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General: Disconnecting from gas

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1 to 25 of 25

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeMar 22nd 2022
     
    Can anyone advise on the process for disconnecting from gas?

    I first contacted my supplier who said go to your DNO.
    I went to the DNO and they gave me a quote (yikes!).
    DNO said supplier must remove the meter before DNO can disconnect.
    Back to supplier and now awaiting their reply about removing meter....


    I found an old thread on here that said disconnecting from the mains was free - my quote is over 800GBP! I think this involves the DNO digging up the pavement and disconnecting near the mains. Is this what needs to be done?? All I want from 'disconnecting' is no longer using gas and no longer paying the standing charge (final gas appliance gone) - can it not be capped below the floor in the house???
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMar 22nd 2022
     
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeMar 22nd 2022
     
    djh
    Yes, but... guess who my supplier is....Octopus! I will go back to them.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2022
     
    Posted By: djhhttps://octopus.energy/blog/disconnecting-your-gas-supply/" rel="nofollow" >https://octopus.energy/blog/disconnecting-your-gas-supply/


    Seems pretty straightforward process to me they say they will do it for FREE as well.
    • CommentAuthorSimonD
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2022 edited
     
    Posted By: WeeBeastiecan it not be capped below the floor in the house???


    Unfortunately not. That would leave a dead leg in the pipework which is against regulations. If the supply is disconnected, pipework has to be capped off as close to the functioning pipework as possible.

    But what is interesting here is another economic barrier to moving from natural gas. I noticed with interest how the meter owners who live off rents need to be compensated for a loss of income due to removing the gas meter. That has got to be the most anti competitive agreement I've heard in a long while.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2022
     
    Posted By: SimonDUnfortunately not. That would leave a dead leg in the pipework which is against regulations. If the supply is disconnected, pipework has to be capped off as close to the functioning pipework as possible.
    From the Octopus blog, that doesn't seem to be correct. It seems to be OK for the meter supplier to cap the pipe at the meter location, on the gas supplier's instruction. It's then a separate responsibility for the GNO to check the pipe for safety and remove it if necessary. Unless Octopus don't understand the regs either?
    • CommentAuthorSimonD
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2022
     
    Posted By: djh
    Posted By: SimonDUnfortunately not. That would leave a dead leg in the pipework which is against regulations. If the supply is disconnected, pipework has to be capped off as close to the functioning pipework as possible.
    From the Octopus blog, that doesn't seem to be correct. It seems to be OK for the meter supplier to cap the pipe at the meter location, on the gas supplier's instruction. It's then a separate responsibility for the GNO to check the pipe for safety and remove it if necessary. Unless Octopus don't understand the regs either?


    Unfortunately the blog doesn't cover the full regulations.

    The op asked if the pipework can be capped off below the floor, which would mean removing the ECV (emergency control valve). In this case the legislation states:

    "b) where the meter has not been re-installed or replaced by another meter
    before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of
    removal of the meter and there is no such service valve as is mentioned
    in sub-paragraph (a)(i) above, ensure that the service pipe or service
    pipework for those premises is disconnected as near as is reasonably
    practicable to the main or storage vessel and that any part of the pipe
    or pipework which is not removed is sealed at both ends with the
    appropriate fitting."


    If, however, the ECV is still present, which would be above ground where the meter used to be then this does not apply. In effect it would mean that you can remove the meter and just leave the stub with ecv and pipework capped off after the ecv and this seems okay BUT the explanatory notes to the regulations says:

    "The gas
    supplier (together with the transporter in the case of natural gas) needs to decide
    the appropriate action in a particular case, bearing in mind that unused ‘live’
    service pipes or pipework represent a potential hazard. Metal fittings should be
    used to seal metal pipes (and emergency control outlets under regulation 16(3)(a)).
    Any installation pipework or other gas fitting rendered redundant by meter removal
    should be made safe (eg by purging, and sealing any open gasways with an
    appropriate fitting)."


    It's all in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, Regulation 16 (3)
    • CommentAuthorRobL
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2022 edited
     
    We will be in a similar position, having a gas boiler and a heatpump. The gas boiler's not used anymore, but it's all still connected, and works. I think we'll be swapping over to Octopus at some point soon, and hopefully they will turn off the ECV and cap it free, and take the meter away. The ECV and meter is in a box outside, piccy. Am I right in thinking if this "looks safe" (by?), then that's the end of it? Presumably I'd need to keep that box there, or maybe there's a smaller one that would do.
    If there's any doubt I understand we get charged more cash for the main gas pipe tee to us to be capped off, away from our property, leaving us to do whatever we like with the pipework we have. We're covered by Cadent, and their website gives a standard charge for this, of "from" £1423:
    https://cadentgas.com/services/household-customer/disconnections

    It seems cheaper to connect to gas, than disconnect from it, a business model of choice for drug pushers. The standard connection charge is £409 +£63/metre, coming to less than half of our disconnection charge.
      IMG_7074b.jpg
    • CommentAuthorSimonD
    • CommentTimeMar 24th 2022
     
    Posted By: RobLAm I right in thinking if this "looks safe" (by?), then that's the end of it? Presumably I'd need to keep that box there, or maybe there's a smaller one that would do.


