New gas CH - we're screwed aren't we

[Hagrod]

I feel like this is a bit futile asking but here goes.

We have had (very expensive) central heating installed (boiler and 10 radiators) and had the gas pipeline put in by SGN(that alone cost £1000).

We have never had gas before and did not realise that SGN would not put a meter in themselves.

We are now phoning round all the gas suppliers and either they say they are not taking on new customers, or we would also have to have the electric wired up by them and have a duel smart meter type thing (just can't see this being possible as the hosue is ancient), or they maybe possibly vaguely can do it but not for 6-8 weeks as there is a huge waiting list for new installations. By which time it will be mid January and we may not survive that long as it is currently the same temperature in the house as it is out 😩

Is there anything we can do? I'd really appreciate someone's kind advice here.

I can't for the life of me think why the age of the house would prevent you having a smart meter for the electricity supply. If you get a smart meter o stalled, it will replace the existing non-smart meter. It doesn't really take up any more space than the old one.

And it won't be a special "dual fuel" smart meter, just an electricity one and a gas one, separately.

Combi boilers can run off bottled gas (with some minor adjustments) - expensive way to buy gas, but maybe an stop gap option.

Your gas fitter should be able to advise if the boiler is comparable/adaptable.

SGN don’t install gas meters. They should have told you this when you booked to have the supply installed. And yes Im afraid there is a delay of about 6 weeks.

SGN do have a meter install team but they only work for the suppliers , so you need get onto them.

Your gas engineer doesn’t sound very experienced, this is gas 101.

You need to spend your time contacting all the suppliers and begging, not making pointless complaints.

Our house was built in 1897 and we managed to have a smart meter fitted no problem. They won't do the gas because we are on a medium pressure supply, but that's due to lack of people qualified to work on medium pressure, not the age of the house...

Update: Octopus Energy have come to our rescue! They have been absolutely brilliant to us and we had the meter fitted today! Afaik it is the old fashioned, non smart kind. Only took about two minutes to put in. Such a relief as the weather is really closing in now.

We just need to get the plumber and his gas safe mate back now to get it all plumbed in and turned on, next week hopefully.

Thanks all for your help and input, much appreciated.

great news, thanks for the update

Might seem an obvious question, but why didn’t you book a meter installation before the CH work commenced?

The plumber wouldn’t necessarily know about gas supply etc. but the Gas safe guy should have. Make sure you get all the commissioning paperwork and validate your boiler warranty.