No access to gas meter

abouttimetoo

Hi all

Just a quick question. I'm having some crazy gas bills (work away 5 days a week with gas off and it's only on rarely at weekends - I've just found out my upstairs neighbour in same style of property has his on virtually day and night 7 days a week and his bills are exactly half of mine).

Anyway, our gas meters are all locked up and need a special key to access them. A friend of mine has said that they thought everyone is supposed to have the right to access to their meter whenever they need to. Can anyone tell me is this is true, should all tenants in my block have been provided with a key for thier meter?

arnie&caseysma!

You should be able to buy a key for the gas meter box from a hardware store - they are usually a triangular (if I remember correctly) shape and don't cost a lot. If you can't get your hands on one contact your supplier and ask them to send one out.

abouttimetoo

Thanks very much arnie&caseysma. I didn't realise you could buy them; I've also just had a thought - I think I'll borrow my parents and see if it fits - I'm sure you are right about it being a triangle shape. I'm desperate to get a reading as well as seeing what it is this week before I go away to work and see if it has changed any when I get back.

My most recent gas bill was £216 for the quarter which just seems astounding for a few hours over 12 weekends compared to my neigbours of £110 for just about constant usage:mad:

mute_posting

Sounds like if you meters are together they may be registered to the wrong property and you are paying your neighbours and vice-versa - it is quite a common mistake on flats and new-builds.

Powergen/E.on actually supplied me a key when I moved in (was in the welcome pack) - which was pretty useless as my electric meter (don't have gas) isn't in that kind of meter cupboard lol

MP

abouttimetoo

Thanks mute posting.

Yes, it is a new build, I'm the first owner and been here since July last year. The gas bills have always been high but I'm ashamed to say I didn't think too much of it with all the press about energy proces rising etc.

My monthly electric bill is usually approx £7, this gives you some idea of how little I am home. Actually, I switched my electric to the gas supplier 2 months ago (both now with British Gas) so that might help in getting them to recognise there is a problem.