Atlantic - Extra meter reading

LesU

Just had an unusual visit today, from a meter reader. Not that unusual one might think, apart from the fact that this is first time ever that Atlantic have had the meters read in February. They have always read them in May and November. Always twice a year. So why read it now?
I don't suppose it is because they are reducing their prices next month and they want to make sure that they get every penny of the gas and electricity used at the current higher rate? Otherwise they would have to split the amounts used between the high and new lower rates by straight proportions over 6 months.
I'm sure I will see the reader round again in August (the other quarter he doesn't normally turn up in) when I'm using hardly any gas and much less electricity, so that my bill is accurate. Or is this quarterly visit a one off?

Vestra

No it won't be to do with the prices it could be that you have been put on a new meter reading route, give Atlantic a call in the morning and they'll be able to check for you.

Pink_fluff

Why does it matter? Your meter is still getting read at the end of the day!

LesU

Pink_fluff wrote: »

Why does it matter? Your meter is still getting read at the end of the day!

Like it wasn't read on a quarterly basis when prices were going up last year. I had to accept a notional split in my usage before and after the rise, because they didn't read the meter on the quarter.

furndire

Does anyone know what date Atlantic are reducing their prices? If not, I'll give them a ring tomorrow. When I have rung them before I have always had excellent customer service - really friendly and helpful - & they do what they say - no problem when I dropped dd monthly payment down last year, as they had put it to a ridiculously high amount.

LesU

Rian1988 wrote: »

No it won't be to do with the prices it could be that you have been put on a new meter reading route, give Atlantic a call in the morning and they'll be able to check for you.

Atlantic Q&A
How often is my meter read?
We attempt to read your meter twice a year.

So I assume that if it is a new route then nobody is going to read my meter again until December!

KimYeovil

LesU wrote: »

Like it wasn't read on a quarterly basis when prices were going up last year. I had to accept a notional split in my usage before and after the rise, because they didn't read the meter on the quarter.

No you didn't. All you had to do was write to them and tell them you disagreed with their figure and they would have accepted your reading and recalculated. The customer always has the advantage with changes.

LesU

furndire wrote: »

Does anyone know what date Atlantic are reducing their prices? If not, I'll give them a ring tomorrow. When I have rung them before I have always had excellent customer service - really friendly and helpful - & they do what they say - no problem when I dropped dd monthly payment down last year, as they had put it to a ridiculously high amount.

From their website:-
Scottish and Southern Energy plc ("SSE") will reduce its prices for domestic electricity and gas customers on 30 March 2009. Average prices for electricity customers will fall by 9% and for gas customers they will fall by 4%.
Not enormous, but at least in the right direction. Of course the sun will hopefully start shining and the days will be warming up by then, so I won't be using so much electricity & gas.
I agree they are very friendly & helpful at customer service, even if the billing is a little iffy.

LesU

KimYeovil wrote: »

No you didn't. All you had to do was write to them and tell them you disagreed with their figure and they would have accepted your reading and recalculated. The customer always has the advantage with changes.

What reading? They didn't tell anyone they had raised prices until a month or so later. I suppose I could take a reading daily, just in case they tell me in March that they raised prices yesterday!

KimYeovil

Why are you complaining if you have no idea what your usage was? How do you know or why do you think their estimate would be different from yours?

Note that it is not the suppliers who choose how to split readings at a change in price - it is regulated independently. And it is not linear - it depends on the time of year.

But you are right in one respect - because all the cards are held by the customer, when prices are going down it would be sensible if suppliers did send out extra readers to get a reading so as to avoid underestimated customer reads.

Fire_Fox

LesU wrote: »

What reading? They didn't tell anyone they had raised prices until a month or so later. I suppose I could take a reading daily, just in case they tell me in March that they raised prices yesterday!

Price rises and falls have been all over the press for many months now. You still could have taken a meter reading the date you found out - even if a month shy - rather than passively waiting for someone else to take responsibility. Your money, and your choice how often to read the meter.