Gas Meter Relocation

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission announced that it is coordinating with other stakeholders to address consumer concerns related to the relocation of natural gas meters and the appearance of those meters, especially as to their effect on the exterior of properties in historic communities in the city. 

The commission reported that it is working with several District agencies, the Office of the People's Counsel (OPC), and Washington Gas Light Company in an effort to enhance the District's regulations and guidelines governing relocation of natural gas meters from the inside of a customer's home to the outside space. 

The commission stated that the collaborative effort had been triggered by customer complaints, which were brought to the commission's attention by OPC. According to the commission, as part of its pipeline safety improvement projects, Washington Gas has been conducting numerous pipeline replacements, which often involve relocating a customer's gas meter from an interior spot to an outside one. 

The complaints had alleged that the outside meters and their associated safety protections could negatively alter standards set for the exterior of dwellings in neighborhoods designated historic.