By Sharon Smith, Lynn Clarkson and Madiya Shokat, Energy Know How Team
Whilst completing paperwork following attendance at a lunch event, a client had asked a question to one of the staff regarding the gas connection at her property. The staff member was not able to answer the question and asked me to speak with client.
She lived with her elderly parents in their home, and which is owned by them. Her father was a miner before he retired. He still gets a fuel allowance which provides them with smokeless fuel on a regular basis free of charge as part of his retirement benefits. They have a fire and back boiler (parkray) which is heated by the smokeless coal and provides the heating and hot water for the property. They have an electric cooker and appliances.
As they were not using any gas the clients’ father requested the energy company to remove the gas supply at the property to prevent a daily standing charge for a service that they did not need and would not use. The service was disconnected at the property boundary many years ago.
The clients’ parents are now quite elderly, and she is thinking about how she would manage when they are no longer around. One of the issues that is worrying her is the gas connection as the fuel allowance would end.
I explained that all gas services are maintained by the gas grid network, and it would be relatively easy to reconnect the gas although it is unlikely to be instant and she may have to wait a little while for the process to be arranged. The process would be arranged by the supplier she chose to go with however there could be a charge for reconnection/testing of the supply. The process would involve digging up the area where it was disconnected to re-connect the pipe and after testing, reinstate the path/driveway that had been disturbed.
This information put her mind at rest, and she is aware that this can be sorted when the time arrives.
She is aware to contact an energy supplier (it does not have to be the one that supplies her electricity although it may be more straightforward if she does) for the process to be arranged.
I gave the client our contact details and explained that when she needs to arrange for her service to be re-connected Rotherfed may not have an energy project in place however, they would be able to signpost her to further support services should she need them.
She was very appreciative of the information and time taken to answer her concerns.