They installed the wireless reader 2 years ago. The reason they gave me for this move is that it is a safety issue. That meters are required by code to be outside now.
On the corner where my gas comes into the house there is a wrap around deck that changes elevation (there are 2 stairs that drop down to a lower deck right at the corner)., which means I can have the meter directly at the top of the stairs where it will stick out in the way. Or I can have it on the wall facing the lower deck, in which case we have a gazebo within three feet of the house as wel as some windows, furnace venting, hose bib etc, the available locations will be neither aesthetically or logistically pleasing
There is an option to reroute the underground across my yard and put the meter on the opposite corner of my house, and that means I have to have my back yard torn up. Then they would route pipe along my siding about 8 m to tie back into the house, which I am sure will look great.
As for things not lasting forever, I would agree, then just replace the meter and get out of my hair, no need to re-route the thing. Also it is in relatively low pressure, sweet, dry service, so I doubt there are corrosion issues.
My analogy about the truck was not clear I guess. ATCO uses these "safety" projects as a source of income/revenue. When they can get a project approved by the regulator the total cost gets passed on to the customer plus a dollar amount for overhead and financing. That is what the charges on your natural gas bill are for. What bugs me is that they work pretty hard to make up justifications for projects because they are a source of revenue for the company and they have the power to make you pay for the cost of upgrades (plus a couple points) and you have no recourse or option.
Next time you look at your gas bill and figure hey I only used $30 worth of gas but my bill is $80... it's projects like these meter moves that are the problem.
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