Just can't get my head around this bill

nikongirl

Help! I don't understand my electricity bill. Help/advice much appreciated.

The Background
I moved into my one bed flat two and a half years ago. The night storage heaters didn't work but because I wasn't spending a lot of time in the flat anyway, that didn't bother me and others in the same building reported the same thing. I used an electric heater when I needed it.

In March, I had a letter from NPower saying they were sending someone round (no mention of why!). It turned out that my meter was faulty and had not been calculating night rate. I immediately asked for a rebate.

In August, they sent me a revised bill... which was MORE than the original bills from the same period. The bills actually listed more kWh used on day rate than the original bills did. Clearly I've inadvertantly invented a time machine, gone back two years and left the iron on! :rolleyes: So I called them back and asked them to recalculate again and do it properly this time, preferably taking into consideration the amount of money I must have spent running an electric heater when it wasn't needed. They came and did a meter reading.

The Bill
I've now got the second revised bill. Which claims I owe them £330. :eek:
The main problem is because the dates they've listed don't match the bills, I can't go back and directly compare the two bills to figure out what changes they've made.

Is it worth me posting the details of the bill here or is there somewhere I else I should be turning before I bore you all to death with it?!

Also, if it turns out that I do owe them £330, will they let you pay it in installments, or does it have to be paid in a lump sum?

Any help very much appreciated!

Becks

Cardew

If you post details of the original bill and the revised bill someone should be able to help you.

You need to post dates and readings and it is particularly important that you indicate which readings are by the meter reader and which are estimated. Often differences in bills are because the original bill was based on estimated readings and the bill is revised when they get actual readings.

They will normally let you pay back any debt over a year if you pay by Direct Debit.

kat21

if you cannot resolve your problems put a letter of complaint in dates should match! if you still get no luck contact energy watch. Sadly this website has become infested with people whom actually work for some of the fuel supplying companys so you should bear this in mind with any replys that you receive.
If you paid via your bank you may be able to ask for old statements ask your bank for details(there may be a charge for this)
Technically you should not be held responsible for your meters accuracy since you do not own it, it is the property of I think its called national grid meter services http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Metering/About_National_Grid_Metering/
you could argue that since you dont actually own the meter how can you be held responsible for its accuracy. ? by the way you can actually buy your own meter but then you are responsible for it!
kat21
just some food for thought
this is not the same as estimated readings.

nikongirl

Thanks for your help. Still trying to find all the old bills to compare them to, unit for unit.

I do think my bills are on the high side, especially as it's just me in a small 1 bed flat, but I'm checking all my electrical devices with a Lidl meter before I go suggesting that the meter's still mis-reading. I have no intention of paying for a meter which was faulty for two years, though!

irnbru_2

nikongirl wrote:

The night storage heaters didn't work but because I wasn't spending a lot of time in the flat anyway, that didn't bother me and others in the same building reported the same thing.

Is it communal heating for the building or E7 storage heaters? Seems strange that others are having problems too.

tripled

By 'not calculating the night rate' does that mean it wasn't switching across (so was always charging at the day rate), it wasn't registering (so you were underpaying for the electricity you used at night), or it was on the night rate too long (so not charging you enough at the day rate)?