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”) previously amended by the Gas (Meters) (Amendment) Regulations 1988 and the Gas (Meters) (Variation of Fees) Regulations 1990. The revised regulation 5 is substituted in the 1983 Regulations by regulation 3 of these Regulations.

The fixed fees for examination of any prototype or modified prototype meter submitted for approval of its pattern and construction are now replaced with an hourly charge for examination of those meters. In these cases the charge will be at the rate of £44.05p where tests are carried out at the Department’s offices and £34.56p where they are carried out elsewhere. The fees for non-prototype commercial and industrial meters are unchanged except those for the examination of all special non-prototype meters (for example, those which are temperature compensated) and meters which are or incorporate electronic devices, part of the fees for which are also based on an hourly rate.

The fees payable in respect of time spent by examiners in travelling and preparing and dismantling equipment has been increased from an hourly rate of £31.80p to £34.56p. The surcharge for testing disputed meters has also been raised from £4.70p to £6.20p with an overall resultant fee for those with a measuring capacity not exceeding 13 cubic metres per hour of £6.93p.

Schedule 1 to the 1983 Regulations is replaced by a Schedule specifying the fees for meters which are neither prototypes nor modified prototypes on the basis of their respective measuring capacities. The fee in respect of those meters with a measuring capacity not exceeding 13 cubic metres per hour (those generally used in connection with domestic gas supplies) is reduced from 83p to 73p (12%). The fees in respect of meters with greater measuring capacities are unchanged.