Back to back meter move in Berkshire

[Fogster74]

Our gas meter is stuck in one corner of our lounge - the pipe (yellow polyethylene?) comes in through the wall, into the main isolating valve, a flexible corrugated steel hose goes into the meter and then the gas supply immediately exits the wall and runs up outside the house, where it re-enters and runs under the floor boards. I've attached a photo showing the gas pipe entering the house and then the copper supply to the house coming out the wall. The meter is simply on the wall the other side.


We want the meter moved outside - the yellow supply pipe is exposed, there would be virtually no replumbing required and it would hopefully be a really quick job. We really need the meter moving as we've plans for the area it's blocking - boxing it in etc is really a very poor option for us.


We've contacted Scotia (the network owner) and they want something like £800 to complete the work! An absurd figure and one we can't possibly justify. We also found an 'independent' company in London who are qualified to do it (Tanners Gas) but they wanted virtually the same.


Is there any cheaper way to do this - we're quite willing to pay £300 and would provide a semi-concealed meter box - does anyone have any thoughts on this? We're located between Reading and Oxford on the A329.

 

[snowhead]

You have no choice, the service pipe from the street to your meter belongs to Scotia.
It's either them or someone approved by them.

 

[Resolute]

Only other option would be to pipe from the ECV to outside, then a secondary ECV and the meter. You'd still have to box in a bit of pipe inside but not as obtrusive as a meter.

 

[AWheating]

be careful what gas meter box your buy also, get one that can have external pipework run into it by design some semi concealed cant. cutting a hole into a box is not allowed unless its designed to be so. Best to let the approved contractor sort it.

 

[Fogster74]

Wow - thanks all for your replies!

Only other option would be to pipe from the ECV to outside, then a secondary ECV and the meter. You'd still have to box in a bit of pipe inside but not as obtrusive as a meter.

Resolute - very interested by this, it could work perfectly! Who could do this, and what would it cost? Don't suppose you're ever near Reading?!

 

[Resolute]

You'd have to find a gas safe engineer with MET1 certs. Or find a transco engineer willing to do it on the side.

Unfortunately I'm not near reading but I'm sure if you posted in the need a plumber section someone will be.

 

[Fogster74]

Amazing advice - many, many thanks - you've given me hope!

PSjust realised that this is the section - haha!

 

[tamz]

You won't find a gas installer who can legally move your meter no matter what MET tickets they have. It belongs to the network supplier and work can only be carried out by someone working with their authority.
Your £800 quote is ott. You have not asked for the right thing or someone didn't understand what you were after.

Here are some links
National Grid: Indicative charge for a service alteration or meter move for a domestic property
page 12 of this one
http://www.sgn.co.uk/ScotiaGas/uplo...es/StandardChargesScotlandGasNetworks2012.pdf

 

[Doodlebug]

If its a straight forward move, National Grid will charge around the £400 mark.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Fogster74]

If its a straight forward move, National Grid will charge around the £400 mark.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

ational grid quoted £320+vat then said they won't touch it as it's Scotia's. I challenged Scotia but they said it was a fixed flat price. Think I'll go back to them again - thanks for the continued advice.