Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will take steps to ensure that gas smart meter installers check for carbon monoxide after fitting the meter and the appliance has been relit.

While no specific test for carbon monoxide is undertaken once a gas smart meter has been installed and a gas appliance re-commissioned, energy suppliers are required to comply with a number of existing regulations and other requirements when fitting gas smart meters in their customers’ premises that relate to the safety of installations and gas appliances. These include the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations (1998) and the Meter Asset Managers’ Code of Practice (MAMCOP) which set out the roles, responsibilities and expectations of meter installers when safety issues are identified during meter installation visits.

Energy UK has also issued a Good Practice Guidance document to suppliers for issues found during meter exchange visits. The Guidance outlines the principles of what suppliers will do for their domestic customers where safety issues are identified during a meter installation visit. A key principle is that whenever a safety issue is identified, either with the gas (or electricity) installation or with an unsafe appliance or other equipment, the meter installer’s first priority is seek to make the situation safe. The guidance also sets out the steps installers should take when either an emergency or non-emergency issue is identified with customer or landlord-owned appliances or equipment.

Energy suppliers must also comply with the Smart Meter Installation Code of Practice. This states that the installer should inform the customer about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and the need to regularly have all gas appliances serviced and checked by a Gas Safe Registered engineer (http://www.smicop.co.uk/SitePages/Home.aspx). Suppliers are also required as part of their licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to provide, free of charge, information about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and the benefits of fitting an audible carbon monoxide alarm complying with a relevant British or European safety standard to their domestic customers at least once a year.

In cases where customers are concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning they should call the Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999 and switch off the appliance and shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve. They should also ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect their gas appliances and flues to see if there is a dangerous problem.