Gas Meter Safety Check

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll send a normal meter reader bloke.

Of course while he's there he'll check you don't have any naked flames licking up the side of their meter ...

Would those be old flames, or new flames, and where can I get one?

ISTM you are worrying unnecessaruily given (a) on the one hand they have an obligation to try to inspect meters to check they are safe - eg not hanging from the pipes - and (b) on the other hand you have a *right* to refuse to have a "smart meter"

It's their property and they can replace it whenever they like.

I'd be surprised if it is that: I'd say one out of three readings are by the company and the figures are always in the same ball park as the estimates.

Ah... I wondered why I wasn't having to switch the lights on in the meter cupboard any more .)

Thanks,

Nick

Thanks for that: useful to know.

Nick

Thing is all will be smart by 2020 in any case from what I've been reading though there are still some locations and some leccy tarrifs that apparently are going to cause issues, so excceptions might be possible. brian

Perhaps they are Ex Georgie Fames Blue Flames, thugh many are too old to care now. Brian

Ah in the old days the engineers used to strike a match and look for leaks by the change in colour of the flame. I never trusted them, but I don't think anyone got blown up. I no longer have gas. Brian

That's an aspiration, rather than a given.

Also IIRC there's no compatibility between various generations of smart meters, leading to a bunfight over who should pay for the meter installation.

Frankly I think its an idea whose time will never come.

Lie windmills and solar panels, its fosted on us in the name of progress, but the actual issue is that its too bloody expensive and doesn't actually work

Possibly bluetooth meters than can be read from outside, or that send data back to vulture central via te internet yes, but controls via te internet?

Not worth it,.

I think they are obliged to inspect it for leaks and other safety issues every couple of years. They will also look for tampering.

They can't force you to have a smart meter.

I fear you underestimate the forces agitating for it.

Which preserves shareholder bonuses more ? Spunking a few million on smart meters (which you can rig the tenders for so it's mates-rates all round) which allow you to control demand for electricity ...

OR

Spunk a few *billion" building new power stations which will take years to make a return for investors.

(Notice supply of power to the public isn't a factor in either outcome).

One wonders if this lunacy is the price of peace (FSVO peace) post WW2 ?

Well its the price of handing electoral power to a bunch of people who have steadfastly refused to take any responsibility for how they vote.

..yet...

As usual with any stupid idea, the EU is at the heart of it all

Bet it does.

No reason why it cant work with smartmeters and it should pay for itself quite quickly in situations where the supply system has humans reading the meters.

That makes no sense because it still needs a human to do that. Makes a lot more sense to use the mobile phone system instead.

Makes a lot more sense to use the mobile phone system.

Not worth it by itself, but once you have the smartmeter to make it cheap to read the meters automatically, you might as well allow the supply to be turned off and on remotely for very little extra cost in the meter so you don?t have the cost of monkeys in cars doing that.

They can check that the meter location /enclosure is ventilated. They can check that the pipe bridging the cavity wall is there and sealed to both inner and outer leaves And they can check that there are no leaks.

Also Google"Mutual detrimental influences" Shouldn't affect existing installations. It's about gas and electricity being close together.

They usually send a threatening letter when the meter hasn't been read by a third party for a couple of years. The letter will state that it is a safety check and say they will gain access by way of a court order.

The "inspector", unqualified for gas/electricity safety, will spend 10 seconds in your home reading the meter.

And seeing that it's not been bypassed.

One of the benefits of smart meters (to honest customers) is that it becomes much easier to detect meters simply bypassed to steal gas or electricity.

And to detect long-dead customers.