Economy7/Standard Meter Billing Problem

DirectDebacle

This is not my problem but a third party has aked for advice re the following.

A couple of years ago they are the first to move into a new build block of flats.
After a couple of years go by they decide to switch supplier. Told they can't as the meter is wrong. Turns out only E7 meters were fitted to the flats in the block.

They are now in dispute with their supplier and claiming overcharging.

Who is responsible. The Co. that fitted the meters, the energy supplier or indeed the tenants. Does the Electricity Act cover this sort of thing?

Any helpful advice, comments appreciated. I only have the above bare bones so I can't answer questions like avge usage, meter readings etc.

Must admit it seems rather strange to me but they are in County Court (small claims) very soon.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I would presume that the E7 meter was fitted for electric central heating when the flats were built, whether third party used them or not.

DirectDebacle

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

I would presume that the E7 meter was fitted for electric central heating when the flats were built, whether third party used them or not.

From the info I have E7 meter was the only meter fitted and I believe this is the basis for the claim. All electricity has been charged at E7 rate which they were unaware of until they tried to switch.

Never having had E7 myself I am not 100% how these meters are able to charge. Can an E7 meter be adjusted to show readings as a standard meter or would a new meter have to be installed.

I would have thought on a new build a standard meter would be installed with maybe the option of an E7 as well. Installing only E7 would be unusual unless there is a type of 'dual' meter which reads standard and or E7?

Cardew

Some companies allow the two readings to be aggregated and charged on a 'normal' 24/7 tariff.

I have this arrangement with BG. I was on Economy 7, reverted to a normal 24/7 tariff but kept the same meter.

Now if my off-peak meter reads, say, 200kWh and my day meter reads 1000kWh, then I am charged for 1,200kWh as anyone else would be on a normal tariff.

I hardly think they have a case for overcharging, assuming the bills stated Economy 7.

It would also be highly unusual for the developers of any new flat to have an Economy 7 tariff unless the flat had storage heating.

DirectDebacle

It may be that the bills should have been aggregated but weren't. May be the claim is just flawed, which is why the supplier is contesting it in court. I don't have too much info and unlikely to get anymore. The supplier is one I have crossed swords with in the past, so although it seems bizarre it should not be surprising :rotfl:

Thanks for the replies.

Cardew

I have no idea who that company could be DD.

Do you know what heating they had?

KimYeovil

What is their actual complaint? They have only been charged for either the day tariff or the night tariff and now the other one is being claimed? And that only a standard meter was in the bills so only one meter reading would have been accepted?

I'm not sure why the tenants would not be responsible. Surely they had access to the meter? Or at least had a duty to check it. They could see there were two counters? Or is it a meter with just a single display?

If the meter did not have an obvious dual display and the bills were also not E7 ones then they may have half a chance that the meter reader should have identified a problem and so they would be limited to a 12 months adjustment.