Eon meter change and incorrect new reading

daveboy

I have just noticed an issue which I possibly should have noticed the day the meter was changed - ultimately it is not my fault and I won't be accepting the blame from Eon or my electricity company.

Back on 21 April, at the third attempt, Eon changed the electricity meter connected to my flat. Why they needed to do this, I don't know.

Back on 31 March I took a reading of 36787.

This morning I checked and it read 88654.

Clearly a mistake (in that the guy who did the change has set the dials to the wrong numbers), but as I have only just noticed, I have no idea what energy I have used between the 21 April and now.

I feel it is a matter for Eon and my provider to sort out between them, but where do I stand? I don't want my monthly direct debit to go up!

Clearly I have not used anywhere near 50000kWh!

Magentasue

When the meter was changed, the old meter should have been read and the start reading of the new meter should have been recorded. It would have been a good idea to have checked these yourself but you should be able to estimate what they should have been.

When you get your next statement, you should see the units from the first meter calculated, then the units of your present meter from 21st April.

So, probably nothing to worry about - the meter fitter wasn't supposed to reset the meter, just record the readings and submit them to your supplier.

billycasper_2

Also when the guy changed the meter, he should have left a card near the meter indicating what the final reading was on your old meter and the reading on the new meter. (including serial numbers) ..
did he leave anything ?

baldelectrician

They take in old meters, check them for accuracy and send them out again

It saves them a few pence by not resetting them to zero, so they don't

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi daveboy,

Billycasper is right; when a meter is removed the final reading from the old meter should be noted on a card along with the start reading from the new meter. This info is then sent to the supplier to enable them to bill accurately.

On your next bill you should see your old meter billed up to the removed reading, and then you will be billed from the start reading on the new meter up to date.

You will be able to see the two different meters on the bill as you will have two different serial numbers.

Meters are rarely installed at zero.

I would check the meter to see if you can see a card with the installed reading on and then read the meter, you will then be able to see how many units you have used.

You can also call E.ON and ask for the installed read if you can’t see this on your meter.

Hope this helps a bit, if you need any more info let me know.

Helena

daveboy

Thank you for the above posts.

I have to blame the Mrs as the meter was changed while I was at work and she was at home....she told me the guy changed the numbers on the meter to match the old reading. Clearly didn't know what she was talking about, as usual!

There is a card attached that gives a reading of 36944 for the old meter and an opening reading of 88607 for the new one, along with the serial numbers. So the above posts, especially from Helena, solved the issue (well, there isn't one, but I thought there was).

I could see myself being billed for a lot of energy use yesterday.....next time anything like this happens I'll keep the Mrs well away. I love her but sometimes things are easier if they are done yourself!

Thanks again everyone.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

No problem daveboy :T
If you have any more questions just let me know :beer:
Helena

brightontraveller

baldelectrician wrote: »

They take in old meters, check them for accuracy and send them out again

It saves them a few pence by not resetting them to zero, so they don't

? Not quite sure where you got that information from, They do check them but the few pence for resseting them is not the the reason they don't

They do not reset them it is because they not allowed to all meters have dates on them and have to be recalibrated and checked within certain time scales be it 1 -3 5 7 10 etc years the moving and other parts within a meter wear so the number of units shown as used will guide them as to when the meter has to be replaced or recalibrated again if they were to reset them then the true wear could not be assessed correctly thus making the meter inaccurate ( its similar as a odometer on a car ) If you believe that the reading is inaccurate your can ask for a check meter to be installed this checks the readings with the existing and any inaccuracy found can be calculated to lower or increase the bill

( but ask where it has been installed and for the meter number as some companies have been known to say they have installed one when they have not? this is very common on certain three phase metering as the way the meters work a check meter cannot be installed without a large cost to the supplier which they cannot charge you)

The only problem you can have is that often the meter may not belong to you electricity supplier but belongs to the original company that installed it If this happens your supplier will often not bother to replace the meter (saves them money) as it is technically not there responsibility to do so and the original installer as you are no longer there customer has no obligation to either you can force your supplier to change or recalibrate the meter but it can be a long drawn out

Large users of electricity are now routinely having there meters etc checked as is seams that when they wear it appears to be in favour of the suppliers not a thing that they wish to widely advertise ? as many have had to pay ten of thousands back to customers for years of over charging

If you not happy with there check meter ask a good electrician to intall a check meter on your side of the installation also these are avalible and many wholesalers and there cost is under £ 50 pounds and will take less than an hour to install

baldelectrician

Up until 8 years ago Scottish Power used to reset all new (or reconditioned meters to zero) this was standard practise. I was told by SP this (the zeroing) was stopped for cost reasons

brightontraveller

baldelectrician wrote: »

Up until 8 years ago Scottish Power used to reset all new (or reconditioned meters to zero) this was standard practise. I was told by SP this (the zeroing) was stopped for cost reasons

Despite what you have been informed they do not... The act was revised in the 80s uk but it has been going since 50s in Scotland, They do not pay for meter testing etc as the government pays for this... so there would be no cost to them at all.... Electricity Act 1989

Although you can supply your own meters and they a meant to except them if they meet all standards but think you would have a long long long wait for them to connect you

nubbin_2

I checked my British Gas online bills yesterday for the first time in several months, and I was shocked to find I am over £750 in debit on my electricity! Bizarrely, I am over £500 in credit on my gas, but that's another story.

I checked my consumption, and our average use has always been around 3000kWh per quarter. However, last June-Sept. consumption shot up to nearly 6000kWh! Bear in mind that 2 weeks of that period we were not even in the country (on holiday), and we have NO electrical heating in the house. Our only use of electricity is for lighting, and showers. the hot water comes from an Aga, gas central heating, and most of our lights have low energy bulbs in them. Obviously, this was summer, so there was no heat on and with the long days, lights were on for 3-4 hours/day maximum. Likewise, tumble dryer not in use, although the fridge and freezer would be working a bit harder, but we don't live in Florida! We have 3 children, and 4 computers, but two of the children spend half their time at their mother's house, and the third almost all her time at her boyfriend's! Essentially our haboits have not changed in any significant way, so I am at a loss to explain the sudden surge in use.

Our consumption has remained consistently higher, although strangely it dropped back to 4000kWh during the next (winter) quarter. I am at a loss to know what has taken place, but I cannot recall anything that might have doubled our consumption in a low energy use period. Any thoughts, anyone?