wrong electric meter reading

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi

Two 1.5 kWh heaters on maximum for 14 hours will use 42 kWh electricity alone.

It depends on the rating of your other heaters as to how much they add to the total kWh used.

This is for heating only. On top of this is your other electrical usage. Things like lighting, TV, fridges, fridge/freezers and your lap top.

Also, do you have things like a tumble dryer, washing machine, dishwasher or heated towel rail? These are high users.

All in all, I would say the amount of kWh used is about right.

follyfoot

how far back do electricity companies keep records of what has been paid to them because I am disputing what they say I have paid since living in my property? can i request copies of the info? they also want me to pay difference due to reading the wrong meter which amounts to almost £3K

Robiati

follyfoot wrote: »

how far back do electricity companies keep records of what has been paid to them because I am disputing what they say I have paid since living in my property? can i request copies of the info? they also want me to pay difference due to reading the wrong meter which amounts to almost £3K

If I understand it correctly the electricity company had the correct serial number for your meter all along but was reading the wrong meter (ie they were reading a meter with a different serial number from that which is on your bill). If that's the case and there was never any serial number mix up I don't see how they can blame the problem on the developer.

Suppose the develop directed them to the wrong meter it is still their responsibility to check the serial number. If they had the right serial number all along and neglected to check this they are... well... negligent. Clearly you did check that you were reading the correct meter and made numerous attempts to provide accurate readings which they dismissed as incorrect. They must ensure they have a correct reading at least every two years. It should have been obvious to them that there was a problem if there was consistently a discrepancy between their reading and yours. So far as I can see you did everything you should have done.

If they were charging you based on readings from a meter with the wrong serial number it is absolutely their fault and the 12 month limit to billing of arrears should apply. If they don't accept this I would take advice from consumer focus at consumerfocus.org.uk

With regard to the size of your bills... I have always found electric heating to be either useless or expensive (or both). I had storage heaters for a while and they were useless. By the time I got home in the evening all the heat had escaped. I ended up supplementing with back up heaters which were very costly to run. In the end I bit the bullet and fitted gas central heating.

follyfoot

Robiati wrote: »

If I understand it correctly the electricity company had the correct serial number for your meter all along but was reading the wrong meter (ie they were reading a meter with a different serial number from that which is on your bill). If that's the case and there was never any serial number mix up I don't see how they can blame the problem on the developer.

Suppose the develop directed them to the wrong meter it is still their responsibility to check the serial number. If they had the right serial number all along and neglected to check this they are... well... negligent. Clearly you did check that you were reading the correct meter and made numerous attempts to provide accurate readings which they dismissed as incorrect. They must ensure they have a correct reading at least every two years. It should have been obvious to them that there was a problem if there was consistently a discrepancy between their reading and yours. So far as I can see you did everything you should have done.

If they were charging you based on readings from a meter with the wrong serial number it is absolutely their fault and the 12 month limit to billing of arrears should apply. If they don't accept this I would take advice from consumer focus at consumerfocus.org.uk

With regard to the size of your bills... I have always found electric heating to be either useless or expensive (or both). I had storage heaters for a while and they were useless. By the time I got home in the evening all the heat had escaped. I ended up supplementing with back up heaters which were very costly to run. In the end I bit the bullet and fitted gas central heating.

So far the developing is challenging the electricity company on my behalf. They want proof from the electricity company that they were given the wrong serial number. Is it possible to have gas boiler fitted in a development where there are no gas pipes?