Can a MET1 engineer move a gas meter if he fits a secondary ECV?

[Fogster74]

Hi,

The gas supply to our house (yellow poly with a plastic shroud) enters our house, hits the ECV, then meter - supply to house then exits same wall and runs up the house to enter under the floorboards of the first floor. We simply want the meter moving outside, a straight forward back-to-back move. When I posted previously, a number of you (understandably!) couldn't believe that I'd be quoted £800+ by Scotia for a back-to-back meter move, with no excavation, where I was supplying the meter box, so I went back to them, challenged the quote and the quote ha reamined at £820 (attached). It makes my blood boil as it's probably an hour's work max and needs virtually no materials. If we didn't live in Berkshire (between Reading and Didcot) and were served by Transco not Scotia, it'd be just £300'ish, as oppsed to £820 ransom I'm being asked to pay. They claim 'flat pricing is fairer to our customer' - what total load of tosh I feel like I'm being totally scr@wed and won't play ball as we simply can't afford that. £300 seems fair.

As a compromise, it's been suggested that a MET1 qualified engineer can move the meter outside if we leave the current ECV where it is and fit a secondary ECV at the meter. This would leave the primary ECV in our lounge (where I could box it in leaving room for our hi-fi kit next to it in a cupboard) ad it's not ideal, but it's workable. I've attached pictures below of the meter, the external supply and the absurd quote.

So - can a MET1 do this and, if so what sort of costs would be involved and who's permission would I need? Would really appreciate your advice. And if anyone knows of a way to move the whole lot at a sensible price, please PM me!

 

[AWheating]

if you do move the meter as you are thinking then you will need to keep acess to the internal ecv as its the emergency valve (the secondary valve would be for a different purpose, isolation), this will be the valve that would need to be turned off in the event of a emergency like a leak. so dont box it in, it will need a door.

what material is the black sleeve made from above the ground? i would have expected it to be a fireproof fibreglass tube/pipe, your looks like its a flexible material?

as regards if it can be done by a met1 engineer im unsure, one of the forum members will be able to answer that and it may be possible to get a forum member local to yoursleves to give you a quote.

 

[Dotty]

You were given your answer in a previous thread. Asking the same question slightly differently won't change it to the answer you think you want!

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/i...eer/40036-back-back-meter-move-berkshire.html

 

[Destroyer2813]

Exactly what I was thinking croppie half way through reading

 

[Fogster74]

Hi Croppie, Destroyer,

Thanks always for the feedback but actually that's not quite true about having received an answer! A consensus wasn't reached in the post as to whether a MET1 could move the meter or not. Members Resolute and Tamz were discussing over whether a MET1 could move the meter - Resolute thought yes, Tamz seemed to initially say no. Tamz thought my quote must be incorrect - I've hence posted back with the new quote, which again is over £800, and Resolute was last to post.

It seems the meter move with a secondary ECV by a MET1 may be the way forward, but I'm still not sure if this is allowed, or how I find someone to do it, or what it would cost.

 

[Dotty]

Go to your carrier. THEY are the only ones permitted to carry out the work you are suggesting.

 

[Fogster74]

Hi Croppie,

Thanks - that's what I was looking for, a firm answer whether a secondary ECV (and meter move) can be done by anyone other than the carrier. If that's the case, I'm stuck with the meter in the corner of the room. I find the charge of £822 for what I want, when Transco, for exactly the same job, charge half that amount, absolutely appalling, especially when no-one has suggested this is anything other than an incredibly quick job. It has to be anti-competitive.

Thanks all for your advice.

 

[Rickster123]

Doesn't need to be competitive when there is no competition.

 

[Fogster74]

There technically is competiton.... but I've only found one company in London approved to do it, and they want even more than the carrier!

 

[Rickster123]

There technically is competiton.... but I've only found one company in London approved to do it, and they want even more than the carrier!

I'd get the carrier to do it then before they change their mind!

 

[Fogster74]

Not an option, we can't afford it.

 

[Barry98]

Play nice or ill take your balls off you

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Play nice or ill take your balls off you

and castration is permanent

 

[Dotty]

and castration is permanent

Not where my woman's concerned! She sews them back on so she can swipe them off again!

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Not where my woman's concerned! She sews them back on so she can swipe them off again!

you need to get her trained croppie LOL

 

[Dotty]

you need to get her trained croppie LOL

We have a tacit understanding, me and her!

 

[Koogatubac]

Not an option, we can't afford it.

Lol the price is what it is. Hate customers who try to squeem themselves into lowering a price of work. I did a job of fixing a boiler who customer said she was skint so did it for a good price, drove past week later she was having a whole roof relayed! But she was nearly crying she had no hot water. Dont feel sorry for customers like this now.. your paying for experience and knowledge too! Plus you will be guaranteed by your carrier, not a company that claims they can do it!