Electricity Meter Not Recording

Treadstone_2

Two weeks ago it was time to provide my first meter reading to Scottish Power since switching to them in September last year. At that time I realised that the meter reading was the same as the initial one I gave them back in September last year and it is still the same reading today.

I have contacted them and have been informed they must replace the meter and the earliest they can do this is between 08:00am and 01:00pm on Tuesday the 17th March.

When I queried if the actual amount of electricity used was known so that my bill would be correct I was told that once the meter has been replaced they would take a meter reading after 4 weeks and apply the average electricity usage per day to calculate my bill for this first 5month period.

Since sending them the unchanged meter reading we have had a new dishwasher installed which will increase our daily electricity usage from now on and which would be unfair to include in the calculation for electricity usage before we got it.

I appreciate that I should pay for the electricity I have used but can anyone offer any advice as to any action I should take, if any, to ensure I get a fair electricity bill?

KimYeovil

You can't live for four weeks with a minimal electricity usage to minimise your estimate? You are being given an opportunity and advance warning to be frugal for four weeks and have five months based on that usage. Seems like a bargain.

I'm not sure how to get a fair bill - you are likely to get a bill that is unfairly in your favour. What is the problem?

(If you like, since the dish-washer is a recent purchase, can't you dig out the Marigolds for a final four weeks?)

peachyprice

You may have a new dishwasher now, but you've just come through the coldest winter for 12 years, I'm sure the cost of keeping warm all winter outweighs the extra you'll be using because of of the dishwasher.

andyfuk

I'm with the others on this: you are actually being given a golden opportunity to receive a very low bill: it just means being exceptionally frugal and using the minimum amount of electricity for a month by looking at everything you do and the electricity you may use needlessly (we are all guilty of it) so you can turn things off when they are not needed, not using other things so much, and who knows, it may become habitual after four weeks and save you even more money in the long term! Don't complain, a lot of people would give their right arm to be in the position you are!

1carminestocky

LOL. Have to agree with the others on here, this is a golden opportunity that, for whatever reason, you don't appear to be fully appreciating. Any chance of you living with friends for a couple of weeks? Go on, see how low you can get your consumption in a 4 week period, it's going to save you LOADS of wonga. Most people would be happy with the savings they pocket over the 4 weeks, but you are effectively going to be pocketing the savings over a 5 month period! What's to complain about?