to change suppliers ? 
thank you 

Netexporter

Are you in receipt of any benfits? If so, it sounds as if you'd qualify for an ECO4 grant to fir a heat pump and possiblry solar panels, so you wouldn't then need a gas supply.

bazdvd

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/electricity-standing-charge/

bazdvd

Netexporter said:

Are you in receipt of any benfits? If so, it sounds as if you'd qualify for an ECO4 grant to fir a heat pump and possiblry solar panels, so you wouldn't then need a gas supply.

In order to qualify for free government funded home energy efficiency improvements, you must meet both of these criteria:

You are the property homeowner

Someone in your household claims one of the following qualifying benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit

• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment & Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

QrizB

petefromkent said:

Hi. I’m new and this is my first post .

Welcome to the forum.

petefromkent said:

they have told me I have a month to get a meter installed or they will cut my gas off in the road outside - and to reconnect it will be over £1000 .

Yes, that's quite normal. Most people who have their meter removed so it through choice, because they've replaced their gas appliances with something else (like a heat pump, as described above).

petefromkent said:

Thé engineer told me there are some companies that can install a meter but not charge a standing charge fee. I would like this as my current plan would be to install the meter but NOT use any gas …. Maybe for a year or more while I save money to get the boiler working etc
Does anyone know who does this? 

Utolita have a zero standing charge tariff, but I don't know if they'll fit a meter for you. Also it's prepayment, but it should be with a smart meter so you'll be able to pay online and won't need to mess about with cards or keys.

I'm assuming you own your home, rather than renting? Otherwise fixing the boiler would be your landlord's responsibility.

Netexporter

bazdvd said:

Netexporter said:

Are you in receipt of any benfits? If so, it sounds as if you'd qualify for an ECO4 grant to fir a heat pump and possiblry solar panels, so you wouldn't then need a gas supply.

In order to qualify for free government funded home energy efficiency improvements, you must meet both of these criteria:

You are the property homeowner

Someone in your household claims one of the following qualifying benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit

• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment & Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

Generally true but, as I found out, it depends on your Local Authority. I assumed I wasn't eligible for ECO4, because I don't receieve any benefits, apart from the State Pension, which isn't listed. However, the financial application is vetted by the LA, and, in my case, in combination with their local energy policy, I received a heat pump, complete with entirely new radiators, hot water cylinder, etc.They also fitted 10 solar panels. My bills for the past three months have been negative, and I expect will remain so until at least September, so I'll only be paying out in the 4 coldest months, mainly from my solar earnings in the summer.

Long story short, it's worth asking. 

20122013

Utilita will only accept customer with a smart meter, if you do not have one they will install one for you, free of charge, and they have no standing charge as such their unit rate is a about at least 30% higher than other providers who charges a Standing Charge.

Also, Utilita has said that paying them by Direct debit will be more expensive than doing prepay / pay as you go .. 

https://utilita.co.uk/

If you are on benefit, you may be entitled to warm home discounts.