Electric and Gas meter box replacement confusion

[mushymat]

Our Gas and Electic meter boxes are in a bit of a state and need replacing. In addition to this, we had an engineer visit a while back to install a smart meter and couldn't as our boxes are metal.


my confusion lies in who to talk to with regards to getting them replaced - is this a simple job or are the meter boxes more involved than simply replacing the face?


The engineer said the gas would have to be turned off to replace the box, and Shell (my energy supplier) seems to be doing their best to be as unhelpful as possible
Any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[sparkymarka]

Over covers ?

 

[mushymat]

Over covers ?

Sadly that won't work for us - we are looking to take advantage of a reduced night time tariff which we need a smart meter for. So really the boxes need a total replacement (as they are metal)

 

[sparkymarka]

Why ? Can only be due to signal of the smart meter sim ? Fitting a plastic/ fibreglass font should allow the signal out as the old metal door would be removed

 

[sparkymarka]

To be honest most of the boxes I’ve seen are fibre glass with a metal frame for the door to be attached

 

[mushymat]

Why ? Can only be due to signal of the smart meter sim ? Fitting a plastic/ fibreglass font should allow the signal out as the old metal door would be removed

Ive not looked in detail (I will when Im home) but Ive been told the metal box wont alow for the Bluetooth/Wifi connection to be made to the smart meter - its a reasonably common issue with older builds I belive

 

[^woody^]

Normally, the homeowner owns the meter boxes and is responsible for maintenance and replacement.

And yes, the meter and infrastructure owner (National Grid/Energy suplier) would have to disconnect and alter the incoming pipe/cable to the new box.

 

[noseall]

with regards to getting them replaced - is this a simple job or are the meter boxes more involved than simply replacing the face?

Builder merchants sell both gas and leccy boxes. We fit them often, but usually at the behest of the customer, whose intent is to have the meters moved into their new location.

 

[mushymat]

Builder merchants sell both gas and leccy boxes. We fit them often, but usually at the behest of the customer, whose intent is to have the meters moved into their new location.

Ah, so do you have to arrange to have the gas turned off to do this, and if so how do you go about that? - thats what Ive been told anyway

 

[noseall]

Ah, so do you have to arrange to have the gas turned off to do this, and if so how do you go about that? - thats what Ive been told anyway

Well no. That's because we are installing the empty meter boxes in a new location, in readiness for the existing meter to be moved into our new box. Ultimately, they have to switch off to move though.