What to do if the meter is broken
So, you discovered that the numbers on your gas meter have gone dark or they have stopped moving, even when the gas-using equipment is turned on. Or, on the contrary, the meter began to “wind” more than expected, or another malfunction was found. In any case, there is only one correct algorithm of action:
- Turn off all gas appliances; if the meter continues to “wind”, two options are possible: a gas leak or stray currents are to blame. If you smell gas, be sure to call 04 or 104!
- Be sure to contact your gas supply company and describe the problem. This is a mandatory legal requirement. In addition, the sooner you apply, the less you will pay upon recalculation.
- Upon request, a master will have to come to you. Be sure to check whether he arrived at your request or is undergoing a scheduled round. The technician will conduct a visual inspection of the meter, the presence and integrity of seals, and check its operation. If the meter turns out to be truly faulty, then a report on the malfunction of the gas meter will be drawn up. Make sure that the technicians do not “accidentally” damage the seals.
- After this, the meter will need to be repaired or replaced. You will pay for the dismantling and subsequent installation of the device yourself.
- They will definitely recalculate for the entire time that the meter was faulty. You will pay according to average standards for each person registered in the apartment. We will discuss this point in more detail later in the text.
The most important thing: do nothing with a broken meter! Any attempt at self-repair is prohibited. And breaking the seal can result in serious fines.
Our company offers official replacement of gas meters. We will dismantle and install turnkey equipment in a short time. You can place a call to a specialist using the link or by calling the toll-free hotline.
How to pay for utilities if the apartment meter is out of order
The content of the article
We received a letter from the energy sales office stating that the electricity meter has expired and needs to be replaced. We currently do not have the opportunity to buy and install a new meter. What will we get for this and how will we pay for electricity without a meter?
The law stipulates that the volume of utility services provided to consumers is determined on the basis of data from individual (apartment) metering devices. Each owner of an apartment or room must take care of installing meters for water, electricity, heating and gas, put them into operation correctly and follow the rules of use. In addition, since each meter has its own service life, as well as a verification period, it will be necessary to make a new verification in a timely manner and change the meter if its service life expires.
Failed meters cannot be used to determine the volume of utilities supplied. Therefore, if the meter malfunctions, the apartment owner must ensure that it is repaired or replaced within 30 days from the date of the malfunction.
By law, meters are considered to be out of order if they have:
- measurement results are not displayed;
- verification marks or control seals are broken;
- the permissible error of indications is exceeded;
- there is mechanical damage;
- the verification interval has expired.
What to do when an individual meter fails?
- 1) Immediately if the meter fails, you must notify your management company or utility service provider (for example, energy sales);
- 2) Within 30 days from the date of the malfunction, the meter must be repaired or replaced. Since the meter is your property, the purchase of a new meter, its installation or repair is at your expense. It is better to find out which meter is right for you directly from your management company or utility service provider. Please note that you should not replace the meter yourself or ask a neighbor (“a man with hands, he can do everything”) to do it. These jobs require special education and qualifications. Therefore, it is better to contact a specialized organization or your management company. Of course, in order to avoid any claims, it is better to install the meter officially, that is, with the execution of an agreement, a bilateral act of replacing the meter and receiving a check for payment for services provided.
- 3) Within 1 month from the date of installation of the new meter, it must be put into operation, that is, sealed. Remember that the meter is sealed only by the company that supplies you with the relevant utility service. For example, the sealing of the electric meter will be done by the power supply company, the sealing of the water meter will be done by the management company or water utility.
Note: The installed metering device, including after verification, is sealed by the contractor without charging a fee to the consumer, except for cases when the sealing of the corresponding metering devices is carried out by the contractor again due to violation of the seal or verification marks by the consumer or a third party (clause 81( 14) Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of May 6, 2011).
How are utility bills calculated after the meter fails?
- 1) From the day the meter fails until the day the new meter is sealed (but not more than 3 months in a row) - according to the average monthly consumption of a utility resource (subparagraph “a” of paragraph 59 of Government Resolution No. 354 of 05/06/2011). This volume is determined for the last 6 months according to the readings of your apartment meter. If the meter worked for less than 6 months, then the actual time of its operation is taken into account, but not less than 3 months. For heating, the average monthly volume for the heating period is taken.
