Meter Change

[fred g]

My electric provider wants to change my meter, have i got to allow it?

[Tilly2]

Are they charging you?

[Postdog]

Er, it is THEIR meter...

[gingejbee]

Yes, they own it.

[The Builder]

The meter belongs to the supply Company, Fred. I'll bet that, somewhere in the small print, they have this right. I can't see how the system could work otherwise.

I guess it's a change from mechanical to digital. Far more reliable and accurate.

[Mamyalynne]

They certainly can, mind you it took them four goes to change mine last time - kept sending engineers who scratched their heads and said 'Oh, it's one of those', no idea what they meant.

[woofgang]

why would you not allow it?

[New Judge]

Unless there is an emergency such that there is a danger to life or property they can only enter with your permission. However, if you refuse they may apply to a Magistrate for a warrant authorising them to enter. They are entitled to ask to enter your home, or to apply to a magistrate for a warrant, in order to:

• Inspect, substitute, re-install a meter (including a pre-payment meter).
• Add, alter or repair supply lines or pipes and other fittings.
• Remove from a pre-payment meter money or tokens belonging to the supplier.
• Inspect any other fittings.
•Disconnect the supply or remove a meter or other fittings in certain circumstances.

In order to obtain a warrant, the official must show that :

• You have been given at least twenty-four hours' notice (except in certain circumstances where at least 2 or 5 days or up to a week may be required );

and

• He or she has asked to be admitted and you have refused; or

• The premises are unoccupied.

Entry must be at a reasonable time and the official must leave the house as secure against trespassers as it was when he or she arrived , and make good any damage caused .

It is a criminal offence intentionally to obstruct a person who has a warrant or who asks to be admitted in an emergency. The maximum penalty is a fine of £1000. It is not an offence to refuse to let the official enter if there is no emergency and the official does not have a warrant.

The law governing these powers of entry is to be found in the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 and various schedules to the Gas Act 1986 and the Electricity Act 1989.

[Tilly2]

Goodness. Following New Judge's post, I would just let them do it. Are they charging you?

[joko]

if yours is an old one they may feel it is potentially unsafe now

they changed my meter about 8 years ago and the man was astonished by the one that was there - really old fashioned one, was in a terrible state and kept blowing fuses

but yes, it is their meter, not yours

[New Judge]

Yes I had mine changed a few months ago. They gave me plenty of notice, came at a time convenient to me and the job took about 15 minutes. (The juice had to be cut off for about five minutes). No big deal. These things have to be done.

[hc4361]

We all have to have smart meters by 2015 anyway, so you may as well let them do it now.

[fred g]

Answer to question by woofgang (why would you not allow it). Some time ago i paid a lot of money to have solar panels fitted, i have the old style meter fitted which when i am generating electricity and not using it it goes backwards, in theory it is storing electricity i have generated but not used, now my energy supplier wants to stop this so they can sell me electricity i have already generated which i dont think is right.These energy suppliers seem to do what ever they like and there is nothing we can do about it.

[joko]

cant you separate them?

if you can use your own electricity to your hearts content it wont matter about their meter, you will only pay what you use.

[factor-fiction]

I think you may have misunderstood, fred. It may be worth asking them to clarify what difference, if any, it will make to your reading/bills