The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

Thanks,

Nick

Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll
send a normal meter reader bloke.

Of course while he's there he'll check you don't have any naked flames
licking up the side of their meter ...

On 08/06/16 08:34, Andy Burns wrote:
Of course while he's there he'll check you don't have any naked flames
licking up the side of their meter ...

Would those be old flames, or new flames, and where can I get one?


--
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They
always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them"

Margaret Thatcher

On 08/06/2016 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

ISTM you are worrying unnecessaruily given (a) on the one hand they have
an obligation to try to inspect meters to check they are safe - eg not
hanging from the pipes - and (b) on the other hand you have a *right* to
refuse to have a "smart meter"

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Andy Burns Wrote in message:
Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll
send a normal meter reader bloke.

Not for us, we get regular meter readers, but still had someone
come to check the meter a couple of years ago.

The safety check seemed to involve looking at the meter and going
OK :-)


--
--
Chris French

Chris French Wrote in message:
Andy Burns Wrote in message:
Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll
send a normal meter reader bloke.

Not for us, we get regular meter readers, but still had someone
come to check the meter a couple of years ago.

The safety check seemed to involve looking at the meter and going
OK :-)


It is (or has been) a requirement that supports the check metres
every two years. Though OFGEM published plans last year to
change that, not sure if things have changed. BG negotiated a
different regime with them.
--
--
Chris French

On 08/06/16 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

Thanks,

Nick

It's their property and they can replace it whenever they like.

On 08/06/2016 08:34, Andy Burns wrote:
Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll
send a normal meter reader bloke.

I'd be surprised if it is that: I'd say one out of three readings are by
the company and the figures are always in the same ball park as the
estimates.

Of course while he's there he'll check you don't have any naked flames
licking up the side of their meter ...

Ah... I wondered why I wasn't having to switch the lights on in the
meter cupboard any more .)

Thanks,

Nick

On 08/06/2016 09:23, Robin wrote:
On 08/06/2016 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

ISTM you are worrying unnecessaruily given (a) on the one hand they have
an obligation to try to inspect meters to check they are safe - eg not
hanging from the pipes - and (b) on the other hand you have a *right* to
refuse to have a "smart meter"

Thanks for that: useful to know.

Nick

Thing is all will be smart by 2020 in any case from what I've been reading
though there are still some locations and some leccy tarrifs that apparently
are going to cause issues, so excceptions might be possible.
brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Nick Odell" wrote in message
...
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values before
the inspection takes place?

Thanks,

Nick

Perhaps they are Ex Georgie Fames Blue Flames, thugh many are too old to
care now.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 08/06/16 08:34, Andy Burns wrote:
Of course while he's there he'll check you don't have any naked flames
licking up the side of their meter ...

Would those be old flames, or new flames, and where can I get one?


--
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always
run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them"

Margaret Thatcher

Ah in the old days the engineers used to strike a match and look for leaks
by the change in colour of the flame.
I never trusted them, but I don't think anyone got blown up. I no longer
have gas.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Chris French" wrote in message
...
Andy Burns Wrote in message:
Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll
send a normal meter reader bloke.

Not for us, we get regular meter readers, but still had someone
come to check the meter a couple of years ago.

The safety check seemed to involve looking at the meter and going
OK :-)


--
--
Chris French

On 08/06/16 12:16, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:05:59 +0100, Brian Gaff wrote:

Thing is all will be smart by 2020 in any case from what I've been
reading

That's an aspiration, rather than a given.

Also IIRC there's no compatibility between various generations of smart
meters, leading to a bunfight over who should pay for the meter
installation.

Frankly I think its an idea whose time will never come.

Lie windmills and solar panels, its fosted on us in the name of
progress, but the actual issue is that its too bloody expensive and
doesn't actually work

Possibly bluetooth meters than can be read from outside, or that send
data back to vulture central via te internet yes, but controls via te
internet?

Not worth it,.


--
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's
too dark to read.

Groucho Marx

On 08/06/2016 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

Thanks,

Nick

I think they are obliged to inspect it for leaks and other safety issues
every couple of years.
They will also look for tampering.

They can't force you to have a smart meter.

On 08/06/16 14:58, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:23:03 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 08/06/16 12:16, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:05:59 +0100, Brian Gaff wrote:

Thing is all will be smart by 2020 in any case from what I've been
reading

That's an aspiration, rather than a given.

Also IIRC there's no compatibility between various generations of smart
meters, leading to a bunfight over who should pay for the meter
installation.

Frankly I think its an idea whose time will never come.

Lie windmills and solar panels, its fosted on us in the name of
progress, but the actual issue is that its too bloody expensive and
doesn't actually work

Possibly bluetooth meters than can be read from outside, or that send
data back to vulture central via te internet yes, but controls via te
internet?

