Do I need permission from Bord Gais for this

somejoke

I'm an oap and live in an end terrace house with rear garden and meter is on inside of boundery wall to side of gate.

The timber gate is rotting and falling apart and needs replacing but for a variety of reasons which I won't go into, I would prefer to get it blocked up.

The wall/gate is about 5'6" so easy to climb over in an emergency, god forbid there is ever one.

1. Can I just go ahead.
2.Or do I need BG permission.
3. Would they give me permission.

There were no restrictions put on me when having the gas meter installed but BG were fully aware that the gate would be kept locked at all times.

Have a lot to worry about here and would really like to get this bricked up and sorted. Have bigger things to be worried about.

advice appreciated.

K.Flyer

You do not need Gas Networks permission to block up your garden gate, feel free to work away and do it.
The only thing now is that you will need to periodically submit the reading from the meter yourself in order to receive accurate bills.
If Networks require access to the meter for any maintenance reason, they will notify you and make an appointment to call out.

Dardania

Will BGE still have a point of isolation that they can access easily?

DGOBS

Firstly it is not Bord Gais you will deal with, it is Gas Networks Ireland.

A gas meter is supposed to remain accessible at all times, for reasons of safety should there be either a gas leak or a fire at your property that would require the emergency isolation of your gas.

The best course of action would be to contact Gas Networks Ireland, and I am sure they would inspect it for your if necessary.

Would it be possible to build the wall at the other side of the meter, leaving the meter accessible to the front of your property?

danjo-xx

DGOBS wrote: »

Firstly it is not Bord Gais you will deal with, it is Gas Networks Ireland. Being called BGN before is what confused me.:D

A gas meter is supposed to remain accessible at all times, for reasons of safety should there be either a gas leak or a fire at your property that would require the emergency isolation of your gas.

The best course of action would be to contact Gas Networks Ireland, and I am sure they would inspect it for your if necessary.

Would it be possible to build the wall at the other side of the meter, leaving the meter accessible to the front of your property?

When they came out to survey the back garden for meter position they never commented on the clearly locked side gate.

There is currently no access to the meter unless you climb over the wall or over the gate as it is.

Access is only available when and if there is someone here to let them it, then they could be brought thru the house or let in the side gate not much difference really.

Building around the meter is not an option unfortunately.


I will probably contact GN about it, but will expect a big NO but as it's private property I don't think legally they could stop me, coupled with the fact that I do have very strong reasons for wanting to brick it up.

The meter location in the terraced house next to me is in their living room..
where's the access there.

Appreciated the replies guys.:)

youtheman

Both my gas and electricity meters are behind my locked gate. And it has never been an issue. No one has ever said anything to me. If they come to read my meter, and can't get access, then they just leave a card asking me to take the reading and text it in. If I don't then they give me an estimated bill. At some stage they will have to gain access to give you an accurate bill (as you could be winning or losing on an estimated bill).

Dardania

WHatever about billing (e.g. access to the meter) the more pertinent question is about safety (if it's possible to isolate)
With electrical supplies, often times there's a minipillar on the street, which is accessible, that ESBN can isolate power to the house at. Even though they rather 24 hour access to their meter.
And with Gas Networks Ireland (apols for calling them BGE previously) often times there's an isolation valve outside e.g. in the ground, or against an accessible wall (even though they rather the meter be accessible)
So you may be alright if there's an accessible point of isolation as long as they agree ot it...