Federal Law No. 261 of November 23, 2009 speaks of the need to install metering devices in residential buildings connected to centralized energy supply systems. This document refers to both collective (shared) and individual meters for water, electricity, heat and gas.
In this article, we will look at whether everyone is required to install individual gas meters. We'll tell you about the installation procedure and how and where to submit readings.
Who needs to install gas meters
Article 13 of Federal Law No. 261 states that the requirement to install gas meters does not apply
for dilapidated, emergency, objects subject to demolition or major repairs before January 1, 2013, as well as for those apartments or houses in which:
- less than 2 m3/hour is consumed,
- heating is carried out without the use of gas-using equipment.
If the house is heated with gas, then the gas consumption is more than 2 cubic meters per hour, and you are required by law to install a meter.
Gas meter for an apartment: modern models and installation rules
Gas is a source of thermal energy, which the bowels of the Earth generously provide us with. Only reserves that are replenished with the same intensity with which they are consumed are inexhaustible. Gas is not one of them. Therefore, recently the accounting of blue fuel has become increasingly stricter. Doubts about whether to install a gas meter in an apartment are gradually being replaced by rational calculations and legislation.
Gas meters for private homes: popular models, user reviews (read more)
Installing a gas meter makes it possible to pay for actually consumed resources.
Is it possible to install for free?
Part 11 of Article 13 of Federal Law No. 261 allows for this possibility. Find out which categories of citizens in your city can receive money for installing meters from the local administration or your district government.
A subject of the Russian Federation or a municipal entity has the right to provide at the expense of budget funds
constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the local budget,
support for certain categories of consumers by allocating funds to them for the installation of metering devices
for used energy resources, intended for payments for used energy resources.
Main characteristics of the gas meter SGBM-1.6
This gas measuring device is produced. It has a fairly compact size and is intended for use in domestic conditions. The temperature range at which the manufacturer guarantees uninterrupted operation of the device is -10 – +50 °C.
The gas meter can be installed in both horizontal and vertical planes. The device is equipped with a convenient display from which it is easy to read readings.
This gas meter has the following technical characteristics:
- official name - SGBM-1.6;
- maximum metering limit – 1.6 m³/h;
- permissible pressure – 5 kPa (kilopascal);
- weight – 700 g;
- price – from 1900 rub.
The power supply for this Betar gas meter is a lithium battery. It is this that provides information about the amount of gas consumed on the display. The battery life is designed for 12 years. The battery must be replaced by specialists. The device has a “Calendar” function that records power outages. Information marked with this function can only be read using a special device.
The gas meter SGBM-10.6 is equipped with a convenient display.
If meters are not installed on time
If gas meters have not yet been installed in your apartment (house) in 2021, despite the fact that the room is heated with gas, be prepared for a visit from gas workers.
The fact is that the resource supplying organization, according to the same Federal Law-261, is obliged to install metering devices for you if you have not done this on time (before January 1, 2021). And they will do it forcibly. You are obliged to let them into the apartment (house) to carry out work and must pay for their work. If you refuse to pay, you will be additionally required to reimburse the costs incurred by the organization due to the need for enforcement.
It is possible to pay for the forced installation of metering devices in installments. The entire cost of installation services provided must be paid within 5 years. This possibility is provided for by Part 12 of Article 13 of the above-mentioned Federal Law No. 261.
Agreement
, regulating the conditions
for installing
a collective or individual (common for a communal apartment)
metering device
for the energy resource used (the supply or transfer of which is carried out by the specified organizations) and concluded with the citizen - owner of a residential building, garden house or a person authorized by him, with the citizen - owner of the premises in apartment building or the person responsible for the maintenance of the apartment building, in order to fulfill their duties provided for in parts 5 - 6.1 of this article,
must contain a condition on payment of the price
determined by such an agreement
in equal shares within five years from the date of its conclusion, except in the case of , if the consumer has expressed his intention to pay the price determined by such an agreement in a lump sum or with a shorter installment period
. When a provision for installment payment is included in such an agreement, the price determined by such an agreement must include the amount of interest accrued in connection with the provision of installment plans, but not more than in the amount of the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in effect on the date of accrual, except in cases where the corresponding compensation is carried out at the expense of the budget of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation, the local budget.
Residents of Crimea and Sevastopol still have time to install gas meters. Federal Law No. 261 sets a deadline for these regions until January 1, 2021.
How to correctly take gas meter readings
After installing a gas meter, the consumer must monitor the amount of fuel consumed, submit monthly information to the organization that monitors the gas supply, and pay for the fuel used.
