How to get a new electric meter

[rich_vw]

Good morning all,

I'm hopefully buying my first house within the next month or so. The property needs a good bit of modernisation (so there may well be a few more questions after this), one thing I noted it that it still have the very old style electric meter, I had a scan on some utilities suppliers websites but didn't notice a section on this, do you just put a request in to them or is it something that 'just happens' when they please??

Cheers

[Brite spark]

rich_vw said:

Good morning all,

I'm hopefully buying my first house within the next month or so. The property needs a good bit of modernisation (so there may well be a few more questions after this), one thing I noted it that it still have the very old style electric meter, I had a scan on some utilities suppliers websites but didn't notice a section on this, do you just put a request in to them or is it something that 'just happens' when they please??

Cheers

Don't worry about it they are all getting changed to smart meters over the next few years anyway- (unless you think it is unsafe- then give your supplier a call)

[Engineer1]

Unless it has got some odd circuits then don't worry, by odd circuits I mean storage heaters on one circuit fed from one meter, then the ring main for the house off another meter.

[anonymous-user]

Brite spark said:

rich_vw said:

Good morning all,

I'm hopefully buying my first house within the next month or so. The property needs a good bit of modernisation (so there may well be a few more questions after this), one thing I noted it that it still have the very old style electric meter, I had a scan on some utilities suppliers websites but didn't notice a section on this, do you just put a request in to them or is it something that 'just happens' when they please??

Cheers

Don't worry about it they are all getting changed to smart meters over the next few years anyway- (unless you think it is unsafe- then give your supplier a call)

I think that will be some time off seeing as they sre still sticking in "normal" meters into new builds.

[rich_vw]

Thanks...the meter seemed very old and seeing as the house needs new wiring / breaker board etc. I'd just presumed that this would be very out of date.

Rich

[Engineer1]

The meter will be fine as the last thing the provider wants is to have any possibility of under charging you.

[anonymous-user]

Engineer1 said:

The meter will be fine as the last thing the provider wants is to have any possibility of under charging you.

I would be more worried about fires. Not so long ago on Christmas eve we were at my mums house, one side of the street(ours!) was plunged into darkness, a few doors away the main cable feeding the meter had decided to go up in smoke. OP if you have ANY doubts call them!!

[anonymous-user]

http://www.diynot.com/forums/

YOu should get the answer in the electrics section

[Raverbaby]

Unless it looks unsafe I wouldn't bother, its not your property and your not responsable for the upkeep of it.
If your really keen on a new one for whatever reason phone your supplier and see if they will listen to you.
Good luck

[anonymous-user]

Just hit it with a sledge hammer and tell them its broken and you need a new one!

[ALawson]

We asked for our meter to be upgraded so that we could have night time tarrifs, Scotish and Southern sorted it out in 5 days so I am sure it is a pretty easy thing to get sorted.

[netherfield]

It may also be a meter which has been reconditioned and recalibrated,although nowadays that would probably cost more than a brand new one made in China or India.

[x type]

rich_vw said:

Good morning all,

I'm hopefully buying my first house within the next month or so. The property needs a good bit of modernisation (so there may well be a few more questions after this), one thing I noted it that it still have the very old style electric meter, I had a scan on some utilities suppliers websites but didn't notice a section on this, do you just put a request in to them or is it something that 'just happens' when they please??

Cheers

ring them up if you buy the house and say the meter is somehow damaged and you are the new owners and the glass is broken

have hammer ready as allready suggested and give it a thump (not tooo hard to smash it to bits )