Not worth it,.

I fear you underestimate the forces agitating for it.

Which preserves shareholder bonuses more ? Spunking a few million on
smart meters (which you can rig the tenders for so it's mates-rates all
round) which allow you to control demand for electricity ...

OR

Spunk a few *billion" building new power stations which will take years
to make a return for investors.

(Notice supply of power to the public isn't a factor in either outcome).

One wonders if this lunacy is the price of peace (FSVO peace) post WW2 ?

Well its the price of handing electoral power to a bunch of people who
have steadfastly refused to take any responsibility for how they vote.



--
"The great thing about Glasgow is that if there's a nuclear attack it'll
look exactly the same afterwards."

Billy Connolly

On 08/06/16 14:58, dennis@home wrote:
On 08/06/2016 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

Thanks,

Nick

I think they are obliged to inspect it for leaks and other safety issues
every couple of years.
They will also look for tampering.

They can't force you to have a smart meter.
...yet...

As usual with any stupid idea, the EU is at the heart of it all

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topic...ids-and-meters



--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 08/06/16 12:16, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:05:59 +0100, Brian Gaff wrote:

Thing is all will be smart by 2020 in any case from what I've been
reading

That's an aspiration, rather than a given.

Also IIRC there's no compatibility between various generations of smart
meters, leading to a bunfight over who should pay for the meter
installation.

Frankly I think its an idea whose time will never come.

Bet it does.

Lie windmills and solar panels, its fosted on us in the name of progress,
but the actual issue is that its too bloody expensive and doesn't actually
work

No reason why it cant work with smartmeters and it
should pay for itself quite quickly in situations where
the supply system has humans reading the meters.

Possibly bluetooth meters than can be read from outside,

That makes no sense because it still needs a human to do that.
Makes a lot more sense to use the mobile phone system instead.

or that send data back to vulture central via te internet yes,

Makes a lot more sense to use the mobile phone system.

but controls via te internet?

Not worth it,.

Not worth it by itself, but once you have the smartmeter
to make it cheap to read the meters automatically, you
might as well allow the supply to be turned off and on
remotely for very little extra cost in the meter so you
dont have the cost of monkeys in cars doing that.

On Wednesday, 8 June 2016 08:28:43 UTC+1, Nick Odell wrote:
The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter. No
objection to that, obviously. But given previous communications I think
they intend to "fail" it anyway and replace it with a smart meter which,
for my own reasons, I do not want and which they know I do not want.

Could someone direct me towards information on what parameters are going
to be put under test where I can find out the pass and fail values
before the inspection takes place?

Thanks,

Nick

They can check that the meter location /enclosure is ventilated.
They can check that the pipe bridging the cavity wall is there and sealed to both inner and outer leaves
And they can check that there are no leaks.

Also Google"Mutual detrimental influences"
Shouldn't affect existing installations.
It's about gas and electricity being close together.

On 08/06/2016 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

They usually send a threatening letter when the meter hasn't been read
by a third party for a couple of years. The letter will state that it
is a safety check and say they will gain access by way of a court order.

The "inspector", unqualified for gas/electricity safety, will spend 10
seconds in your home reading the meter.

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 08/06/2016 09:18, Chris French wrote:
Andy Wrote in message:
Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

IME that's code for "too many estimated or customer readings", they'll
send a normal meter reader bloke.

Not for us, we get regular meter readers, but still had someone
come to check the meter a couple of years ago.

The safety check seemed to involve looking at the meter and going
OK :-)



My impression is that it has more to do with checking that you haven't
bypassed the meter in order to steal unmetered gas.
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

On 08/06/2016 20:12, alan_m wrote:
On 08/06/2016 08:28, Nick Odell wrote:

The energy company want to undertake a safety check of my gas meter.

They usually send a threatening letter when the meter hasn't been read
by a third party for a couple of years. The letter will state that it
is a safety check and say they will gain access by way of a court order.

The "inspector", unqualified for gas/electricity safety, will spend 10
seconds in your home reading the meter.

And seeing that it's not been bypassed.

One of the benefits of smart meters (to honest customers) is that it
becomes much easier to detect meters simply bypassed to steal gas or
electricity.

And to detect long-dead customers.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 08/06/2016 12:08, Brian Gaff wrote:
Ah in the old days the engineers used to strike a match and look for leaks
by the change in colour of the flame.
I never trusted them, but I don't think anyone got blown up. I no longer
have gas.

My wife used to work for them.

They did get blown up.

Andy

On 08/06/2016 23:42, Roger Mills wrote:


My impression is that it has more to do with checking that you haven't
bypassed the meter in order to steal unmetered gas.


But they tell you which day they are turning up!

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk