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Wishboneash
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October 10, 2022
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Can't have Smart Meters fitted because the Meters are 'too close' together?

  • October 10, 2022
  • 28 replies
  • 6775 views

Hi all

 

rightly or wrongly, been trying to get smart metres fitted to gas and electricity.

 

Booked up a free visit last year with OVO engineer and he took one look at it and said can't do it gov because your gas and electricity metres are too close to each other.

And off he went.

 

So, been toing and froing with OVO and they said they will be able to fit smart metres if minimum distance between said meters is achieved and it will cost me £125 to them to movement the gas metre, or so I thought..…

 

So booked a date in November for what I thought was going to be OVO to move the gas metre and was then told to phone Cadent i.e. British Gas for them to actually repositioned meter.

 

Got a provisional quote from them for £790 to move it less than a metre!!

 

The cadent person also said there is no legal requirement for a minimum distance to be achieved for older gas and electricity installations although these days there is for new installations.

 

Googled it and couldn't find anything relating to it other than forum posts discussing whether there is room for the smart metres or not but don't have that problem at all here.

 

So, obviously not going to pay them £790 to move a gas metre and looks like I'll have to ask for the £125 I paid to OVO back unless of course anyone here knows different and the first engineer wasn't quite correct in saying I can't have smart metres due to the closeness of the existing meters? Hope someone can help out.

 

Thanks in advance 

 

Best answer by Lukepeniket_OVO

Updated on 10/10/25 by Chris_OVO:

Hi all, 

 

So immediately what jumps out at me is the tape measure on top of the Timeclock, gas meters and pipework should be a minimum of 150mm from the cutout/service cable, metering equipment and consumer units, for accessories like a switch or cables ot should be a minimum 25mm away.

 

I can see that both the timeclock and consumer unit are too close to the gas Meter. Looking at the meter outlet the engineer could re do the outlet so it can be moved further away (best method) or refit smart in that position whilst fitting adequate barriers which we do carry and filling out a warning notice  to advise yourself.

28 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
October 10, 2022

Howdy @Wishboneash ,

Can you show us photos of the meters please - and especially how close they are to each other! We’ve got ways to help you figure this one out. :)

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WishboneashAuthor
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October 10, 2022

Hi

Thanks for reply. 

Pic herewith 

 

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
October 10, 2022

Piece of cake! I could literally swing a cat in that gap!

With some clever positioning, you can easily fit a SMETS2 Aclara SGM1416-B and either an EDMI Standard 420 or Toshiba/WNC SKU1 Cellular Comms Hub in that space on the backboard.

And if there’s a tight squeeze… There’s clever tricks that engineers can now use.

As for the gas meter? LOOOOOADS of room! The SMETS2 Flonidan UniFlo is actually about the same size as your existing gas meter. :)

And no, I’ve never heard of meters ever being too close together either. Too far away is also a non-issue 99% of the time, thanks to a very clever smart meter engineer friend of mine. :P

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WishboneashAuthor
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October 10, 2022

Oh, ok  thanks.

So was last years engineer who visited incorrect then ?

Plus ovo seem to concur meters too close and either lecy meter or gas meter need to be certain min distance apart. ? 

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
October 10, 2022

Possibly.

There is someone I can ask for a second opinion, but I need to get moderator approval first. You OK to hold on for a bit?

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WishboneashAuthor
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October 10, 2022

From ovo previously:-

"

Hello Paul,

 

Thank you for your email.

We would love to help you with this query! We can indeed move the meter however only by 100cm. If you require further than 100cm you would then need to get in contact with your network distributor

If you require further information on who your distribute network is feel free to click here to guide you on how you can find the information required.

Thanks

Sinead"

Blastoise186
Super User
Blastoise186Super User
Super User
October 10, 2022

If you have to move a meter, I’d move the electric because it’s definitely easier and cheaper. Bear with me, I’ll ask around for some help.

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Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
Tim_OVO
OVO Forum Legend
October 11, 2022

There is someone I can ask for a second opinion, but I need to get moderator approval first. You OK to hold on for a bit?

 

I know who this is. I agree let’s see if @Lukepeniket_OVO has a spare second to give us their take on if the elec and gas meter here look too close:

 

 

 

 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
    Blastoise186
    Super User
    Blastoise186Super User
    Super User
    October 11, 2022

    There’s something else I’ve noticed too, just thought I’d mention it.

    Your current gas meter appears to record usage in Cubic Feet and is considered an Imperial Gas Meter. All Smart Gas Meters are Metric Gas Meters and use Cubic Metres instead. OVO’s system will automatically handle the conversion to kWh for you either way and it will pick up on the fact you’ve gone from Imperial → Metric so you won’t need to do anything yourself there.

    However, it’s definitely worth mentioning that you should avoid submitting meter readings after the gas meter is replaced until at least after the new gas meter is registered to your account.

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    meldrewreborn
    Newcomer
    October 11, 2022

    Is it really a too close issue or is it that there isn’t much room to fit the electric meter and communications hub onto the backboard.

     

    If the Gas meter is imperial, is it out of certification and needs to be renewed?  Its a Parkinson Cowan meter.

    Eon and EDF customer. Don't think smart meters are worth the expense.
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    OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

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