My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
meter?

On 9 Jan 2006 07:52:26 -0800, wrote:

| My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
| been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
| box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
| the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
| Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
| use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
| meter?

The keys to the ones I have seen are very simple triangular things.
Not difficult to make.
My mother in law asked for one and got it given by the then Gas Board.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk
17,000 free e-books at Project Gutenberg! http://www.gutenberg.net
For Yorkshire Dialect go to www.hyphenologist.co.uk/songs/

wrote:
My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case
what use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an
electronic meter?

The whole point of an external meter is for it to be read with occupant
either in or out, have a word with your supplier and demand you not being
disturbed for this purpose.


--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

The message .com
from contains these words:

My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
meter?

I complained to my supplier 25 years ago and they provided me with a key
FOC. You need it so you can check the meter and complain about their
outrageously high estimated reading. :-)

--
Roger Chapman

In message ,
Roger wrote:

The message .com
from contains these words:

My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
meter?

I complained to my supplier 25 years ago and they provided me with a key
FOC. You need it so you can check the meter and complain about their
outrageously high estimated reading. :-)

Screwfix also sell a multi-way key which gets into four different types
of meter cabinet:

16428, £1.99

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/
Making sense of technology: http://www.livtech.co.uk/
.... Not a computer nerd; merely a techno-weenie.

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 21:33:09 +0000, Martin Angove wrote:

In message ,
Roger wrote:

The message .com
from contains these words:

My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
meter?

I complained to my supplier 25 years ago and they provided me with a key
FOC. You need it so you can check the meter and complain about their
outrageously high estimated reading. :-)

Screwfix also sell a multi-way key which gets into four different types
of meter cabinet:

Which is very useful as the square socket fits the CH drain taps.

Most meter boxes are not secured at the bottom (they can be to deter
unwanted access) so just pull forward at the bottom and lift the whole
case off.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:
wrote:
My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case
what use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an
electronic meter?

The whole point of an external meter is for it to be read with occupant
either in or out, have a word with your supplier and demand you not being
disturbed for this purpose.

The whole point of the post is that the cupboard is *locked*. The
supplier will simply tell him not to lock the cupboard. The meter
readers all have the neccessey triangular keys for normal meter boxes.

MBQ

Dave Fawthrop wrote:
On 9 Jan 2006 07:52:26 -0800, wrote:

| My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
| been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
| box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
| the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
| Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
| use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
| meter?

The keys to the ones I have seen are very simple triangular things.
Not difficult to make.
My mother in law asked for one and got it given by the then Gas Board.

The meter readers have these. The OP is saying the cupboard (he doesn't
say meter box) is *locked*, ie., only he has the key.

MBQ

Ed Sirett wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 21:33:09 +0000, Martin Angove wrote:

In message ,
Roger wrote:

The message .com
from contains these words:

My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
meter?

I complained to my supplier 25 years ago and they provided me with a key
FOC. You need it so you can check the meter and complain about their
outrageously high estimated reading. :-)

Screwfix also sell a multi-way key which gets into four different types
of meter cabinet:

Which is very useful as the square socket fits the CH drain taps.

Most meter boxes are not secured at the bottom (they can be to deter
unwanted access) so just pull forward at the bottom and lift the whole
case off.

FFS you're like a load of sheep following each other. The *meter
reader* needs access to a *locked* cupboard. What use is a meter box
key going to be to the OP? He has the key to the cupboard!

MBQ

although remote meter reading was looked into it was decided not to follow
that road
meter readers need to be able to access the meters for safety checks and
also to check you are not fiddling the supply
i come across on average 6 meters a day that are leaking gas to a explosive
rate and most of the time the occupier is unaware of the problem due to the
fact that they have just got used to the smell
it is also a legal requirement for the meters to be checked

wrote in message
ups.com...

Dave Fawthrop wrote:
On 9 Jan 2006 07:52:26 -0800, wrote:

| My gas meter was replaced about a year ago and I assumed it would have
| been of the electronic type that could be read from outside the meter
| box. However, my meter is in a locked external cupboard and whenever
| the meter reader comes he always has to get access to read the meter.
| Do the electronic meters still need a visual check - in which case what
| use are they - or is it more likely that I don't have an electronic
| meter?

