E-on electricity only bill-excuse my ignorance

saucesauce

As I said in the title before you read this, please excuse my ignorance:o

Back when I moved into this flat a year ago e-on sent me a whopping electricity bill for 350 quid after re registering me in my name. That got sorted(after about 6 months) and in my opinion I still overpaid a bit but it got sorted so that was that.
I was paying about 40-50 quid a month for a 2 bedroom flat which I thought was reasonable. I have electric underfloor heating which i NEVER use and a water storage immersion heater that I only have at off peak times. I assumed my "stored heat" rate was from this.
However I had apparently been undercharged when they read the meter and should of been paying 60 odd quid a month, I thought this was a bit unreasonable but stupidly I paid it, it was close to christmas and I just wanted to relax and not fight a battle.
This month they send me a whopping bill for 180 quid!!!! When I gave them actual meter readings it turns out it was meant to be 100 quid but still...refuse to pay that!
What seems to be upping the bill is "stored heat" and after much research this should be a bill from use of storage heaters, something I do not have in this flat. I have a an electric water heater and underfloor electric heating. Now how can this be? Could it be an electric malfunction, could it be connected to the people upstairs or elsewhere? The meter reads astronomical readings, I have freezed my bum off all winter, hot water bottles, blankets, dressing gowns and duvets have been used in abundance, all to save money from blasted heating bills and now this! Help me!

I'm moving to n power in the next 3-5 weeks(changeover takes a while) and I need to sort this out with e-on before them. The person I talked to on the phone was I'm sorry to say absolutely useless and if this doesn't get sorted soon I am going to find it hard to remain my usual calm yet firm self on the phone :mad:

rabbitmumu

saucesauce wrote: »

The meter reads astronomical readings

It's impossible to comment without knowing what your actual readings were per month/ per quarter.

prettyvacant77

Actual usage figures = actual consumtion = accurate bill.

Sounds like you got your meter readings updated and they gave you a catch up bill. Gotta pay what you owe... :cool:

saucesauce

prettyvacant77 wrote: »

Actual usage figures = actual consumtion = accurate bill.

Sounds like you got your meter readings updated and they gave you a catch up bill. Gotta pay what you owe... :cool:

yes, at christmas, I paid what I owed.
My meter reading shows that I have to pay 100 quid this month, I just don't understand how as I have been more careful with my electricity than ever this month and never had to pay more than 50-60 quid a month.
Hence why I wonder if my electricity meter is working correctly etc.

saucesauce

Also, as far as I can tell I have no storage heaters which should account for the "stored heat" element of my bill.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi saucesauce

I'm sorry the agent you spoke to was unable to help.

What type of meter do you have?

As an all electric property with a water immersion heater and underfloor heating, I suspect you may have a Restricted Hour Tariff (RHT) meter.

These are often installed in all electric properties and are wired directly into the water/heating circuits.

They are set up so electricity used for water and central heating purposes during specific times is charged at lower off peak rates.

This usage is recorded separately. I would think this is the 'stored heat' you mention.

All other usage for things like lights, washing machine, TV, etc is recorded under different registers. With all electric properties, this is usually an Economy 7 set up with day and night readings.

Again, I'm sorry you were unhappy with the response when you called in but hope the above gives you a few pointers. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.


Malc

saucesauce

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

Hi saucesauce

I'm sorry the agent you spoke to was unable to help.

What type of meter do you have?

As an all electric property with a water immersion heater and underfloor heating, I suspect you may have a Restricted Hour Tariff (RHT) meter.

These are often installed in all electric properties and are wired directly into the water/heating circuits.

They are set up so electricity used for water and central heating purposes during specific times is charged at lower off peak rates.

This usage is recorded separately. I would think this is the 'stored heat' you mention.

All other usage for things like lights, washing machine, TV, etc is recorded under different registers. With all electric properties, this is usually an Economy 7 set up with day and night readings.

Again, I'm sorry you were unhappy with the response when you called in but hope the above gives you a few pointers. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.


Malc

I have three readings, day, night and stored heat and am on the "E18 energy plan".
So the "stored heat" rate would be in fact for water heating for the immersion heater?


Thanks.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi saucesauce

From the description, it looks like you have an Economy 18 meter.

Economy 18 is a type of RHT set up designed particularly for properties with an electric combination boiler and any of the following.

Off peak space and water heating.
Under floor heating.
Electric flow boilers.
Redring boilers.

They provide 18 hours of cheaper electricity per day for dedicated space and water heating equipment. This is split into three separate periods during the day.

Any usage for water heating or space heating during these periods is recorded under 'stored heat' on the bills.

Hope this is useful saucesauce. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.

Malc

MrMcbutterpants

Hi Malc, whilst you're here - can I use Tesco clubcard points towards my Economy 18 bill?

Plus, I can't find any information on E.On's website about the Economy 18 tariff - can you help?

Thanks!

stewie_griffin

MrMcbutterpants wrote: »

Hi Malc, whilst you're here - can I use Tesco clubcard points towards my Economy 18 bill?

Plus, I can't find any information on E.On's website about the Economy 18 tariff - can you help?

Thanks!

It's not listed as one of the exempt products in their T&C's so I presume you can.

http://www.eonenergy.com/Terms+And+Conditions/Residential-Products-Terms-and-conditions/Tesco-clubcards-rewards-scheme.htm?WT.svl=4

lithopsian

You need to nail down what times you get cheap electricity and avoid using the immersion heater or underfloor heating at other times. In fact try to use all your electricity at those times whenever practical.

As for the size of your bill, I can't even work out whether you're paying a monthly direct debit or actual (often estimated) monthly bills. Either way, submit your own readings if nobody comes to get the actual ones. As you've found out, sailing along feeling happy but only paying for half the energy you're using eventually comes to an unfortunate ending and no amount of being unhappy about it will change the big bill you get. Refusing to pay for what you used isn't an option.

If you do have a direct debit then it sounds like they are messing your payments about more than necessary. Upping them a bit after six months (-ish?) or so maybe, but upping them and then sending you a bill at the end of winter seems over the top, especially if it is only an extra hundred quid you actually owe. The whole point of the direct debits is that they won't cover the winter usage but will make up the difference in summer. If you're paying for actual usage each month then you're going to get a whopper of a bill each winter.