Why do I need to move my gas or electric meter for an extension?

Meters most often move because the external wall they are fixed to becomes an internal wall once the extension is built, and meters must stay accessible on an outside wall. They also have to move if the new footprint sits over the existing meter or the supply pipes running in from the road.

How long does it take to relocate a utility meter?

Lead times of 6 to 12 weeks are normal, so you should start the process at least 8 weeks before you need the work done. Coordination problems between the parties can stretch this out considerably.

Who do I contact to move a gas or electric meter?

Relocation involves five separate parties: the gas distribution network, the electricity distribution network operator (DNO), your energy supplier, your electrician, and your groundworker. The network moves the supply pipe or cable, while only your current supplier can physically move the meter.

Can I build over a gas supply pipe?

No, it is not permitted to permanently build over a gas supply pipe, and the networks will not have their apparatus buried under a structure where they cannot reach it. If your footprint sits over the supply run, it has to be moved first.

Should I check for underground services before digging?

Yes, run a free LSBUD (Linesearch Before U Dig) search before any excavation, but treat a clear result as "no registered mains here" rather than "nothing to hit." LSBUD does not map your own service connections, so also request network records and hand-dig trial holes near suspected services.

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Phase 2 · Pre-Construction · Task 05 of 12

Utility Meter Relocation: The Task Nobody Warns You About

Moving gas and electric meters for an extension involves five companies and takes months to coordinate. A real-world guide to getting it right.

14 min readUpdated 2026Premium

Process infographic showing the five parties involved in utility meter relocation for a UK extension: gas distribution network, electricity distribution network operator, energy supplier, electrician, and groundworker, with arrows showing coordination flow

Prerequisites

Complete these first

If your extension covers your existing meter position, or your new build footprint sits over the supply pipes running from the road, those meters need to move. This sounds like a phone call and a morning's work. It isn't. On one documented build, the process from first contact to final payment took fourteen months. A gas leak was discovered during trench digging. An energy supplier was unreachable by phone while an engineer waited on site. And a builder who promised to dig the utility trenches never did, forcing the homeowner to find a groundworker for over three thousand pounds.

Utility meter relocation is the most coordination-heavy task in any extension project. It involves five separate parties who don't communicate with each other, and you're the one who has to make them all show up in the right order.

What this guide covers

01Why Meters Need to Move
02The Five Parties (and Why It's a Nightmare)
03The Process, Step by Step
04The Trench Problem
05The Scaffolding Rule Nobody Tells You
06The Three-Metre Rule
07A Related Task: Build Over Agreements
08Timing: Start Earlier Than You Think
09When Things Go Wrong
10Smart Meters: A Complication
11What This Actually Costs
12The Coordination Checklist
13Regional Variations
14What Happens Next

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