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Original poster

has anyone had an electricity meter moved (very dull, sorry)

37 replies

MrsJohnDeere · 03/01/2012 13:34

I understand from my electrician that this can only be done by the electricity supplier. Just curious to know if anyone has done this, whether it was a huge palaver, and if it cost a lot? Can't get any sense out of my electricity company. Moving our meter stands between me and a fabulous double fridge-freezer.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 03/01/2012 14:29

yes, it has to be done by the distribution network operator (this may not be the same as the company who sends your bill, since you can change supplier at whim).

they will charge some hundreds of pounds. However they like moving meters to an outside cabinet so the meter readers can get at it easily (also if they want to cut you off for not paying your bill) so if it suits you, ask what they would charge to move it to an outside cabinet and they will be more keen.

In my experience, the telephone call centres are of varying quality. If you write a short letter and send it to the company who sends your bill, it will get logged and passed along until it reaches someone who can deal with it.

madeupstuff · 03/01/2012 14:33

Take readings (with photos maybe) before and after a change - just in case they switch the meter at the same time or if something breaks.

Had a giant fuckup when our meter was changed (not quite what you're asking) that took nearly a year to resolve.

(And always get a receipt.)

thisisyesterday · 03/01/2012 14:36

hahaha

i was about to come and say the same thing as the last poster.

then I realised it was my DP

thisisyesterday · 03/01/2012 14:36

who should be at work Hmm

cece · 03/01/2012 14:38

We had ours done during extension work. Our builder knew someone who could do it for us. Not sure if it was technicially correct but it was a lot cheaper... Grin

PigletJohn · 03/01/2012 15:19

not legal, either

and since the incoming supply is effectively unfused, any carelessness, or brittle old cable or fuseholder, can lead to a spectacular short-circuit which will last until the cable burns away (this may take some hours) or the local substation is switched.

Original poster
MrsJohnDeere · 03/01/2012 15:26

Thank you all. Really helpful. Hadn't thought about an outside meter. That wouldn't be the end of the world. It would be worth doing if it costs a couple of hundred pounds, less so if we're talking a thousand pounds plus (electricians guesstimate).

OP posts:
claracluck71 · 03/01/2012 15:43

We had to have our meter moved a about a month ago ready for an extension to be built, and it was really easy and straight forward. We just contacted the electricity board (SSE in our case) who then emailed us a form to complete. We had to do a simple diagram of where it was and where we wanted it moved to, include a couple of photos, and send a cheque for £280. We sent it back and then within a couple of days we had a date for when they would do it, which I think was just over a week later.

They turned up on time and it was done within a couple of hours. Our electrician did have to do some prelim work and be present to disconnect/reconnect, which would bump up the cost (we had asked for this to be included in the building quote).

Lizcat · 03/01/2012 15:48

Recently had meter moved with Southern Electric £250 annoyingly 9 months later they then claimed the meter need changing and came and then in could be accommodated in the position it had been moved to so had to be moved again.
That was three years ago got quote from British Gas (supplier at different property) recently now it is £350!!! Even though we were suggesting moving the meter from a very restricted access property to an external wall.
Did get another meter moved for nothing by first utility when they came to install the smart meter just asked the guy if he could move it slightly when he changed it.
When the electric company move the meter they attach a special seal to it so they know they have done it and no tapering has occurred.
I am a really sad person that i have so much meter changing experience. However, it does show a huge difference between the companies.

thisisyesterday · 03/01/2012 16:06

outside meters are great cos it means they can just come and do the meter reading without having to come inside and battle their way through the hell that is the cupboard under the stairs

Fizzylemonade · 03/01/2012 19:01

I've used to work for npower and have actually been out with the blokes when they do a meter changes and Lizcat is right when she says that they use a special seal.

It is actually a crimp and if I recall from my time each crimp is unique to the fitter. It is a little metal tube that the bloke squeezes tight and the crimper marks the metal with a set of numbers or letters.

Electricity companies like the meter to be on the outside of a property for several reasons. They can read it easily and don't need you to be home, they can visually inspect it which they are required to do every 2 years and lastly should you owe them money and refuse to pay it back they can fit a prepayment meter.

I would have said that the meter moving depends on the distance it is going and the amount of labour.

