Moving gas and electricity supplies next to each other.

Hi guys, long time no see. Now, my question.

A gas and electricity supply are currently about 1.5 metres apart inside a garage. The wall the electricity is on is shortly not going to exist so it has to be moved. The garge is becoming part of the house with a new arched opening just where the supply is now. Broadly the CU can go upwards against the ceiling and shorten the cables going into it. The supply cable comes up the wall which wont exist, so has to be repositioned to one side, after digging some more of it out of the concrete floor. This will hopefully release some more length so it would re-fix higher up the wall. Its all modern stuff in a house 20 years old. The wall to the side which will still exist already carries the gas supply and meter. Ideally this also needs repositioning right to the top of the wall, as being halfway up inside a house is not very handy.

Unfortunately there seems to be some disagreement amongst those consulted as to what can be done. In particular some do not like repositioning gas and electricity so they run next to each other, or so the meters end up adjacent. Anyone know what the real situation is on where they can be positioned?

The most convenient would be to shift the gas meter up the wall by extending the supply pipe. Similarly take the electricity supply up the wall with a new meter position on the remaining wall above the opening. The cable is probably not long enough, so would need to be joined. Alternatively, shorten the supply cable and place the electricity meter on the wall beside the new doorway right next to the gas supply main. There will only be about 50 cm of wall left on that side of the doorway and the pipe will be coming up the middle of it. Then some chunky cables to go up from the meter to the CU.

Thoughts?

Given that the only people who can move either of those meters are the suppliers, it would make sense to ask them what their positions are regarding proximity, as their views are the only ones which matter.

If you're going to be going to all that expense anyway (which, BTW, will be eye-wateringly high, particularly for the gas which will probably be in the £'000s) why not have the meters relocated to outside?

someone might wonder just how expensive it could be to add a section of pipe a couple of feet long and make three new screw holes in a wall just above where they are now, but somehow that's life. On the other hand, moving the gas supply outside would involve lots of trench digging and laying of new pipes in the ground, which logically would be more expensive. So logic would say either a simple move up a couple of feet, or do absolutely nothing with it unless there is no avoiding it for reasons of being in the way of the electric supply. Possibly it might even make sense to move the gas supply down and reposition the electric wherever the existing length of supply cable comes to further up the wall.

Damocles said:

someone might wonder just how expensive it could be to add a section of pipe a couple of feet long and make three new screw holes in a wall just above where they are now, but somehow that's life.

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And that someone is not the same someone setting the prices for moving a meter.

Anyway - ask them for a quote, and then we'll all know for sure - post the price here when you get it, please?

On the other hand, moving the gas supply outside would involve lots of trench digging and laying of new pipes in the ground, which logically would be more expensive.

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Even more expensive, you mean...

So logic would say either a simple move up a couple of feet, or do absolutely nothing with it unless there is no avoiding it for reasons of being in the way of the electric supply. Possibly it might even make sense to move the gas supply down and reposition the electric wherever the existing length of supply cable comes to further up the wall.

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Sadly logic has little if anything to do with the prices for moving supplies and meters etc.

But as I said - you can't DIY any of it, so sooner or later you'll have to ask the suppliers for quotes...

I had a brand new gas supply installed to a building that previously had no gas whatsoever. It included digging up the street, and I was only charged just over £600. I fail to see how they could justify any more than that for simply moving an existing meter.

electronicsuk said:

I had a brand new gas supply installed to a building that previously had no gas whatsoever. It included digging up the street, and I was only charged just over £600.

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It was an investment - you became an income stream.

I fail to see how they could justify any more than that for simply moving an existing meter.

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People regularly fail to see how they can justify their charges for moving meters and/or re-routing existing supplies.

It's mind over matter.

They don't mind, and you don't matter.

When Damocles gets his quotes he can decide if the costs justify the benefits that will accrue to him, but I do urge him to get the quotes sooner rather than later if he's planning building work predicated on the moves he think will happen.

well the situation so far is that three people have quoted to do all the building work required including moving the meters. The question is whether we believe them or will be faced by someone showing surprise at an unexpected bill they wish to pass on. And as I said, to find some specific information on what can and cant be done to judge whether they are talking nonsense.

IIRC The if meters are adjacent and in a cupboard they need to be separated by a fire-resistant barrier (eg pink fire-rated plasterboard), so they are effectively in their own separate fire compartments.

Damocles said:

well the situation so far is that three people have quoted to do all the building work required including moving the meters.

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WHAT??



If they seriously mean that they will move them themselves then have absolutely nothing to do with them.

The question is whether we believe them or will be faced by someone showing surprise at an unexpected bill they wish to pass on.

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Ask them to confirm, in writing, that their quote includes all the costs associated with moving the meters.

And as I said, to find some specific information on what can and cant be done to judge whether they are talking nonsense.

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Then get the suppliers in to give you a quote, after they have visited the site and seen exactly what you want done.

Simples.

I didnt imagine they were planning to do it themselves. Calm yourself, there is no need to panic. The council recommended them, so naturally I would have complete faith in their doing things correctly.

However, being a suspiscious sort I thought it might be a good idea to start by asking some questions here to see if anyone has suggestions of what ought to be done, what can be done and how much it ought to cost. It is just amazing how un-forthcoming some people can be when you talk to them if you don't know the right questions to ask, or if you don't know the answers before they, er, give them. In particular, as i think i started to say, whether there are any real issues about exactly how close these supplies can be positioned or whether running together is in any way a difficulty. Some people seem to think there is, and some dont. Or how the suppliers feel about moving them to somewhere else inside the house rather than outside.

Damocles said:

In particular, as i think i started to say, whether there are any real issues about exactly how close these supplies can be positioned or whether running together is in any way a difficulty. Some people seem to think there is, and some dont. Or how the suppliers feel about moving them to somewhere else inside the house rather than outside.

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ban-all-sheds said:

Given that the only people who can move either of those meters are the suppliers, it would make sense to ask them what their positions are regarding proximity, as their views are the only ones which matter.

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If it helps I know a lady who was quoted £650 to put the leccy meter outside.

Martin

But I guess this information won't help you too much as for her the meter only needed to be moved about 6 feet. She choose to to leave it where it was in the end.

i'm not surprised. When you start to consider the money as opposed to the inconvenience of an extra cupboard, you start to think how to work around what you have got.

She had spent 60 thousand other quid doing up a 2 bed property though (she is an interior designer so most of it went on downlights and paint and fancy wiring accessories).

As space was a real premium in this property; I for one was surprised that she did not just have it done.

Martin

well it depends. I can see this being decided by 'no, don't want a big white box on the outside of the house'. Maybe a £600 light fitting is more important.