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Business gas and electricity meter installations are used to monitor business energy consumption. A vitally important part of any business’ infrastructure, once you compare business energy deals and select the right energy supplier for your business, these meter installs enable you to ensure your gas and business electricity bills are accurate.
Meter installations are essential for new properties, including new houses and commercial buildings being built from the ground up.
If your business is expanding and you need additional capacity, new energy supply or you are simply moving into new premises with no energy meters currently fitted, commercial gas and electric meter installation is essential. The connection process for new builds or properties without an existing supply is a key stage in any construction project.
Here’s everything you need to know about gas and electricity installation and what you will need to do if you need one installed at your own home or business premises. Utility Bidder aims to ensure every stage of the installation runs smoothly and meets the specific energy needs of each project.
What does an electric meter look like?
For most domestic and commercial properties, electric meter installs will simply look like a rectangular box mounted on the wall that will display a series of digits. The specific aesthetic of an electric meter will depend mainly on whether it is a modern digital-style meter – the type that is typically fitted today during new electric installations – or a traditional analogue-style meter – usually found in older properties.
Digital meters will either feature an LCD screen or a mileage-style ticker that will display a series of digits that form your current meter reading. Usually manufactured from plastic, this type of smart meter, is now available in a range of colours, although they are typically white.
Alternatively, analogue meters are almost exclusively metallic silver or black in colour and feature clock-style dials that display the usage reading. While this type of meter tends to be more difficult to read, nowadays they are far less prevalent than their modern digital counterparts.
How to get a new electricity meter installed
The best way to have a new electric meter installed depends on whether or not the property in question is connected to an electricity supply.
In order to have an electric meter installed in a new building that is not currently connected to the national grid, you will first need to get in touch with your local distribution network operator or ‘DNO’. If you are unsure who your local the network operator or DNO is, The Energy Networks Association can help you. It is important to arrange electricity connections in advance and ensure all cabling and cables are properly installed and ready before the meter installation can proceed.
This DNO will own self build and operate the local infrastructure that delivers electricity to your property. Once you have paid for the DNO to connect electricity supply your house, you will then have to select an electricity supplier to come and install a meter at your property. Only then can your usage be monitored and billed for accordingly. Alternatively, if your property is already connected to an electricity supply and you simply require a new meter, contact your energy company – or a new one if you’re thinking about switching suppliers – and set up an appointment with one of their meter engineers. A qualified electrician should complete any necessary electrical work, such as installing isolators or mains switches, prior to any metering work. The meter operator will confirm installation details and coordinate the process.
For businesses that struggle to find the time to organise appointments connection work like this, Utility Bidder can manage the whole process for you quickly and easily, liaising with all parties concerned on your behalf. Utility Bidder can arrange the entire connection process, including contacting the relevant parties, managing supply connections, and ensuring your supply contract is set up correctly.
How much does an electricity meter cost?
Typically, the average cost of having a new electric meter installed in the UK ranges between £200 and £800. Customers will need to pay for the installation and any associated services as quoted by the supplier.
This cost is completely dependent on a number of factors including; the potential location of your new meter, the type of electric meter you have chosen and the standard labour costs your electricity supplier charges for installation and the meter itself.
How do I read my electricity meter?
The type of meter your property has will determine how to read it correctly. If you have a modern digital electricity meter with an LCD screen or mileage-style ticker, simply note down the digits as you read them from left to right.
Always include any zeros at the start of the reading. However, you should ignore any red numbers, as well as those that come after the decimal point.
If you have an analogue meter, read the clock-like dials from left to right, making sure you include any zeros. If the pointer is in between two figures, just note down the lower of the two. If your meter has any red dials, these can be ignored.
How to get a gas meter installed?
As is the case with electric meters, new gas meter installs depend on whether or not your property is connected to the mains or not. If not, your first step to having a new connection and a gas meter installed is to contact your local gas transporter to get your domestic or commercial property connected. If there is no existing supply, the new connections team will coordinate supply connections for both gas and electricity supply.
Remember, these companies are only responsible for the gas piping connecting your building to the main energy and gas supply, – they will not act as your gas supplier.
Once your property is connected – or if you’re looking for a new gas meter to be installed into a pre-connected building – you now have to find a business gas supplier. The connections team will create a tailored plan to ensure the system is set up efficiently and runs smoothly.
This can be your existing supplier or, if you are due to renew your contract or are looking for a supplier for the first time, you can use a business energy comparison site such as Utility Bidder to help you choose.
Once you’ve signed up, your new electricity and gas supply company will set up the installation at your property. The installation may involve upgrading the meter supply or installing a new electricity or gas meter, depending on the property’s requirements. This allows them to monitor your gas usage and bill you accordingly.
Does your business need a new gas meter?
There are a few reasons to get a new gas meter:
- If you move to a new place without a gas supply.
- During home renovations when you need to upgrade or relocate the meter for new fixtures.
- When your current meter is faulty or has served its certified lifespan (typically 10-40 years), it’s advisable to replace it, even if it still works.
Who can install a gas meter?
Usually, it is the responsibility of your gas supplier to send a correctly qualified Gas Safe-registered gas and heating engineer to complete your commercial gas meter installation. This important accreditation ensures the engineer is properly trained and experienced and will install your meter safely and efficiently.
They will also inspect the meter once installed, along with new connections in connection with your pipework and any heating appliances, to help ensure they all comply with current legislation.
How Long Does It Take To Install a Commercial Gas Meter?