Original poster
MrsJohnDeere · 05/01/2012 16:25

Still not getting anywhere with this. It is npower, but they apparently won't put meters outside unless they are joint gas/electricity ones, it is a rental property, or it is a prepayment meter, none of which apply. There is somewhere inside which would be a suitable place (IMO) but they seem very confused about whether or not they can do it. I phone and leave messages, but the relevant person is always out of the office

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 05/01/2012 18:26

report them to ofgem
they have no right to stop you putting in an outside mete box if it is easily reached from the power cable

I had gas and electric moved on the same day
electric was £250 ish
gas was £500 ish

Tianc · 05/01/2012 18:30

Just check out this thread first, in case you're bothered about the hackability of a Smart Meter, as they may take advantage of the move to replace your current meter.

DaveyStott · 05/01/2012 18:41

MrsJohnDeere - try your electricity distribution company, rather than npower. It may be that the service cable to your property will also need to be moved - and it will be the distribution company who do this. Npower are elec suppliers, responsible for billing, but don't own any network. Your distribution company should be named on your elec bill (or PM me and I'll tell you which company to contact).

DaveyStott · 05/01/2012 19:05

Sorry - should have made myself a bit clearer! There are 14 different electricity distribution regions, so who your company is depends upon where you live!

PigletJohn · 05/01/2012 20:11

"I phone and leave messages, but the relevant person is always out of the office "

take my tip

"In my experience, the telephone call centres are of varying quality. If you write a short letter and send it to the company who sends your bill, it will get logged and passed along until it reaches someone who can deal with it."

Fizzylemonade · 06/01/2012 13:20

I cannot see why they would not want a meter outside. All new build properties have the meter on the outside of the property. It is win win all round for the electricity company as they have access at all times for the reasons I stated above.

I would write a letter insisting you want to pay for the meter to be moved. You seem to be getting people who do not know what they are doing. As PigletJohn says, a letter does get logged and IIRC they have to reply within a certain number of days. That used to be part of my job, dealing with correspondence for closed accounts.

JumpJockey · 07/01/2012 21:29

In a similar way, is it possible to move gas meters? Ours in the new house is in a very annoying position that means we can only use about 2/3 of the under stairs cupboard and it would be fine with me to move it outside if gas ones can be!

Fizzylemonade · 07/01/2012 21:43

Yes, you can move a gas meter. My mate had a side extension and needed hers moving as it was already on the outside of her house and they wanted it still to be on the outside.

PigletJohn · 07/01/2012 21:44

it is possible, but it is generally a lot more work than moving an electricity meter. It is likely to involve digging trenches and squeezing the supply pipe (if plastic) to stop gas flowing while the work is done.

If you have an old iron pipe in a large size, they may be able to poke a new plastic pipe down it, and avoid digging a long trench, but will still have to dig a hole in the pavement and the new meter position.

JumpJockey · 08/01/2012 09:11

Cripes. I was wondering more if it could just be moved to the outside wall of the house... Def old pipes, copper as well which raised some interesting 'issues' when an old dead end one cracked while we were having bathroom done... Why would the pavement need to be involved?!

PigletJohn · 08/01/2012 10:04

pavement: because the gas main runs under the road, verge or pavement, and has a service pipe which runs to your house. There is (probably) no stop-cock. To move your meter they will have to cut your pipe. Gas would then squirt out of the open end under much higher pressure than comes through the meter. To stop this, they squeeze plastic pipe flat. This is usually done at the pavement end.

Copper pipe is relatively modern and is used inside houses but not for gas mains or service pipes, they are iron or plastic.

JumpJockey · 08/01/2012 20:31

Ah righto! I hadn't clicked that they would have to switch the supply off somehow Blush

Thinking back you're right, it was iron pipe. We were stood there with a crack in the pipe, gas switched off (thank god I was in when it happened so could tell the builder where the meter was, they hadn't expected to find a gas pipe where they were working) and I called the people who last checked the boiler who said 'oh no, we can't work with iron pipes. I can arrange for someone to come out in a few days to give you a quote for replacing all your old pipework' Shock
Fortunately we managed to find a bloke who came out and capped it off within 2 hours. [phew]

Xmania · 20/05/2014 10:58

Sorry to be resurrecting an old thread but hopefully somebody will see this post.

I recently bought a house and I really really want to move the electricity meter and consumer unit. It is in a place where I want to put in a cloak room and there is a massive space under the stairs to put both the meter and consumer unit or I don't mind if the meter is moved outside the house.

The supplier that the previous owners were on is British Gas. I have been reading around and different suppliers seem to take a different attitude to moving the meters and some just don't barge.

I just want to get my cloak room!!!!

Does anyone know of any suppliers who are easier to deal with in moving the meter? I haven't set up account with anyone yet as I am afraid that I will be stuck once I do that.