How to submit gas meter readings: how to take readings, payment methods (read more)
The algorithm for taking readings from a gas consumption meter is as follows:
- record the final meter readings;
- subtract from them the previous readings, that is, for the last month. The difference will be the number of cubes intended for payment;
- then you need to multiply the number of cubes by the tariff - you will get the amount of payment for the past period (month).
If the installed gas meter does not automatically take into account the temperature coefficient, that is, the excessive influence of temperature and pressure on the gas supply, then it must be used independently. First, you need to multiply the difference in readings (between the final and previous ones) by a coefficient (it varies for regions), and then by the cost of gas.
All first digits up to the decimal point are taken into account when taking readings from household gas meters.
Difficulties in calculating the total amount may also arise if a limit is set. Payment for gas before its mark will be charged at one tariff - the lower one. Cubes that exceed the limit must be multiplied by another, higher price. The sum of the two calculations will reflect the full cost of the gas used.
On a note! For areas with significant temperature fluctuations, it is better to install meters with a compensation function. They make it easier to control gas consumption and provide more accurate indicators.
Which organizations have the right to install gas meters
Only gas distribution organizations that have the appropriate license can install meters.
Employees of these companies have permission to carry out gas hazardous work. In Moscow, for example, this is JSC Mosgaz. Some websites on the Internet now offer to install meters cheaply and without turning off the gas. Such companies often do not have any information about the legal entity on their website - only phone numbers. These are scammers. Contacting such “specialists” is life-threatening.
Gas meter G4: price, operating features
BK-G4 meters were highly appreciated by both private users and employees of organizations servicing gas supply systems. The operating process of the device is based on the movement of partitions located in the chambers. They transmit vibrations of incoming and outgoing gas flows. The partitions are connected to a reducer, which counts the cubic meters of gas used.
The main technical characteristics have the following indicators:
- small size of the structure and modern design;
- temperature range is -30 – +50 C°;
- maximum flow rate – 6 m³/h;
- low error limit;
- operating pressure – 50 kPa (with a meter body made of sheet steel);
- weight –1900 g.
This device can have both left and right connections, but is installed only in a vertical position. The price of a household gas meter is 1900 rubles. The meter should be verified every 10 years. When an IN-Z61 pulse sensor is connected to the device, remote data transfer will take place.
The G4 gas meter is installed only in a vertical position.
On a note! When purchasing this meter, you should pay attention to the presence of caps on the pipes. If they are missing, the device must be returned, since proper protection of the counting mechanism is not provided.
Gas meter installation procedure
- Buy a meter.
You can find out which meter to choose from the gas distribution organization that services your home.
Consult with specialists - they will tell you which type of meter is best suited in your case and what bandwidth is required. When purchasing, be sure to check the accompanying documentation for the device. There must be a technical passport, which must contain a mark on the date of factory verification. The date of manufacture of the device and the calibration interval must also be indicated there.
Check the serial number indicated on the meter and in your passport. They should be the same.
- Apply for installation.
Call the gas distribution organization in your city or region and ask to install a meter.
You can also apply online on the organization's website. A specialist will first come to you to inspect the premises and assess the scope of work. Sometimes you can install a meter quickly and easily, without carrying out welding work, and sometimes you need to change the gas distribution inside your apartment. You will need to sign an agreement and pay for the required list of works.
When installing the meter, specialists will definitely turn off the gas riser. After the meter is installed, the gas engineer will draw up a work completion certificate, a strict reporting form and a gas meter installation certificate. One copy of each document must remain with you. The installation certificate will be stamped in the meter's passport. But that is not all.
- Seal the meter and put it into operation.
The sealing will be carried out by representatives of your resource supply organization - the regional branch of Gazprom LLC.
You can contact them by calling or filling out an application online on the website. Specialists will come to you, seal the meter, take readings and tell you the personal account number for which you will submit readings every month.
How does commissioning take place?
After installation, gas service specialists must check the functionality of the meter.
The following factors are taken into account:
- the presence of interference during the passage of fuel through the mechanisms of the device;
- counter performance;
- no gas leaks.
In addition, fuel consumption is measured.
Upon completion of control activities, a report on the work performed is drawn up, which indicates the following data:
- place and date of installation;
- gasometer serial number;
- Full name and contact details of the employees who carried out the installation;
- device performance at the time of installation;
- time of scheduled verification of the gas controller;
- smooth running of the meter's star mechanism.
The document is drawn up in two copies: one is issued to the apartment owner, the other is transferred to the gas service. The client also signs an acceptance certificate for the work performed (also in two copies). The specialist is required to fill out the device commissioning certificate and the gas meter maintenance agreement (such papers must be drawn up in triplicate).
When turning on a newly installed device, it is important to expel the air from the system using gas. To do this, you need to sequentially open the gas at the inlet and then at the outlet, which will avoid damage to the gasometer mechanism from the shock load during first use
Is gas meters required to be verified?
