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Suppliers must read their meters periodically- legally what does this mean?
I am trying to sort out the billing of an unbilled electric meter. I've read in several places that suppliers are supposed to read the meter themselves every year or so. If they don't and if- as in this case they've never read the meter (and therefore never sent a bill) do they fall foul of the billing code?
Also, does anyone know if Southern Electrics customer charter varies significantly from the billing code?
Also, does anyone know if Southern Electrics customer charter varies significantly from the billing code?
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Comments
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I think gas and electric have to read meters every 2 years, however if they cant get to the meter then the cant read them
Are there any access problems ?
Cant you ring in the reading yourself ?0 -
meters are accesible as long as somone can let meter reader in main building- access can easily be arranged if no one is in at the time. I'm dealing with back billing here and if a supplier has neglected their meter and never read it (it's a flat that's never been billed) are they at fault under the billing code. (there is a bigger back story to this if you want to read my other posts) I'm a tenant who's just moved out of the property0
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This extract is from the Billing Code:
2.
Meter Readings
Suppliers will offer a range of options to make sure that they obtain and
record the most up to date and accurate meter reading.
2.1.
Your supplier will attempt to read your meter on a regular basis, at least every
two years as a minimum.
2.2.
If it is not possible for your supplier to gain access to read your meter, your
supplier will explain how you can provide your own reading.
2.3.
Where a valid read has been obtained this will be used to improve the accuracy
of your bill /statement.
2.4.
It is important to check the accuracy of your meter readings. Suppliers will
provide information to help you understand the importance of the meter reading
The wording is loose enough IMO - particularly the term 'attempt to read' - that it would be difficult to prove a breach of the code.
However this doesn't apply in your case. You moved in and made no attempt to contact the supplier on the mistaken assumption(or hope) that the landlord might be responsible for electricity bills.
If you want to bring up legal responsibilities, the position is clear. As soon as you move into a property and use any electricity, you have entered a legally binding deemed contract; this is quite clearly covered under the Electricty Act. You cannot just move into a property, use the electricity without making any attempt to contact the supplier and escape the responsibility of paying for that electricity.0 -
yep, as i htought. i'm just trying to get it all straight, thanks0
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Just because they've never read the meter doesn't mean you'd never get a bill - you'd usually get an estimate.
Does this therefore imply they are unaware of you occupying the property?
This is Consumer Focu's take on back billing & meter reading http://cfe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5406 though terms like "all it can" also seem rather open to interpretation. (I would expect them to contact the customer and request a reading or call back and take their own not just say we tried personally)
http://cfe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5563/related/10 -
Just because they've never read the meter doesn't mean you'd never get a bill - you'd usually get an estimate.
Does this therefore imply they are unaware of you occupying the property?
This is Consumer Focu's take on back billing & meter reading http://cfe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5406 though terms like "all it can" also seem rather open to interpretation. (I would expect them to contact the customer and request a reading or call back and take their own not just say we tried personally)
http://cfe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5563/related/1
If you read the other thread, the OP apparently thought the landlord might have paid the bills!!! Also he was aware the previous tenant had not paid either.
So during his occupation he made no attempt to contact any supplier.
The Billing Code is quite clear that they can only back-bill for 12 months where the Utility company is at fault. However it gives the following where the 12 month back-billing rule does not apply.
Customer’s responsibilities
Customers should pay for energy used and the Code is not intended as a means for avoiding payments. Customers have an obligation to assist suppliers and can
expect to pay for all energy consumed if they:
• Have been using the supply but have made no attempt to contact the supplier to make or arrange payment, including moving into a property and making no attempt to let a supplier know they are the new tenant. (my bold)
• Have wilfully avoided payment.
• Have not co-operated with attempts to obtain meter readings or resolve queries requested by the supplier, including allowing access to the premise or
failing to respond to requests for meter details or meter readings.