The keys to the ones I have seen are very simple triangular things.
Not difficult to make.
My mother in law asked for one and got it given by the then Gas Board.

The meter readers have these. The OP is saying the cupboard (he doesn't
say meter box) is *locked*, ie., only he has the key.

MBQ

On 13 Jan 2006 01:54:42 -0800, wrote:


FFS you're like a load of sheep following each other. The *meter
reader* needs access to a *locked* cupboard. What use is a meter box
key going to be to the OP? He has the key to the cupboard!

MBQ
Indeed,also the point that the OP made about electronic meters is no
longer valid. In the dim and dinstant passed when we had a "joined
up" gas industry instead of the abortion that we have now,investment
was made into developing a system using AMR's (Automatic meter
readers). These where essentially an electronic interface which when
polled by an onboard pc (on a vehicle) would transmit the metering
data i.e one vehicle could read loads of meters remotely as it dorve
down the street without actually having to access the premises.

Unfortunately there is no longer any investment in the gas industry,
it is totally f**ked and is just another railtrack-i.e one big
accident waiting to happen,oh sorry,accidents are already
happeing,bang,there goes another one.



Remove antispam and add 670 after bra to email

http://www.no2id.org/

all very well using automatic readers butthis idea was dismissed due to some
fatal accidents caused by gas leaks
i read meters and today came across 7 gas leaks in 218 meters i cheaked
these leaks were not just a whiff of gas but serious leaks most home owners
dont notice the smell of gas as a small leak develops into a bigger leak and
they just get used to it
also i foung 2 meters today that were being fiddled
hence where it is a legal requirment for the meters to be checked
"tarquinlinbin" wrote in message
...
On 13 Jan 2006 01:54:42 -0800, wrote:


FFS you're like a load of sheep following each other. The *meter
reader* needs access to a *locked* cupboard. What use is a meter box
key going to be to the OP? He has the key to the cupboard!

MBQ
Indeed,also the point that the OP made about electronic meters is no
longer valid. In the dim and dinstant passed when we had a "joined
up" gas industry instead of the abortion that we have now,investment
was made into developing a system using AMR's (Automatic meter
readers). These where essentially an electronic interface which when
polled by an onboard pc (on a vehicle) would transmit the metering
data i.e one vehicle could read loads of meters remotely as it dorve
down the street without actually having to access the premises.

Unfortunately there is no longer any investment in the gas industry,
it is totally f**ked and is just another railtrack-i.e one big
accident waiting to happen,oh sorry,accidents are already
happeing,bang,there goes another one.



Remove antispam and add 670 after bra to email

http://www.no2id.org/

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 23:52:31 +0000 (UTC), "hammy1967"
wrote:

The idea wasnt dismissed becuase of leaks,it was dismissed becuase of
the break up of the fully integrated British Gas Business and the
liberilisation of the gas market.

It isnt the gas suppliers responsibility to check for leaks. The
property owner has that responsibility under the GSIURegs and if they
suspect a leak,they are legally obliged to take certain actions.

The Gas transporter (EG national grid gas,UU,or whoever) is
responisble for their part of the network up to the ECV,the meter is
often covered under a PEMs contract between the Gas transporter or
emergency service provider and everything else downstream of the meter
outlet is the householder/homeowners responsibility.

In practical terms it is fairly un-usual to attend a gas escape and
find a combustible mixture within the general atmosphere (i.e 5-15%
GIA). Even lowish concentrations of 1% GIA cuase such a strong smell
that action is taken. Unless its an empty house and there is no one to
react!.

Several explosions and fatalities in recent years have been due to
failures of medium pressure mains which have caused rapid escalation
and deterioration of situations due to pressures and volumes of
escaping gas involved. Hence the reason why Ofgem has finally allowed
additional expenditure by gas transporters on mains replacement
programmes.

all very well using automatic readers butthis idea was dismissed due to some
fatal accidents caused by gas leaks
i read meters and today came across 7 gas leaks in 218 meters i cheaked
these leaks were not just a whiff of gas but serious leaks most home owners
dont notice the smell of gas as a small leak develops into a bigger leak and
they just get used to it
also i foung 2 meters today that were being fiddled
hence where it is a legal requirment for the meters to be checked




Remove antispam and add 670 after bra to email

http://www.no2id.org/