Hi all,
National Grid are currently replacing the mains gas supply pipework in our street and the pipes that run from the mains to each householders meter. They are doing this by inserting a plastic pipe inside the old metal pipe, houses were built in 71. For the houses the meter is located at the rear of the house inside the kitchen, on mine which is a bungalow the gas and electric meters are located by the front door in their own cupboard so don't sit outside the external wall. The gas mains pipe comes up through the house foundation to the meter with a shut off valve. We had forewarning cards and a date they will be doing the work which is tomorrow. All it says on the card is they need someone at home all day and they will be disconnecting the gas supply and then reconnecting once the work is done. Two chaps came to the house on Tues and asked where the meter was so showed it to them and explained it was new smart meter installed last year. I was told they might need to relocate the meter but depends on what length of pipe they have, there was no mention of this on the explanatory card, just they need to disconnect the supply. I didn't say anything at the time but don't really want the meter moving, so my question is can I refuse to have it relocated? Would mean taking the drive up and faff. I don't know if the regs have changed and that all meters now have to be outside the property i.e. on an external wall for safety reasons. Surely they're not going to relocate all the meters in the street from inside the properties to the outside as it will take more than a day. If I refuse to have the meter relocated can they legally disconnect me?
Tim.
National Grid are currently replacing the mains gas supply pipework in our street and the pipes that run from the mains to each householders meter. They are doing this by inserting a plastic pipe inside the old metal pipe, houses were built in 71. For the houses the meter is located at the rear of the house inside the kitchen, on mine which is a bungalow the gas and electric meters are located by the front door in their own cupboard so don't sit outside the external wall. The gas mains pipe comes up through the house foundation to the meter with a shut off valve. We had forewarning cards and a date they will be doing the work which is tomorrow. All it says on the card is they need someone at home all day and they will be disconnecting the gas supply and then reconnecting once the work is done. Two chaps came to the house on Tues and asked where the meter was so showed it to them and explained it was new smart meter installed last year. I was told they might need to relocate the meter but depends on what length of pipe they have, there was no mention of this on the explanatory card, just they need to disconnect the supply. I didn't say anything at the time but don't really want the meter moving, so my question is can I refuse to have it relocated? Would mean taking the drive up and faff. I don't know if the regs have changed and that all meters now have to be outside the property i.e. on an external wall for safety reasons. Surely they're not going to relocate all the meters in the street from inside the properties to the outside as it will take more than a day. If I refuse to have the meter relocated can they legally disconnect me?
Tim.