Faulty Gas Meter
I believe I have a faulty National Grid gas meter. As far as I can tell it serves my range top and my fireplace and the reading hasn’y changed in 2 months. Does anybody have any experience in dealing with National Grid on this? I don’t want some large retroactive bill. I’ve heard horror stories…
I believe I have a faulty National Grid gas meter. As far as I can tell it serves my range top and my fireplace and the reading hasn’y changed in 2 months.
Does anybody have any experience in dealing with National Grid on this? I don’t want some large retroactive bill. I’ve heard horror stories about water meter issues. Thanks
Your meter is defective, even if you used only the stove, there is no way you would use one therm in 4 months.
I ran into the same situation recently. They were billing me via estimated bills, my meter was stuck at the same number for almost one year at which point they woke up and called for access, they checked the entire house, all connections, thermostats, to make sure there was no usage which bypassed the meter. Took them one hour to check everything out, then they replaced the meter. I kept a record of the reading on the date of removal.
Two months after the change out, they billed me what I felt was an excessive amount based on a hypothetical reading assuming that the meter was working. I gathered all bills from three years prior and called them with my average monthly use of the 3 year period prior to the meter failing, they agreed with me and adjusted the bill, turns out they owed me a refund since their estimates were on the high side.
Good luck,
OK, OP here again. I just called in the meter readings and had a lovely long conversation with the woman at the other end of the line (the 718-643-4050 Customer Assistance number on the bills).
Turns out the last actual reading was when I called it in in September and it was 4574. Now, 4 months later, it’s 4575. Apparently that amount of usage for the cooktop is normal, especially for one person who only uses it a few days a week to make spaghetti carbonara (traditionally, benson).
She wasn’t concerned at the other end.
On the remote reading issue, I asked. I can get two set up for free but have to pay $75 for the third. I’ll probably set this up at some time.
Thanks for all the help.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Thanks Vinca 🙂
BTW, if the OP’s meter hasn’t moved, how could NG have any basis for any retroactive bill?
If it were me, I might be tempted to leave things alone. I’d never had done such a thing with Brooklyn Union Gas, which did so much to foster the brownstone revival with their Cinderella Program, Brownstone Information Center (on Flatbush Ave., in Park Slope) and annual Brownstone Fair, in their old Montague Street headquarters building, but I don’t really give a damn about NG.
No remotes, Pete. I use the cooktop a few times a week. The meter should have moved
Do you have the remote reader, Dave? I had problem with the remote reading once.
If haven’t cooked or used gas fireplace much lately maybe it is at 0. I used to have 0 readings years ago. And that was when billed every 2 months as opposed to every month now.
Consumption for a stove (and rarely used fireplace is pretty minimal).
These are new remotes – they don’t even have to drive by – info is sent to a central station.
One up for PLG over PS.
“National Grid has begun to install electronic outdoor meters”
Begun? Brooklyn Union installed one of those [or the functional equivalent] at my house over 20 years ago.
In addition to Arkady’s contacts, you might want to combine your call with this: National Grid has begun to install electronic outdoor meters (similar to the new water meters). If it’s available in your neighborhood, maybe you can combine your service call with an outdoor meter installation. Try calling: 718-403-6900, or NG’s usual Customer Service number at 718-643-4050. If/when you schedule appointment, make sure you’ve got access to all apartments, as they’ll want to check gas output at all appliances post-meter change. Same is probably true even for a defective meter.