When you can be refused a supply
A gas supplier may refuse to connect a gas supply to a new address, may cut off an existing supply or refuse to reconnect a supply which has been disconnected. A gas transporter may refuse to connect your premises to the gas supply network and may also disconnect your supply in a number of circumstances. Disconnection for arrears is dealt with in Chapter 8. A gas supplier may cut off your supply in the following circumstances.
•You do not pay your bill within the 28 days following the date of the bill (see here). You are entitled to a minimum of seven days’ notice of the supplier’s intention to disconnect. Note: there is no right to disconnect when the bill is genuinely in dispute. You may be protected from disconnection by conditions contained in your supplier’s licence.1Condition 27.9-11 SLC •You switch supplier and you owe money to your previous supplier, in which case the previous supplier can assign some of your debt to your new supplier.2Condition 14 SLC The new supplier cannot refuse debt assignment and will collect the debt through a prepayment meter. However, the new supplier is unlikely to cut off the supply. What is termed ‘debt blocking’ – the refusal to take on a debtor with a prepayment meter as a customer by a new supplier – should not take place if a debt is £500 or less, following the debt assignment protocol (see here).3Condition 14.6 SLCNote: there is no right to disconnect when the bill is genuinely in dispute. You may be protected from disconnection by conditions in your supplier’s licence. •You do not pay a reasonable security deposit or agree to accept a prepayment meter within the seven days following the supplier’s request for a deposit. A supplier’s right to request a security deposit is a condition of the supplier’s licence.4Condition 27.3 SLC •You fail to take your supply through a meter.
•You fail to keep a meter belonging to you or to someone other than the gas supplier or transporter in proper order.
•You intentionally damage or interfere with gas fittings, service pipes or meters (see Chapter 9). •You do not/no longer require a supply of gas.
•You do not/no longer require the use of meters or other gas fittings belonging to the supplier/transporter. You are entitled to 24 hours’ notice.
•Your supply has been reconnected without the consent of the supplier.
•Supplying you with gas would, or might, involve danger to the public.
•A gas transporter or another gas supplier has disconnected your supply and is under no obligation to reconnect your supply.
•A gas shipper has prevented the transfer of gas to your premises.
•A supplier’s ability to supply its customers would be significantly prejudiced if it were to offer you a supply.
•There are circumstances beyond the supplier’s control.5Condition 22.5 SLC
A gas transporter may refuse to connect your premises to, or may disconnect your premises from, the gas supply network in the following circumstances.
•Your premises are not within the transporter’s authorised area.
•Your premises are not close enough to a gas main – ie, the premises are not within 23 metres of the transporter’s gas main or could not be connected by a service pipe to a transporter’s gas main.
•A transporter asks you to install a meter as near as possible to its main and you refuse. This applies when:
◦gas was not previously supplied to your premises by the transporter; or
◦a new/substituted pipe is required; or
◦the meter is to be moved.
Note that the transporter may permit you to install a meter in alternative accommodation or in an external meter house, but this discretion lies with the transporter.
•You use gas improperly or deal with gas so as to interfere with the efficient conveyance of gas.
•The transporter is concerned to prevent the escape of gas or it suspects there may be an escape of gas.
•You fail to take your supply through a meter.
•You do not pay a reasonable security deposit. A gas transporter can request reasonable security for the initial connection of the supply.6s11 GA 1986 •You fail to keep a meter belonging to you or to someone other than the gas supplier or transporter in proper order.
•You intentionally damage or interfere with gas fittings, service pipes or meters (see Chapter 9). •You do not/no longer require a supply of gas. You are entitled to 24 hours’ notice.
•You do not/no longer require the use of meters or other gas fittings belonging to the transporter. You are entitled to 24 hours’ notice.
•The transporter is prevented from connecting you or maintaining your connection by circumstances not within its control.
•Supplying you with gas would, or might, endanger the public.
•A pipe laid by the owner or occupier of the premises is not fit for the purpose.