In the event of billing problems, customers should be encouraged to pay a reasonable estimate of their consumption with the understanding that once an
The first provision clearly applies to the OP.0 -
for the record, when i moved in i was told by the outgoing tenant that 'there were no electricity bills' this was all the info i had- no supplier info passed on to me from anyone who dealt with the flat. At the time I assumed everything was ok, no one was telling me any different. HOWEVER- I made a big mistake by not checking any of this out properly, which in hindsight seems incredibly dumb- and it was dumb, it's got me into this mess. It's not uncommon though- i found several other similar stories while i was trying to sort out my own situation. Mostly I don't think anyone is deliberately trying to avoid paying what they owe (myself included) it's more ignorance, lack of knowledge and a little bit of sticking your head in the sand when you realise exactly what's happened.
Now that i fully understand the circumstances I know what I have to do. It will open a huge can of worms as I don't think any of the previous tenants ever set up accounts with the supplier, so if anyone has any tips on the best way I can approach the supplier and make sure I'm billed fairly then I would appreciate them. Thanks0 -
The other lesson is not to rely on the old tenant but also check with the Landlord or your tenancy agreement. If your utilities are included in the rent it will be clearly stated in the agreement, if it does not say they are included then you are liable.IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.
4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).0 -
I am trying to sort out the billing of an unbilled electric meter. I've read in several places that suppliers are supposed to read the meter themselves every year or so. If they don't and if- as in this case they've never read the meter (and therefore never sent a bill) do they fall foul of the billing code?
Also, does anyone know if Southern Electrics customer charter varies significantly from the billing code?
They will fall foul of the code if they don't attempt to read the meter regularly, but it is the supply licences that essentially prescribes their obligations.
The electric one effectively says somesthing similar, I think something along the lines of makes reasonable efforts to obtain an accurate meter reading at least once every 2 years.
But that can be construed as knocking on the door, and if no one is home leaving a card asking for the actual meter reading.
The gas licence is somewhat more strict that goes as far as explaining the supplier should be obtaining an entry warrant if necessary in order to view the meter at least once every 2 years.
The other difference is when the 2 years starts from. In the case of electric, the clock starts again from when a new supplier is appointed. In the case of gas, it runs from when meter was last inspected irrespective of any change of supplier."Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 20100 -
for the record, when i moved in i was told by the outgoing tenant that 'there were no electricity bills' this was all the info i had- no supplier info passed on to me from anyone who dealt with the flat. At the time I assumed everything was ok, no one was telling me any different. HOWEVER- I made a big mistake by not checking any of this out properly, which in hindsight seems incredibly dumb- and it was dumb, it's got me into this mess. It's not uncommon though- i found several other similar stories while i was trying to sort out my own situation. Mostly I don't think anyone is deliberately trying to avoid paying what they owe (myself included) it's more ignorance, lack of knowledge and a little bit of sticking your head in the sand when you realise exactly what's happened.
Now that i fully understand the circumstances I know what I have to do. It will open a huge can of worms as I don't think any of the previous tenants ever set up accounts with the supplier, so if anyone has any tips on the best way I can approach the supplier and make sure I'm billed fairly then I would appreciate them. Thanks
I hadn't linked this with any other thread but do recall seeing it from the subsequent information above.
I do genuinely believe that the supplier is partially at fault here & why the situation is ever allowed to arise is utterly beyond me (this couldn't happen under my suggestion Cardew) but whilst I believe there is some truth in your suggestion of "ignorance" and lack of knowledge (I myself bought my first house, sat there for 6/7 months just waiting for / expecting someone to send me a bill & had no idea who was supplying)
However, I also believe you actually were "just riding your luck" and enjoying escaping paying (when a second quarter passed with no bill I picked up the phone & found out who was supplying & why there had been no bills) & nobody believes that there "were no electricity bills", "everything is okay" etc - it really doesn't just come out of the sky in bolts of lightning you know
I suspect it probably won't open a huge cans of worms as far as past occupiers go - they'll probably just write this off as impossible to unravel - but as to you now getting billed fairly I've no idea how they will manage that or even that you would have much justification for or success with any complaint processes whatever they come up with under the circumstances (& this despite the fact I also blame the supplier for letting it happen)0
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