Charge for moving Gas & Electric meters

talkinpeace

I have been quoted £572.38 (incl VAT) to move my gas meter.
This is the minimum charge raised by the only company who move meters for SSE in my region.

I have been quoted £327.82 (incl VAT) to move my electric meter.
This is the minimum charge raised by my provider (SSE).

I have queries both charges.
They say they are permitted to charge these exorbitant fees by Energywatch and Ofgem.
I have contacted both of the above, who refer me back to the companies.

Any ideas how NOT to get ripped off for these charges?

PS I'm having an extension built - hence the need to move the meters.

EnergyMan_3

Unfortunately as SSE is the only company that can move the meter, there is no other cheaper alternative. You will have to bite the bullet and pay!

Ken68

Hi talkin.....you could downgrade the extension by £900 or re-plan to avoid moving the meters.

teabelly

Can you just leave the meters where they are and just have them in a cupboard so they're out of sight? That's what the extension builder on our current house did. If you tell them you are not going to bother then they might suddenly offer a discount

talkinpeace

Teabelly,
That is an idea!!

I have to move the gas meter because what was a cupboard is now a doorway
and I have to move the electric because of where other walls are moving.

What really peeves is that the new locations of both meters are directly above where the services both enter the extended property.
They have both been excavated as part of the footings.

Electric - around 30cm of new pipe will be needed - minimum charge is for "up to 15m"
Gas - around 10cm of new pipe needed - minimum charge is for "up to 2m"

I thought utility monopolies were in the past
and that consumer choice is king.
and who pays for OFGEM and Energywatch to be utterly toothless?
we do

hrrrruummmpphhh

teabelly

10 cm for the gas???? That is piffling, is it possible for a corgi gas man to do it? Seems stupid to have to pay so much for some outside contractor to add a small amount of pipe. If you did move the meter 10 and 30cm respectively would the meter readers even notice....it's probably illegal unfortunately

tizerbelle

teabelly wrote: »

10 cm for the gas???? That is piffling, is it possible for a corgi gas man to do it? Seems stupid to have to pay so much for some outside contractor to add a small amount of pipe. If you did move the meter 10 and 30cm respectively would the meter readers even notice....it's probably illegal unfortunately

Yep totally illegal and you could be fined for tampering plus you'd be putting your life / home at risk. You don't own the meters, they belong to the meter operator (called this for elec not sure if same name for gas). Sucks but that's the way it is.

talkinpeace

I did not make myself clear.

The electric meter is moving 2.5 metres - but it's new position is upstream of the old one and directly above the cable. Cut into clearly visible cable, install short piece of new cable and reattach meter.
The gas meter is moving about 3.5 metres - but exactly the same scenario.

I will have two bits of redundant service pipe under my extension.

If I could leave the gas tap where it was, the CORGI bod could move the meter ..... I may check that one.
My electrician reckons he'd do a better job of moving that meter than their people will.

It's the monopoly minimum charges and zero help from the expensive unelected quangoes that get my goat though.

Caffca

I understand what you are saying re the distance the meters need to be moved and I agree the prices are exorbitant but tizerbelle is right, you don't own the meters and if you try to bypass SSE you could end up in deep deep do-do.

If discovered, not only do you face fine and/or imprisonment but your supplies could be disconnected and remain so until the situation is resolved - which would mean at least you having to pay out again to get the installation checked and would probably be more than the original cost and until the supplier is satisfied the supply is safe they don't have to reconnect even if they have decided not to prosecute you.

Basically - too risky (certainly for me). As someone else said, shave £900 off the cost of the extension or look at an alternative plan.

talkinpeace

Caffca
I can afford the money - it just means I decorate a room a few months later.
It's the principle of being completely over a barrel with useless regulators that I object to.
I think I may fire off a few letters - newspapers etc. Exposure often works wonders.

PS I never intended to do it non legit - try getting illegal meters past a HIP and house sale in the future :-(