Gas meter mounting too high to get a Smart Meter?

Hi @lGregl and a good question .. not too sure if the correct answer but there’s a guide to installation here which might help

• OVO SMETS2 (S2) Smart Meter installation - Member Guide Tutorial

It might be worth putting these threads together

I’ve looked on this link 

https://forum.ovoenergy.com/my-account-140/engineer-jobs-with-ovo-a-technical-guide-to-the-type-of-work-we-can-arrange-and-issues-which-might-delay-the-job-being-completed-8624

And it seems to suggest it’s too high, I just wanted confirmation that is the case. Do I contact cadent? to have it lowered?

I’m happy if the 2 threads are merged, I just thought they were separate topics. I don’t want to breach forum guidelines in any way.

Thanks

Hi @lGregl , there’s no problem with different threads but as it’s part of the same install I thought it might be useful - one of the forum mods will take a view later. 
Having gone through the guide again, it sounds like the gas meter does need to be moved down otherwise the engineer would have to use a ladder which is considered problematic in these cases. 
If Cadent are your gas transporter then yes, they would need to be involved. It’s also worth noting the need for an earth bond on the pipework within 600mm of the meter so this might need an electrical hand as well as the smart meter installer would not be allowed to move anything existing

@Jeffus 

Thanks that’s a good idea. I could arrange for a temporary 1’ platform, it would be cheaper than having the meter moved. 

They may not be able to use anything you supply. 

Just remember, it is not completely unusual to have meters that high. There are a lot of older houses with meters inside above the front door. Those will be all over 6 ft to the bottom of the meter. Your meter is no higher than that and access looks good generally apart from being high. No tight spaces to work with that may be the case when above a front door.

If you call OVO i am sure they can figure out what they can safely do within their limits. Or whether they are unwilling to send an engineer to try. 

Alternatively call a couple of other suppliers if you have no luck with OVO  and see what they can accommodate with their own limits. The Faster Switching service between suppliers is very quick these days.

Suppliers are currently fined if they don't meet their smart meter targets, OVO have some of the highest fines so it is in their interest to get as many smart meters installed as possible. I suspect quite a few of the remaining non smart meters are in unusual places

Finally, do you have neighbours with similar houses who have put in smart meters? 

I’ve given OVO a call this afternoon, they didn’t say either way specifically. 

At present there are no installation dates in my area, however there will be in future, so it’ll probably be best to wait until they can view it. 

If it’s not suitable I will probably switch supplier, it doesn’t make sense to make alterations when other suppliers are okay to work with it. 

Yes, I have many neighbours with the same type of house. I’d assume the gas meters would be in a similar location. 

Perhaps ask around to see if any of them have replaced their gas meter with a  smart meter without moving it. That may be the quickest way of identifying a supplier it is worth at least looking at switching to. 

Every offer for electricity seems to be dependent upon accepting a smart meter but I’ve seen somewhere that smart meters can’t be installed high up on a wall. My meter is at ceiling height. Can it be replaced by a smart meter?

Ceiling height doesn’t sound too high, but we’d better get an authoritative view on that @Lukepeniket_OVO . If it means that the engineer would have to stand on a step-ladder to reach, there will be H&S considerations. This isn’t allowed outdoors, but it’s not clear whether the height limits and the ban on ladders also apply indoors.

There are recommendations/guidance for the positioning of domestic smart meters in New Build properties.

See this, in particular 1.6 and 1.8: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657847680467eb001355f5b8/Smart_meter_installations_in_domestic_new_build_premises.pdf

But those are recommendations, and are for new build properties.

AFAIK if there is space on the existing backboard for a replacement smart meter then it will be fitted there.

If not then it may involve you having a new meter backboard fitted a bit lower down.
The supply and fitting of that new backboard would be the customers responsibility to arrange and pay for. (You can easilly get them from builders merchants, etc.)

Photos of what you currently have would help us give better advice and suggestions.

https://forum.ovoenergy.com/smart-meters-136/gas-meter-mounting-too-high-to-get-a-smart-meter-15000

Hey @Saschka 

I’m glad to see a few of our volunteers have stopped by with some really great advice already! It would mostly depend on the height it’s at and not so much just that it’s positioned close to the ceiling. 

It might be helpful to post a photo of the current meter position and we can see what that’s like?

Hopefully the others’ advice has been helpful to you.