Finding completely new gas supplier

daisyH_2

Hi there,

I'm usually a lurker rather than a poster, but any help would be appreciated. Up until now we've been electric only, currently with EDF but planning to switch as can save money elsewhere. However, we're about to have gas put into the house so need to choose a supplier to fit meter and supply the gas.

While the comparison sites can help if you already have gas and electric, I'm not sure how I find the best supplier from scratch, including meter installation. Does anyone have any suggestions?

DaisyH

Premier_2

I don't have a full answer, and it may be a case of ringing around to see the best deal you can get
(you could always change supplier once you are connected, assuming you don't opt for any special tie-ins)

Do you already have gas pipes to the house and just require a meter, or do you need the gas pipe connection too?

When I arranged this for a relative a little while back, I'm sure there was no charge for the meter as we argued that the pipework was already in place (albeit last used 30 years earlier).

On inspection, the gas company did more than just supply the meter. As the pipework was old metal pipes, they first fitted a smaller plastic pipe lining inside it from the road to the house. Also they were reluctant to fit the meter to the inside of the exterior wall where the meter originally was located many years ago and asked that an exterior utility box be fitted to house the meter. We said if that's what they wanted, they were welcome to go ahead and fit one - which they did again without charge.

... but if you need a new gas pipe to be laid to the house, I don't know if that is available for free.

daisyH_2

Thanks Premier.

There is no existing supply, and the company that do the supplying (Wales and West) aren't a gas supplier, so they can't do the meter for us. I guess I'll just have to find out who supplies in our area and do the ringing round thing. I just wondered if there was any way I could combine it with the electric switching to cover all bases in one.

mute_posting

I doub't you'll be able to get it done via the switching route, but you could maybe use the sites to see who may be cheapest supplier by just choosing an "existing" supplier at random and then choosing the no bill handy or estimate option when asked about current usage.

HTH

MP

smartie1976

I think pipes need to be sorted by National Grid (Transco) rather than the Gas/Elec company, who only provide the 'gas', not the pipes it goes through or the meter which records the usage.

If you ring your current supplier and ask them they'll be able to give you more info about this, and I think they can even arrange it for you, but there will be a charge for the pipelines (I think the meter installation is free).