Stupidity of meter reader

vet8

I have an on-line account with Scottish Power and I read my own meter every quarter and enter the amount used on the internet and they calculate the billl. As I understand it every meter has to be read by someone official at least once a year, presumably to ensure you are not misreading it.

Today the meter reader came during the day, during the week when most people are out at work. As there was no-one in he left a card asking me to read the meter myself and post the card back.

What is the point?:rotfl:

espresso

vet8 wrote: »

I have an on-line account with Scottish Power and I read my own meter every quarter and enter the amount used on the internet and they calculate the billl...............

So do you expect the meter reader to know that you do this! Is the meter reader the stupid one?

:rolleyes:

KimYeovil

It's once every two years. But I agree they should concentrate resources on having one reading IN THE EVENING once a year rather than wasting money fruitlessly chasing the other three daytime reads.

Premier_2

I think it's only gas meters that need to be inspected once every 2 years.

I think for electric, the requirement (or perhaps just a guideline) is simply that a meter reading is obtained once every 2 years - that doesn't have to be from an official meter reader - but does hopefully prevent erroneous bills due to estimated readings.

Cardew

vet8 wrote: »

What is the point?:rotfl:

The point is that the regulations state they must attempt to read the meter every 2 years.

The point is that by coming to your house and attempting to read the meter, his company have complied with those regulations.

The 'stupid' meter reader has only done as he is told.

wr1ght

meter readers cant be at everyones house IN THE EVENING

Plushchris

Its also only fair that the company would want to come and read the meter for themselves if you have been providing readings for some time, just to make sure you arent telling porkies when giving them meter readings.

vet8

espresso wrote: »

So do you expect the meter reader to know that you do this! Is the meter reader the stupid one?

:rolleyes:

Oooh. Why do posters get so stroppy? As far as I can tell my electricity company instruct the meter reader to come around deliberately, he is not the usual Southern Electricity guy who reads meters for normal local customers, he is from some firm who are obviously paid to read the meters of those people who usually read them themselves.

I agree that the meter reader cannot go to every house in the evening, but what I was trying to point out was that it was stupid sending someone to check that I was reading my meter correctly and he then expecting me to read it myself again.

Also as someone on here said, why not concentrate readings at a time when you know people are more likely to be in OR better still phone to make appointments. That would save masses of time and petrol driving all the way out to my house to find no-one in.

Pssst

It isnt the meter reader whos stoopid. Its the person who sent him..

KimYeovil

wr1ght wrote: »

meter readers cant be at everyones house IN THE EVENING

Rubbish!* Why ever not?

9:30 to 17:30 equals eight hours. If it takes X hundred readers to read Y thousand meters eight times every two years when working eight hours per day then surely the same X hundred readers could read Y thousand meters ONE time every two years working ONE hour per evening!**

* (That's a friendly 'rubbish', not an aggressive 'rubbish', btw.)
** (I think I've got that right but don't come claiming my first-born over it.)

Cardew

vet8 wrote: »

I agree that the meter reader cannot go to every house in the evening, but what I was trying to point out was that it was stupid sending someone to check that I was reading my meter correctly and he then expecting me to read it myself again.

You have ignored the point that they have to attempt to read the meter every 2 years and in doing so they have complied with the regulations.

The 'checking up on you' is secondary. If they thought it was necessary to check he would have left a card saying that they would call again on xxxx normally an evening.

Also if they thought you were falsifying readings and being obstructive, they would make determined efforts to gain entry, even by a court order.