Hydro Electric electricity key meter

kt33uk

We have had this meter in for a while now and until recently had no problems with it - previously had a powercard meter until they insisted on changing it to the key meter. Well about November last year we noticed that we were having to put more on the key than we had been previously - used to put £15 p/w - now having to put up to £30 p/w onto it. Contacted Hydro Electric who told us the prices had risen - yeah but not that much that it meant that we would be having to put double into our meter.

Then started noticing that it was no longer beeping when it went under £1 but would beep whenever it felt like it. Yesterday it beeped and on checking the meter it said we had £1.81 in credit left, it kept beeping so took the key out to turn it over to emergency until I could get to the shop, well the credit that was on it disappeared and all we had was £10 emergency credit. I am sure this has happened before but due to the fact that it is not always me that puts the key in then i'm not 100% sure. I know that previously when we have put money on the key that when it is put in the meter we don't seem to get the full amount that is on the key.

Contacted Hydro Electric who are telling us that there is no problem with the meter - all of this figured out over the telephone. They won't send anyone out to check the meter as they say it is fine. They said the problem yesterday was that the meter had 'turned itself over' during the night. Eh well it has never done that before, I don't want a key meter that puts me into emergency without me knowing :mad: and why has it suddenly started doing this when it has never done it before. To put it over to emergency in the past I have always had to take the key out and put it back in.

Has anyone else had problems with a Hydro Electric key meter. Also would like to know if it is common practice with key meters to turn themselves over to emergency credit if they run down during the night.

Sorry this is kinda long it is just so frustrating that can't get a sensible answer out of Hydro Electric all they keep going on about is that our meter readings are correct and that electric prices have gone up.

tinkerbelle

Can i just ask which part of the country that you live in as i thought that in Scottish Hydro's area that the emergency was set at £20?

Also, when you put the key in the mtr is it coming up with any error mess or does the screen just say token accepted?

SwanJon

The new key meters are programmed not to turn off at night.
I think the exact times are set by your supplier, but, BG use 6pm-9pm.
This would be especially useful for E7 customers as they would still have heat the next day.
If the meter has already turned off, it won't turn back on, and if you are using the emergency, that still counts.
It's meant to help customers keep the ele on until the shops open again.

Pink_fluff

Hydro electric's key meters are designed not to go off after 8pm, ie. if you had 5p left at 8pm, your power will NOT go off during the night, it will kick in again at 8am. So you'll never be left without elec over night.

It's been mentioned a few times on the board recently... but your token meter was probably set way too low. You were more than likely not paying today's prices, because they never came to set your meter with each price rise. Now you have the key meter, you are paying todays rates, not rates from 2 or 3 year ago, which you were paying on the token meter.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi

Key meters will not cut your electricity off during the night. The actual times this applies from and to vary depending on which region you live in.

If your credit goes below £1 during these times the Emergency Credit will start automatically. It does this to maintain your supply during the night. This prevents problems with appliances like fridges or freezers which operate all the time.

The meter will beep to inform you Emergency Credit is needed. Once this is activated the display will adjust to show the true balance.

The meter will beep periodically until the Emergency Credit is activated.

When in Emergency Credit, the daily standing charge or any debt which may be on the meter is not taken. These will need paying later. This is to give you more time to top up.

Once you top up, the standing charge and any debt not collected whilst in Emergency Credit will be taken immediately. The amount of Emergency Credit used will also be taken back immediately.

All this can give the impression of paying more. This is particularly the case if you use Emergency Credit a lot as you will always be playing catch up.

Prices did go up a lot last year so this will also have an impact.