Theft of gas

[CMairiD]

A had the appt with the fraud investigator today. What's there at this moment is a definite by-pass -- there's no defence.

The meter has gone from credit -> pre-payment -> credit and has moved from inside -> outside -> back inside again. Grid records say the last time the meter was touched was June 1999. The boiler install was April 2008.

Interestingly enough, the Grid says (according to the investigator) that pipework going from the external meter box to internal ECV/anaconda/meter should have been done in steel. Right now it's done in copper. Can anyone confirm this?

Looking at how to fix the mess, the easiest solution is to move the meter to the outside position and connect up a piece of copper between the internal ECV position and the internal outlet. One would think that would be simple piece of work that anyone can with MET1 can do. Would be using existing fittings and not touching the service. Oh no, says the Grid, we have do that. Please place an order, wait six weeks for us to survey and another 7 days to do the work.

This just gets better and better ... 😡

 

[REDSAW]

hope i am not following this thread wrong, but could a dodgy tenant have bunged a few quid to some one for doing the by-pass?.

 

[kirkgas]

A had the appt with the fraud investigator today. What's there at this moment is a definite by-pass -- there's no defence.

The meter has gone from credit -> pre-payment -> credit and has moved from inside -> outside -> back inside again. Grid records say the last time the meter was touched was June 1999. The boiler install was April 2008.

Interestingly enough, the Grid says (according to the investigator) that pipework going from the external meter box to internal ECV/anaconda/meter should have been done in steel. Right now it's done in copper. Can anyone confirm this?

Looking at how to fix the mess, the easiest solution is to move the meter to the outside position and connect up a piece of copper between the internal ECV position and the internal outlet. One would think that would be simple piece of work that anyone can with MET1 can do. Would be using existing fittings and not touching the service. Oh no, says the Grid, we have do that. Please place an order, wait six weeks for us to survey and another 7 days to do the work.

This just gets better and better ... 😡

the pipe does not have to be done in steel, unless the client (YOU) requested it done that way in the tender document, it is a preferred option by some but NOT a mandatory requirement, re the fix, anyone with MET 1 can re-locate a meter, but i think you are supposed to get written permission from the supplier, we havent seen any pics from inside but an option is to blank the pipe 100mm to the right of the tee under the external meter box, then extend the boiler feed to the left, enter the building and connect in to the existing supply (AFTER THE METER PLEASE) might not be too easy but must be do-able)
the easiest fix would be to simply swap the meter and test bar already fitted with each other, this would have everything metered, regulated and covered by the external ECV, (with the cooker having an addition ECV and regulator which wouldnt cause a problem) it would take 15 mins to swap over and test

re the blame, it looks as if the boiler installer is in the firing line as well given the dates, honestly i think it would have been a genuine mistake as he tried to work out an easy route to the new boiler, HOWEVER if it is a genuine mistake my sympathy stops when he went inside to properly commisssion the boiler and found the meter stationary, yes you would kick yourself but you would amend it there and then and hope nobody found out what you had did as you will get pelters for it,

 

[kirkgas]

hope i am not following this thread wrong, but could a dodgy tenant have bunged a few quid to some one for doing the by-pass?.

i dont think this will prove to be the truth, as it should be easy to see where pipes have been blanked and altered IF the new boiler install was done properly via the internal meter,

 

[tamz]

Relocation of the meter can only be done by the gas transporter or MAM or on their authority.
Holding met1 doesn't mean you can move a meter (without authorisation).
As for the steel, steel would be the preferred method (but not as Kirk said mandatory) if the meter was moved internal, only make it harder for this to happen but as the meter was moved by NG that one is their problem not yours.

 

[CMairiD]

Hooray! New info found by fraud investigator that puts the meter outside when the boiler was installed and only recently moved back in. Our boys are off the hook. 😎

 

[kirkgas]

see your faith wasnt unfounded, you have been unsettled from the start because of the "facts" but were gutted that the "facts" were making your boys look bad, as you had faith in them, which is good to hear, as it is becoming more and more uncommon, so its down to the meter fitter, how come the customer was getting so much rebate then? (yea you are right ssssssssshhhhhhhhh) we have only just got the last worm back in the can, i'm claiming half a bonus point for my comment about the dates being critical

 

[tamz]

Glad you got it sorted. 🙂 Bet that is a big weight lifted.

 

[turnpin]

I do love a happy ending😉.....!🙂regards turnpin

 

[Toddyplumb]

Good result😉