As is the case with water meters, gas meters need to be checked periodically, since any measuring instrument can become inaccurate over time.
The verification interval and date of manufacture are indicated in the meter's passport, so you need to save it after purchase and track the moment when verification is required. Some meters do not require checking for 10 years, and some need to be checked every 3 years. This depends on the type and specific brand of the device - the calibration period is set by the manufacturer.
Conducting verification is the responsibility of the owner of the apartment (house) in which the metering device is installed. The verification procedure itself can only be carried out by specialists: your regional branch of the gas distribution organization or other organizations authorized to carry out such work.
High accuracy and safety: smart gas meters
The topic of “smart” meters is actively discussed both in government agencies and among users. The advantages of this type of metering devices are obvious:
- there is no need to transmit evidence;
- accounting accuracy;
- transmission of a fault signal;
- encouraging efficient use of gas by consumers.
The question largely comes down to money: at whose expense should the meters be installed? Today, such a device can be purchased for 4,000–5,000 rubles. The opinions of the owners also appeared. The majority (according to reviews on the Internet, approximately 3/4 of users) are satisfied with the efficiency of the meters. Those who are dissatisfied with the operation of such devices complain about their “incorrect” operation, that is, about rough accounting.
For smart gas meters to work, certain conditions are required - the presence of Wi-Fi. Information about the amount of gas used is transmitted to the server using wireless mobile communications. To control payment, you need to go to your personal account, track the movement of funds and get acquainted with other information.
For a smart gas meter to work, certain conditions are required - the presence of Wi-Fi.
These conditions exist in most apartments where blue fuel is used, but not in all. Therefore, a total and mandatory replacement of gas meters with “smart” ones is currently impossible.
There is another indicator that is not in favor of these high-precision devices: a smart meter should be replaced once every 10 years, which is much more often than conventional models.
Electronic gas meter Grand-4: price, advantages and disadvantages
A convenient option for an apartment are Grand-4 meters. These devices have a small round body made of plastic. The color of the body can be gray, white and even orange, which often matters when creating a certain interior. To install this model of meters, there is no need to use welding, which greatly simplifies installation.
This device is electronic, the kit includes:
- generator,
- piece;
- block with numbers;
- housing of various diameters with threaded fittings;
- power source – battery.
The Grand-4 gas meter is an acceptable option for installation in an apartment.
It is impossible to answer unequivocally how much a Grand-4 gas meter costs. Depending on the trading organization and some technical features, the price ranges from 2800 to 4800 rubles. This device is intended for a gas water heater and a 4-burner stove.
The main advantages of Grand devices are:
- small size;
- display with large numbers;
- possibility of body rotation;
- long inter-verification period (12 years).
Among the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the high cost. In comparison with competing products (with Betar gas meters), the price is one and a half to two times higher.
On a note! Any electronic device cannot withstand mechanical stress. When determining a place for a gas meter of this type in an apartment, this should definitely be taken into account.
The price of a Grand gas meter ranges from 2800 to 4800 rubles.
Gas meter for an apartment: the most optimal characteristics
There is no doubt that a gas meter is necessary. It allows you to pay objective amounts corresponding to the cubes spent. It also makes it possible and even stimulates saving and rational use of this type of natural fuel.
When choosing a device, you should definitely take into account many technical indicators:
- The total number of gas appliances in the apartment and the amount of gas consumed per 1 hour. To do this, you need to know the consumption of each unit:
- for the operation of a 4-burner gas stove, 1 m³/h of gas is required;
- a geyser consumes about 1.5 m³/h.
By summing up consumption, you can select a meter. Its cross-country ability is always indicated in the device passport.
- Conditions of accommodation. Many meter models have only right-hand or left-hand connection methods. It is worth choosing the appropriate option depending on the layout of gas pipes in the room. The optimal solution is to purchase a meter with two-way connection.
- Equipped with an additional function – thermal correction. The price of gas meters with such capabilities increases significantly.
When choosing a gas appliance, you should definitely take into account many technical indicators.
This device is worth mentioning separately. There are optimal conditions for each gas appliance under which it functions as correctly as possible. Even if the meter is in constant permissible temperature conditions, it must be taken into account that in winter the gas enters cold and dense, in summer it is warm and liquefied. The readings of the device may fluctuate either up or down.
The presence of an automatic heat correction system in the meter eliminates the need for the user to multiply the consumed cubes by an additional factor.
Everyone benefits from having a gas meter. The consumer can calculate the budget and independently choose the degree of heating. Organizations have the ability to plan and track the consumption of this natural fuel. And the bowels of the Earth, which give us this invaluable source of heat, contemplate a zealous attitude towards them.
