Vanity: ~40 years ago, Pacific Gas & Electric moved a gas meter for their convenience...

The State of High Dudgeon | September 2, 2017 | Swordmaker

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Well I certainly hope you get some satisfaction here. We recently remodeled a house in Lafayette California and the electric service and gas service were delivered to the right front corner of the house. PG&E wants the gas meter physically separated from the electric meter by a reasonable number of feet because occasionally the gas meter will burp out a little bit of gas if there’s a little excess pressure in the line; it is meant to do that but of course they don’t want to see that next to an electrical panel. So we were faced with having to move the gas meter because we wanted to upgrade the electrical service to 200 amp in order to do that we were going to have to dig up and relocate the gas line which would have been very costly because I believe in California gas lines need to be 3ft deep and permitted of course and bedded in gravel. It’s not like running a PVC irrigation pipe 10 inches under the surface. I hope on this thread you will ultimately report as to what the resolution was.

[2CAVTrooper]

If you go that route, make sure you call 811 for a miss-all (line locate). It’s a free service and you just have to call a minimum of 48 hours before you dig, and the locate is good for 10 business days once the paint is on the ground. I know around here, AT&T will charge $250 - $500 for damage to a service drop. Once again free call, free service.

[mad_as_he$$]

I actually don’t care if you believe me or not. Never lied as you accuse me of. It is your blind devotion to the Apple cult and your lousy reading comprehension that makes you think that. Go get stuffed and it is my sincere wish that your ongoing experience with PG&E is as painful as it can be.

[Swordmaker]

I’m sure the plumber has encountered this type of situation before and will have ways to pressure test the underground portion and the above ground connections.

The plumber does, but they want $550 to test the pressure which tells us there's a leak, not where there's a leak. Also, PG&E put a tamper proof seal on the meter so we can't put gas through the line to locate the actual leak with a "sniffer" anymore. PG&E say THEY know where the leak is, but they won't reveal that information. My choices are now

• 1) pay $550 to do the pressure test and hope the leak is in the above ground portion of the pipe right by the meter so a soapy water test will instantly reveal it, and then pay about $200 in plumbing fees.
• 2) pay $250 to a specialist who has a sniffer and can put his own gas under pressure in the line and locate the leak, even if it's under ground, the pay the licensed plumber to return to dig up the leak and cut out the offending pipe and replace it for about $350. However, I can pay my guy to dig up the pipe which is cheaper than paying a $90 an hour plumber to Operate a shovel. We can have the pipe exposed before the plumber arrives and maybe it won't be $350.
• 3) Replace the whole line for about $2000. And pay the plumber $200 to hook it up so the city inspectors and PG& damn E will be happy to take their seal off and turn the gas back on!

I've decided on #2. But the sniffer guy was off today.

[Chgogal]

Who are you? Your posts are spot on.

I worked for a natural gas company as well.

[SamAdams76]

I was thinking of that song too!

[SamAdams76]

Whatever the outcome, I highly suggest getting a propane tank for that house out back. I live out in the woods and have a 420 gallon propane tank. We painted it green so it’s not an eyesore (blends in with the vegetation around it) and get it filled once a year. The gas company comes by and fills it. It’s next to the house so not a lot of piping to worry about. I even have a line going to my Weber grill so I don’t have to worry about getting those little 20 pound tanks refilled.

[TalBlack]

I worked for the union contractors here on Long Island, who refurbished old Gas services or added new installations. Working Underground Foreman.

[Chgogal]

I worked in the rate design, federal regulatory and gas supply departments. At the end of my career I bought the molecules that flowed through the services.