Estimated reading for final bill: can they do this?

Voyager2002

Hi,

I am near the end of the process of switching electricity suppliers: from British Gas to Scottish Power.

Some time ago, Scottish Power emailed to ask for a reading. My wife could not provide this because she could not find the key to the meter box: she asked Scottish Power either to send a key or read it themselves, but nothing happened.

British Gas have now supplied a final statement, and based it on an estimated reading that is FAR higher than I would expect consumption to be. Do I have to accept this? If not, what is the correct course of action?

Cardew

You need to get a key to the box(borrow from a neighbour or use a pair of long nose pliers) and get the correct reading and give it to Scottish Power.

dogshome

Hi Voyerger2002 - The way the Switch system works is that some time after the Customer has initiated the process with the new supplier, that supplier will ask the Customer for the meter reading, and at that time advise the date on which the switch will take place. Athough there may be a few days difference between the date the reading was given and the Switch date, it is this reading that will apply on the switch date.

This reading and date are passed around the system and end up being advised to your old supplier, who then issues a Final bill based on this meter reading, which will also be used by the new supplier as the Start readings for thier 1st bill.

I'm afraid your wife's inability to give the meter reading when asked, will have thrown a spanner into the works - although I'm very surprised SP did not explain how vital it was.
Your 1st move is to contact SP and ask what meter reading they have recorded as the start of thier contract -
It should be the same as the End Reading on BG's final bill, if it is lower WRITE to BG rejecting thier final bill and ask for one that co-incides with SP's start reading.

With an estimated reading for a Switch, it's very unlkely that it will be a match for the meters actual reading, but provided both suppliers are working from the same reading, albeit that you are paying one supplier for power they did not supply and vice versa, if what your meter reads now is not too different from estimate, it could be politic to just accept it as changeing this vital reading part way thro' a Switch will cause big problems for the suppliers and yourself

davidgmmafan

BTW the readings CAN be re-agree but I believe it has to be over a certain tolerance in terms of how different it is. If your reading now is higher than the estimaed change of supply reading it could well be right, they should both have the same reading.

If its lower then clearly there is an issue! Get an up to date reading and then you, or one of the two companies, can do a quick calculation to work out what the reading should he been on the changeover date.

Premier_2

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Hi,

I am near the end of the process of switching electricity suppliers: from British Gas to Scottish Power.

Some time ago, Scottish Power emailed to ask for a reading. My wife could not provide this because she could not find the key to the meter box: she asked Scottish Power either to send a key or read it themselves, but nothing happened.

British Gas have now supplied a final statement, and based it on an estimated reading that is FAR higher than I would expect consumption to be. Do I have to accept this? If not, what is the correct course of action?

You can get a key from any good hardware shop for about 50p for a plastic one or about £2 maximum for a metal one.

That would be useful not only to acertain the current actual reading, but also allow you to take regular readings in future to ensure you keep an eye on ongoing consumption.

Anyway, as long as the final reading of the outgoing supplier matches the start reading of the new supplier, there's probably not much worth arguing over. You'll eventually use the energy, even if you haven't already, and the difference in price between the two suppliers will not amount to a vast amount, I suspect.
i.e. what you don't pay the old supplier, you will probably have to pay the new one even if the estimated reading is wildy inaccurate ... which without the facts is going to be hard to justify.

Go and get a cupboard key.