Electric meter failure - not billed for over a year

DocBrown

I normally am a stickler for filing and keeping bills and receipts etc but as I was looking through previous utility bills I noticed we hadn't had an electric bill for over a year! At the moment we are dual fuel (Gas & electric) with E.ON and pay quarterly direct debit. I only spotted the lack of billing for electric because when I phoned to query a gas bill, the operative asked if we use electricity or generate our own. No I said, we do have energy saving appliances throughout, there's only two of us living in the house but we're still mains fed. She then asked if I could read the meter. Yes, it looks like it hasn't recorded since it was replaced with a Siemans unit in 2006. I told her that equipment failure isn't my problem and that since it was replaced during a county wide swap of meters, I don't expect to be charged for 3 years worth of electricity. She did say that under law they weren't allowed to bill for 3 years since meters are not the home owners property or responsibility. She said we are classed as low users at around 8 units a day but that still adds up to a big bill.

Are there any Acts, Consumer laws etc that can be used to wipe the amount and start again when they fit new meter?

Cheers
DocBrown

filmnoir

Under the ERA Billing Code which EON are signed up for.

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/Energy_Help___Advice/Your_energy_question/Your_energy_question.aspx

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/documents/CodeofPracticeforAccurateBills.pdf

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/AbouttheCode.html

It all depends what correspondance and/or invoices they have sent you during the period. For example if they have invoiced you zero (Im presume the problem is a blank siemens metering LCD/Battery) but sent you zero or estimate bills and or correspondance then although they have it wrong, it would be the consumer who would need to point out the mistake i.e you were using electric and they could back bill you. They have made the conscious effort to invoice you.

If they failed to send any correpondance or invoices regarding electric as per the Code of Practise they either must uphold the code or face you reporting them to the ERA and/or OMBUDSMAN. How long depends when it came into effect and you stopped receiving invoices as it ranges from one year to two years, dependant on the code.

Regardless of the code, they have 8 weeks from your initial complaint to either agree with your points, come to a compromise which both parties are happy with or issue you a 'deadlock' letter stating the action they are willing to take.

At this point you can follow the OMBUDSMAN procedure to abbitrate.
http://www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk/

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi

Firstly you need to ensure you receive an up to date accurate electricity bill sent to you from E.ON.

When you know the exact balance you can then discuss if your account falls under the billing codes of practice, in the correct circumstances you would only be charged for the last year’s worth of usage.

If your meter has stopped a new meter will need to be installed, and the new readings from the new meter will be used to estimate what you used during the period in dispute.

I would raise the billing code issue with E.ON, but you should be aware that there are exceptions to this code of practice and you may not be eligible for a reduction.

The accuracy of bills is both the responsibility of the supplier and the customer; this is why documentation is sent to you.

If the problem stems from a meter exchange that was not recorded correctly that explains why your electricity has been estimated, the meter will have been read by an engineer but the readings not received by E.ON due to a mismatch in the data they hold.

At this stage I would contact E.ON and get all the information you can so you understand exactly what has happened, this will help you decide the next step to take and also help you understand whilst discussing your options with E.ON.

DocBrown

Many thanks for response. Can safely say they haven't sent any form of bill since the meter was replaced almost two years ago.

Fire_Fox

DocBrown wrote: »

She did say that under law they weren't allowed to bill for 3 years since meters are not the home owners property or responsibility. She said we are classed as low users at around 8 units a day but that still adds up to a big bill.

It's not a particularly big bill. We use about 11KWH a day average which, including standing charge is about £360 a year at today's prices. But you have used a lot less, AND will be billed at a combination of old and new prices.

filmnoir

DocBrown wrote: »

Many thanks for response. Can safely say they haven't sent any form of bill since the meter was replaced almost two years ago.

Then I would certainly raise the above points. However its worth noting that this change in metering was not envoked by the supplier but more the meter operator who are entirely seperate companies. Also its possible they may be at fault for failing to update the new details of the new meter, however the supplier would be responsible for ensuring that its agents do their job correctly.