Gas meter failed - replacement too big ?

[SimonH2]

Our gas meter is an electronic one, and apart from being f***ing difficult to read as the window has taken on a "steamed up" look, it seems to have stopped counting in the last couple of weeks.

Dad tells me that they wanted to change the meter some years ago, but the one they wanted to fit (mechanical type) would have been too big and the cupboard door wouldn't shut without rebuilding part of the room. After some discussion, it was agreed that the old meter was OK for another couple of years - as I say, that was "some years" ago so it's probably well past it's time !
Just looked, there's a sticker on it (I assume from when it was fitted) with a date on it - from March 96.

So apart from calling up whoever is on the gas bills to report the meter not working, are there any magic words to use so they come equipped with another meter that will fit where the current one is ? There's a smidgen over 6" of depth in the cupboard.

 

[Charnwood]

Tell them the meter dials have stopped moving, therefore not registering any gas usage.

They'll be round like a flash.

 

[doitall]

I wouldn't notice it for some time, maybe the next meter reading.

My nice smart meter stopped counting and it took over 2 months and 6 phones calls before they changed it.

Thank you BG

 

[Agile]

Many of them now estimate your usage when the meter was not working!

 

[SimonH2]

Yeah, it's tempting to "not notice". Or if we tell then and they can't be bothered to replace it then that's their problem.

Sorry that my question was unclear, it's not so much how to get them to replace the meter, more a question of when they do replace it - how to get them to use one that will fit in the cupboard. The old bellows type with mechanical dials won't fit without rebuilding the cupboard - that's what they wanted to fit some years ago.

Altering the cupboard isn't just a matter of a new bit of MDF or whatever. It's part of the room and we'd struggle to get new materials to keep the match - even if Dad was still up to the job.

 

[gazfen]

Well your not gonna get free gas forever , they ain't many e6 meters getting fitted, so it'll be cupboard made bigger, or potentially disconnection of your meter .

 

[davebgas]

Most smart meters are E6 in size so there are plenty being fitted.

 

[adlplumbing]

I carry E6 on my van just incase

 

[SimonH2]

I take it "E6" is the designation of this type of meter - white plastic box, about 5" depth, LCD display on front behind a window ?

In that case, what's the odds on the call centre person understanding a statement that only an E6 meter will fit in the space available

 

[denso13]

Similar to this?

 

[SimonH2]

Now I feel a plonker - I should have just posted a photo to start with
It's different, like this :

Untitled

• SimonH2
• 19 Aug 2013
• 1

 

[gazfen]

National grid don't carry e6 maybe change battery

 

[gazfen]

National grid don't carry e6 maybe change battery
Adl what e6 credit do you carry , and I don't mean smart libra 310

 

[SimonH2]

An update, Dad's rung the supplier and they're coming to change the meter in a couple of weeks. We'll see what they arrive with !

 

[gazfen]

A big g4 mechanical unless you ask for smart meters