Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the provisions relating to fees contained in regulation 5 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Gas (Meters) Regulations 1983 (“the 1983 Regulations”).

The revised regulation 5, substituted in the 1983 Regulations by regulation 3 of these Regulations, incorporates increases in four of the fees provided for. The amounts increased are those in respect of time spent by a meter examiner in travelling, and in preparing for an examination (increased from £9.80 to £13.70); in respect of the examination of a meter which is the subject of a dispute (increased from £1.50 to £2.70); and in respect of the examination of prototypes of certain special kinds of meter (increased from £300 to £375 and from £2,000 to £2,500). Additional charges are introduced to recover the cost of obtaining and preparing special equipment which is needed to examine particular meters, and also the cost of fuel used in testing the durability of prototype meters.

Schedule 1 to the 1983 Regulations is replaced by a Schedule specifying higher examination and re-examination fees. The increase over the sums prescribed in 1983 is approximately 25% in the case of prototype meters, and in the case of modified prototypes the fee has been increased from 10% to 20% of the fee charged for prototypes; in the case of other meters there is no increase for the smallest-capacity meters (the size generally used in connection with domestic gas supplies) and for the larger-capacity meters there is an increase of approximately 11% over sums prescribed by amending regulations in 1984 (the 1984 Regulations are revoked by regulation 5 of these Regulations). The fees specified in the Schedule in respect of meters which are not prototypes or modified prototypes are also payable where a meter is stamped as conforming with prescribed standards but has not been examined by a meter examiner.