    As long as the ecv is still there and capped off, with the pipework clearly labelled gas, that's what is required. You do need to keep access to the ecv, but the regs are silent on whether you've got to keep the existing meter box or whether you can build a smaller box around it. Although if you do, I'd recommend you make sure the box is fully ventilated just in case you do get a leak.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMar 24th 2022
     
    With the benefit of hindsight, I'm so glad I chose not to get gas connected to our property :bigsmile:
  11.  
    whats the annual standing charge ?
    mines around £90 , thats 9 year to get up to £800 removal fee.
    perhaps as more move away from gas this price may alter ?
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeMar 25th 2022
     
    Update:
    This is good. The Octopus operative asked me for the link to his own employer's website explaining how it is done. The he conceded that he needed to make an appointment for the meter man to come and remove the meter. The appointment came through today, five weeks after I requested the disconnection. There is no charge mentioned. I have written back saying fine, I am happy to wait for the disconnection, but not to pay the standing charge for that (unreasonable) period of time.

    Then I suppose we will see if SGN wish to take things further and dig up something.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMar 25th 2022
     
    Excellent! It's nice when companies change their minds promptly.

    If SGN do want to dig something up it's difficult to see how they could land you with the bill, unless you were the one who originally had the pipe installed.
    • CommentAuthorWeeBeastie
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2022
     
    A hopefully-final episode to this in case anyone is interested.

    Octopus sent the meter man round who capped the gas supply inside the house, near the floor, and removed the shut off handle. There was no charge for this. He said he would then send a photo of the de-installation to the operator and it was up to them to get in touch with me if anything more was needed.

    So far, three months later, there is no contact so I assume it can just be left this way. The stub will end up in a kitchen cupboard. The only problem might be fitting the EWI around the length of external pipe that drops down to the ground. I would rather have it capped at the street because of this.... but £800....

    And Octopus did stop the gas standing charge at the correct time without requiring a prompt from me.

    First two months' all-elec bills each around £85.
    •  
      CommentAuthornigel
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2022
     
    I had this issue recently in a commercial building, I was advised to just get the meter removed.

    Eon arranged for the meter to be removed, no charge, and the account was closed.

    The supply has not been removed.
    • CommentAuthorcjard
    • CommentTimeJul 27th 2022
     
    Is it possible to swap to a tariff with no standing charge, and leave the meter alone but cease using gas?
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2022
     
    Posted By: cjardIs it possible to swap to a tariff with no standing charge, and leave the meter alone but cease using gas?
    There used to be no SC tariffs but they disappeared a while ago. I think it is because the SC carries some of the Green Levies and also the failed supplier charge we all pay for.
    • CommentAuthorwookey
    • CommentTimeOct 7th 2022 edited
     
    The death of 'no SC' charges was due to Mr Cameron's 'tariff simplification' requirement. They almost all disappeared then (2016?) but a few clung on for a while as social tariffs. We are painfully aware as we had an annual gas bill of about £6 (just the cooker) for many years until they took the 'no SC' thing away and we got to pay £70 (now £90 I think) SC as well, which stings.

    The gas cooker has now been nixed so we are keen to get rid of the whole damn thing, ideally without paying a swingeing fee for the privilege. We've just moved to Octopus, partly because of the free disconnection, so this thread is very helpful.
    • CommentAuthorwookey
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2022
     
    Cadent are outside today expensively replacing our street's (1960s estate) gas main and threading new pipes to each house inside the existing pipe. We asked if they could just disconnect us rather than upgrading it then coming and disconnecting it sometime next year. Apparently they are not empowered to do that so much time and money will be wasted on an already-disused gas connection. If they can't get the pipe threaded they'll have to move our gas supply and meter to the outside wall which we _really_ don't want as it's nice new rendered EWI. (And we don't even want a gas supply any more anyway).

    Hopeless.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeNov 10th 2022
     
    Can you get Octopus to disconnect you really quickly? Then maybe you could persuade Cadent. I see Cadent's complaints number is 0800 389 5555 but I suppose you've tried that?
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeNov 11th 2022
     
    I think you have every right to take a stand on this. It is totally illogical to replace a gas supply when not needed if you cannot persuade them not to do the work by reasonable argument, you could get tough with them and say if they come onto your premises without your consent that they will be trespassing. Good material for local news bet you would get a lot of support from the green lobby. What about your local MP could raise in the "house". Local councillor.?
    • CommentAuthorkristeva
    • CommentTimeNov 11th 2022
     
    I would definitely try and deny access
    • CommentAuthorRobL
    • CommentTimeNov 12th 2022 edited
     
    Posted By: wookeyCadent are outside today


    Oh no! I can see them, just round the block from us. We're in a similar position - having got a heatpump, we haven't used Gas in 2022, and had intended to leave it until next Summer before getting it removed.
    It does seem a waste of their effort replacing the pipe with a new one, given it won't get used. We had a new smart gas meter 3 years ago, that's not seen much action either - I did ask "just the elec meter please", as we were getting rid of gas soon, but that's "not how it works sir".

    Odd in a way if they fit the gas box to your rendered wall. We had the FTTH people round from EE a while back, but they wouldn't install to our EWI rendered house, as they were not insured to drill into it, gah. They also couldn't drill through wood(!) They say they will fit FTTH into an empty gas box though, so that is my future plan.
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeNov 13th 2022
     
    Posted By: wookeyIf they can't get the pipe threaded they'll have to move our gas supply and meter to the outside wall which we _really_ don't want as it's nice new rendered EWI.
    I'd have thought they need your permission for access to dig. There will be a right of entry to inspect, but not to force an install.
    • CommentAuthorTimSmall
    • CommentTimeNov 14th 2022 edited
     
    Posted By: RobLWe had a new smart gas meter 3 years ago, that's not seen much action either - I did ask "just the elec meter please", as we were getting rid of gas soon, but that's "not how it works sir".


    I had a smart meter installed by Octopus last week. I also said that I just wanted the electricity meter, since we're getting rid of gas soon - they said "yeah fine".

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