Moved into a business premises without a gas meter?
There may have been a gas meter at the site previously, but since been removed. In which case the gas pipe will be capped. Gas suppliers will need the pipework to be checked, as well as ensuring it has the capacity to meet your needs. Only then will they fit a meter.
When the gas supply was no longer required (by the previous tenant/owner), the gas supplier at the time would have removed the meter. They would also have removed themselves from the supply on the gas industry database. Suppliers can do this for gas but not electricity supplies. It is therefore unlikely that there will be an incumbent gas supplier at your site.
First, we establish whether there is a Meter Point Reference Number for your business premises. If so, this should mean a ‘live’ gas supply. We then arrange for the Network Operator for your region to visit the site to do a GT1 survey if necessary (this is usually free of charge).
If the survey results are ok, then we just need to arrange a gas supply contract. The new gas supplier will send an engineer out to install the gas meter.
What is a GT1 survey?
A GT1 provides an overview of the gas supply. Most energy companies will need to see this before they will install a gas meter. If the gas pipe has been capped for some time, the gas engineer will check it is still suitable.
We just need to know the peak load of all your gas equipment. You can calculate this by adding up the kw rating on each gas appliance you intend to use. This will give you a peak load when all your appliances are running at full capacity at the same time. The gas engineer can then confirm the pipe and pressure is suitable for your needs. And will also do a Live & Dead test to ensure a live gas supply.
You should also consider additional appliances that you may install in the future.
The GT1 will determine whether the existing service is suitable, or if the pipework needs to be upgraded.
The GT1 is essential if there is no gas meter. Energy companies will need to see the GT1 results before they agree to a new gas meter installation. And they use the GT1 results to ensure the correct meter size is fitted for your expected gas use and pipework.
Last step – Arrange a gas supply contract and meter installation
Presuming the GT1 survey confirms the gas supply is live and suitable for your needs, we can arrange a contract and installation.
Energy companies will require a gas contract to be signed before they install a gas meter at your site (otherwise you would be able to use gas for free).
Energy contracts are our bread and butter, we arrange these all day, every day for businesses. We work with around 25 energy companies in the commercial sector, including all the main suppliers like British Gas, EON, EDF etc. There are many others too.
A lot of energy companies only have a licence for commercial gas supply and don’t wish to get involved in the domestic market. This means we are checking prices from a range of suppliers you may not be familiar with.
Speed and efficiency
With our experience, we can recommend commercial gas suppliers based not only on price of the gas contract, but also by their diligence and speed of turning round the meter installation. We appreciate installations are often quite urgent requirements.
The cost of a gas meter installation will be included in the energy contract with your gas supplier. For complete transparency we can also separate prices for the gas meter installation and the gas supply contract.
Business owners typically prefer the meter and installation costs to be included in the gas contract. Only because the preference is usually for a 12-month contract initially to see how much gas is used in the first year.
However, if you prefer a longer-term contract, then we recommend separating the meter prices from the supply contract. This will probably save you money in the long run.
Installing the meter
Once the contract is agreed, your new gas supplier will register the MPRN. And then instruct their preferred Meter Asset Manager (MAM) to contact you to arrange a convenient date for the installation.
For complete transparency, it isn’t the energy supplier who comes out to install your gas meter. Meter Asset Managers are the gas engineers who energy companies ask to install, replace, or check gas meters for their customers.
If you have any questions on the above, please let us know?
GT1 survey confirmed there is no live gas supply
Not such good news. In this situation we advise looking at your options. Do you really need the gas supply, or can you switch to using electricity instead?
For example, if you plan to serve food, can you switch to electrical appliances over gas. Bear in mind electricity costs more per unit than gas.
We ask this, because if the gas pipe needs to be replaced all the way back to the mains pipe in the road, this can be quite expensive. Perhaps involving the council and digging a trench from your site to the mains pipe in the road.
This is classed as a new gas connection, which will replace your current service.
Please call us for advice or read on for more information.
I need to connect my business to mains gas
To connect to the mains gas pipe in your road, the area outside your premises will need to be dug up. It is safe to assume this will be thousands of pounds.
And very time consuming. Perhaps 3 months as applications will need to be made to the local authority for digging a trench and any potential road closures.
If gas supply is a necessity for your business, then we recommend checking prices from the local gas operator for your region. And also independent gas connection companies. We can advise as necessary.
Most businesses will go the local gas operator, believing they are the only company who can do the work required. However, there are companies independent of the gas network who can also connect your site to mains gas. This can often be more cost effective.
The typical process for your new gas connection will be as follows:
- Get several quotes in from the local gas network and a couple of independent operators
- Once accepted, a surveyor from your chosen company will visit the site and explain the work involved
- The work will be booked in and carried out as planned, with the trench filled in
- A new MPRN will be provided, which the energy supplier will need
- We can then arrange a gas contract for your site which will include the gas meter installation (both can be priced separately for complete transparency)
- Energy supplier appoints their Meter Asset Manager to come to site and install the meter
- You are up and running!
My contractor needs a gas meter installed in a new build
We come across this quite often with churches. The old building has been demolished, and your building contractors are nearing completion. The gas pipework has been fitted and they need you to choose a gas supplier to install the gas meter.
This is straightforward, the new gas service will be tailored to your needs. And any information on the meter size will be readily available. Your contractor should have been given an MPRN by the company who completed the pipework.
We will send you a short form to complete, which will require a few technical items such as the MPRN and peak hourly load. Just ask your contractor for these details.
And then we can put this out to tender. We will choose energy suppliers who are efficient at installing gas meters (there are some to steer clear of) and competitively priced for the gas contract. The better options will be presented to you.
Once agreed, and you have signed the gas contract, your chosen supplier will arrange for their appointed Meter Asset Manager to install the gas meter for you.
Useful to know
Some organisations you may not be aware of, but play an important role in getting gas to your commercial premises:
The local distribution network operator (DNO)
They are responsible for maintaining the network of gas pipes in your region. They are monopolies, and therefore you won’t usually have a choice of DNO. One of the following will be your DNO depending on your location: Cadent, SGN, Northern Gas Networks, or Wales & West Utilities.
There are other, much smaller, independent DNOs in some regions.
Independent gas transporters (IGT)
If you have an IGT supply, then your immediate gas network is managed by an independent company. Not the National Grid and the network operators. Gas supplied is exactly the same of course. There are a few gas suppliers, however, who won’t provide gas contracts to businesses with IGT supplies.
Gas suppliers
These you will be familiar with. British Gas, EDF, SSE, etc. Typically, the supplier arranges installation of the gas meter once you have agreed a gas supply contract with them (as you need to pay for any gas used once the meter is installed).