Typically, the installation of a new business energy meter takes anywhere from five days to two weeks. For gas meters, the typical connection time is between five and ten working days, although larger gas supply capacities may require additional time. However, if you require an additional meter to be installed, the process might extend to as long as 12 weeks due to potential additional work required on your property.
Therefore, we strongly advise initiating the procedure for arranging the installation of a new business gas or electricity meter as early as possible. Additionally, for safety considerations, always ensure the use of fully accredited commercial gas installers.
If your business operates across multiple sites or if you have multiple meters at your premises, please refer to our comprehensive guide on multi-site meters and multi-site energy management.
To determine the appropriate type of business energy meter you require or to explore better energy deals, don’t hesitate to reach out to our energy experts on 0800 007 4001.
How much will a new gas meter installation cost?
Business energy prices are customized to match your business’s specific requirements. The selection of the appropriate meter is also influenced by your gas consumption.
Consequently, the installation expenses will vary based on your meter requirements and the supplier you opt for.
How do I read my gas meter?
Reading your meter correctly requires a similar process to reading your electric meter, and mostly depends on the type of meter you have. If you are reading a digital meter, simply note down the numbers displayed on the LCD screen or mileage-ticker. Read from left to right, include any zeros and ignore all digits after the decimal point.
Alternatively, if you have an analogue meter, simply read the dials from left to right, again making sure you include any zeros. As with analogue electricity meters, if any pointer is in between two figures, simply note down the lower of the two numbers.
What size gas meter do I need?
The gas load is different for each customer, Nevertheless, the highest demand for gas in a typical household is 20 kilowatts (kW). That varies, however, if a house has more rooms and radiators.
Small businesses can have requirements like domestic customers. Commercial buildings, on the other hand, typically use much more gas. Medium-sized businesses often use between 70kW and 150kW, and the biggest ones 1000kW or even more.
Diaphragm meters are the most used.- Almost all residential and small business customers use them. Diaphragm meters come in 7 sizes:
| Meter Type | Flow Rate kW | Capacity (SCMH) Standard m3 | Capacity (SCFH)
Standard cf |
| U6 | 0-65 | 6 | 212 |
| U16 | 66-173 | 16 | 565 |
| U25 | 174-271 | 25 | 883 |
| U40 | 272-430 | 40 | 1412 |
| U65 | 430-704 | 65 | 2296 |
| U100 | 705-1083 | 100 | 3511 |
| U160 | 1084-1733 | 160 | 5650 |
Do You Know Your Maximum Gas Requirements?
Every business using gas has a maximum requirement, which represents the total amount of gas its appliances could potentially consume within an hour.
To determine your maximum requirement, you can either enlist the services of a CORGI-registered engineer to inspect your appliances, or you can inquire with the National Grid for an estimate.
What is a half-hourly meter?
Half-hourly meters are used in larger businesses – particularly those that make use of factories and warehouses – to provide up-to-date automated meter readings which allow the supplier to bill more accurately without the need for manual readings.
Designed to send data directly to the supplier every half-hour, this technology is similar to modern day smart meters – indeed, newer models of half-hourly meters are smart meters – and not only ensures meter readings are a lot more accurate, but can also be used to ensure your business’ energy usage is more efficient in the future.
Businesses that use 100kW or higher during any 30-minute period of the day are required by law to install a half-hourly meter. However, some SMEs and even small start-ups are now opting to use these automated meters to ensure billing is always based on actual usage and not estimates and to allow suppliers to use the data collected to better understand your business’ usage patterns.
Some suppliers have even started to use this data to offer businesses new and improved tailored plans when it comes to renewing contracts.
Compare business gas and electricity deals with Utility Bidder
To switch business gas suppliers with Utility Bidder, you can simply contact a new supplier and request the switch to one of their commercial tariffs. You’ll need the following contact details:
- Your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) and MPAN (meter point administration number) to help the supplier locate your energy supply.
- Information about your energy consumption and current payment details.
- Know when your switching window opens and your contract end date.
As part of the switching process, a new supply contract will be established with your chosen supplier.
Inform your current supplier that you’re leaving, and the switch will occur once your existing contract concludes.
While this process may seem straightforward, if you want to ensure you’re getting the best deal, you’ll have to repeat these steps with multiple suppliers, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. Additionally, if you also need to switch business electricity suppliers, you’ll need to go through the entire process again.
Alternatively, you can let our experts handle all the hard work for you. We streamline the data collection process using smart meters, reducing the time needed to gather the necessary information for comparing quotes. Furthermore, we only require your information once to compare business energy prices from our trusted panel of UK energy suppliers.
Get in touch with us now on 01858 410000 or enter your postcode and we’ll get back to you promptly.
Response was very quick. quotes were very competitive and the advice from Liam was exactly what was needed. a great service!
Very quick & easy contact, sourced new rates quickly & transfer process was simple .
Utility Bidder takes all the hassle out of sorting through the mine field of service providers and provides a professional and time efficient way of securing a competitive price for my energy needs.
Having previously spoken with a rival broker whose consultants I felt were pressuring me into signing a contract immediately, Kirsty Schofield was a breath of air. She found a cheaper and shorter contract to suit my needs and was very friendly and efficient. She made renewing my energy contract a pleasant experience instead of a dreaded chore.”
First class service from Sarah at Utility Bidder, I have been with them for a couple of years now and wouldn’t go elsewhere and would certainly recommend.
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