- 2) If within 3 months from the date of failure of the meter you have not installed and sealed a new meter, then the payment for this utility service will be calculated based on consumption standards using an increasing factor (clause 60, 42 of Government Decree No. 354 of 06.05. 2011). The management company or utility provider will make the appropriate calculation of the fee in the next receipt. If you doubt the correctness of this calculation, we recommend contacting the management company or the supplier with a written statement. In it, describe your situation, provide links to the procedure for calculating the fee under Resolution 354 and ask for a recalculation of the fee in accordance with this resolution. If your issue is not resolved positively, you can file a complaint with the housing inspectorate.
Laws on the topic: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings”
Frequent malfunctions
Although there can be many reasons for a device malfunction, it is worth focusing on the most popular ones.
Mechanical damage is quite rare, but it does happen. The owner will be able to determine it without any instruments. In this case, you must call the emergency gas service at 04 or 104. Such malfunctions are often the cause of gas leaks in the apartment.
The meter itself, depending on the type, consists of different components that can fail. For example, if the numbers on the device go out, then not only the display itself may be to blame, but also the power supply (the batteries or battery are dead).
Metering devices often fail due to improper installation. Unverified organizations install a faulty device in advance, which may break within two or three months. Or the meter is mounted where direct sunlight falls on it. Sometimes devices are installed on the streets, where it simply freezes. You can only protect yourself by contacting a specialized organization for the installation of gas meters, which can document your admission to gas-hazardous work.
Compliance with safety measures when moving a gas meter
The work of moving the gas meter is one that threatens the safety of the entire population of the house. Only specialized organizations that have permission to provide services of this kind have the right to produce them. It is strictly prohibited to independently carry a gas meter in an apartment or private house. Such actions are punishable by serious fines.
In addition, in the first days after moving the meter, you should pay special attention to its operation (you can even prepare a soap solution yourself to check for leaks). In cases where the subscriber suspects that there is a gas leak at the welding site, you should immediately contact the gas supply company or call the gas emergency service by calling 04.
Next, watch the video, which will tell you how to move a gas meter in an apartment.
How much to pay for gas if the meter is faulty
If there is no meter or it turns out to be faulty, then you will have to pay according to average gas consumption: for this, readings for the last year are used. If the meter has not worked for even a year, then readings are taken for the actual period of operation.
This way you can only pay for three months. Payment will then be made according to regulations. Be careful, the standard is calculated for each person in the apartment separately.
Remember when we said that the sooner you apply, the less you pay? So, you will be required to pay according to the standard only from the day you report a malfunction of the meter until it is sealed.
Therefore, be sure to duplicate your appeal to the gas service in writing. It is better to come and apply yourself. A recorded telephone conversation can also serve as a fact of contact.
We do not recommend delaying this issue for one more reason. If the controllers come to check and find a faulty meter, then you will be charged gas consumption according to the standards from the date of the last successful check of the meter, but no more than 6 months. You can read more about this yourself in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 21, 2008 No. 549. That is why large amounts for gas often arise when making payments.
It is worth noting: the gas service is not always right. If you think that an unreasonably high amount has been charged, write a written complaint addressed to the director of the gas company. You must respond within 30 days. If the application is ignored, then contact the prosecutor or Rospotrebnadzor. In most cases, after such statements, gas workers meet consumers halfway.
Recommendations regarding unfair claims
If the demands of the gas service are unlawful, the general procedure is followed.
- A complaint is written to the director of the supplier company. The application indicates the reason for the appeal. The organization must respond to the complaint within 30 days.
- If the complaint is ignored, they turn to higher authorities. Lawyers recommend duplicating the application to several structures at once: to the court, to the prosecutor's office, to the ministry, to Rospotrebnadzor.
Judicial practice shows that gas workers are in a more advantageous position compared to the average consumer. The latter are not always able to prove the fact of contacting the gas company, while nothing prevents the latter from presenting evidence of a scheduled inspection, issued retroactively.
Conclusions on the topic
Check the operation of your gas meter as often as possible. If the counter is mechanical, then it is enough to simply visually control the movement of the numbers: smooth, uniform, without extraneous sounds. If the movement of the counting mechanism is uneven, jerky or slow, clicks and noises are heard during movement, then the device is faulty.
You should not be biased towards gas workers, but it is necessary to monitor their work and protect yourself. Be sure to record all your calls to the gas service.
Have you encountered a faulty gas meter? How quickly did the gas service technicians arrive? What advice can you give to people who are faced with a similar problem? Write in the comments, our experts will answer all your questions.
