Metered Estates: What are my supply options?

What is a metered estate?

Metered estates are groups of homes that share supply of LPG from a communal LPG gas storage tank(s) located on the estate that is filled by a single supplier. Each property on the estate has its own meter and is billed individually by the LPG supplier for the amount of gas consumed.

Information for new metered estate residents

Upon moving into a metered estate it is recommended that residents notify the LPG supplier as soon as possible that they are the property’s new occupant.

Following this, residents will receive a welcome pack from the LPG supplier company which will contain the following;

• Information explaining that the property is situated on a metered estate
• Information about the current LPG supply to the estate (details of the company currently supplying)
• Information about LPG contracts and their scope, including guidance that residents are able to receive LPG supply with or without signing a contract and the implications for each

Supply options for metered estate residents

Metered estate residents have the choice of signing a contract that commits them to receive LPG from that supplier for a maximum of two years (a fixed term contract) or, they can chose to receive supply without a contract.  If the resident chooses not to sign a contract, they will however be required to open an account with the current supplier in order to receive gas and some supply terms and the price you are charged may be different.

Metered estate residents are able to switch supplier when all residents agree to switch and none are being supplied under contract. Before signing a contract residents are advised to speak to their fellow residents to ascertain the current contractual status of the estate’s supply.

Some metered estates have a metered estate manager appointed by the residents to represent them and, if so, residents may wish to talk to them in the first instance. The existing supplier should also be able to advise residents of the current contractual status of the estate and when contracts expire (unless the metered estate is small and hence there is a risk of identifying an individual household’s circumstances).

What can I do if I have any questions about my metered estate supply?

In the first instance it is recommended that residents contact their existing LPG supplier to discuss any supply or contractual issues.

All customers supplied by Liquid Gas UK member companies also have access to free independent arbitration as a route to dispute resolution. This ombudsman service is provided through UtilitiesADR, for more information please visit https://www.utilitiesadr.co.uk/

More information about metered estates can be found on the Gov.uk website here

The CMA also hold information and guidance for residents on their website.