Been giving meter readings the wrong way round!

Oakley2702

Hi there,

My partner and I moved into our house June 2009 and I supplied Southern Electric (who we use for both gas and electricity) with our readings, but I've just discovered that this initial reading was supplied the wrong way round and all subsequent readings since have been too.

Our electric meter displays 1 (N) and 4 (L) and I have been giving them the wrong way round!

I know that it is entirely my fault and realise that we will have to rectify this mistake but I would like to add, having searched and found similar threads with similar problems, that we are on Economy 7 and appears that we shouldn't be and that this could help reduce some of our costs that are to be incurred.

The reason I think this is because we have gas central heating, which also heats our hot water, which is then stored in a tank. From what I've read it would be more beneficial for us not to be on economy 7 because of this but I'm not sure why and would like to know if this is true?

Just to add the very first readings were:

Normal: 1502
Low: 00221

And the readings now are:

Normal: 04532
Low: 00598

Please can you lovely people help!?

Many Thanks

Cardew

Firstly with gas CH you shouldn't be on Economy 7 - you pay a lot more for your daytime(17 hours) electricity than on a normal 24/7 tariff.

Was this a New build house?

Fortunately you have fairly low consumption so it won't be too expensive to rectify. You have used 3,300kWh daytime and 377kWh nightime units. So taking the price as 12p for a day unit and 5p a night unit, you shoud have paid around £415, instead you have paid £210.

However some firms interpret the Billing code so that they will only charge going back 12 months, so as you have been in occupation 21 months you might be able to get 9 months written off.

k66

The benefit of being on Economy 7 is to use as much of your electricity as possible during the lower night time rate, we use about 70% at night time rate so it works very well for us. Immersion heater timed at night, washing machine, dishwasher and storage heaters too. we are all electric.
Check your low/night rate usage, take readings tonight and and again tomorrow night, check that you are on econ 7 and look at the unit rates, you can then make an informed decision. Write the information down and contact your provider, ask them for their help and support. We have had some instances of the readings being reversed after the meter reader had been, but after we have made contact we always had it corrected.
Have you ever had your meter read? Did the meter readers give the wrong information.

Cardew

k66 wrote: »

The benefit of being on Economy 7 is to use as much of your electricity as possible during the lower night time rate, we use about 70% at night time rate so it works very well for us. Immersion heater timed at night, washing machine, dishwasher and storage heaters too. we are all electric.
Check your low/night rate usage, take readings tonight and and again tomorrow night, check that you are on econ 7 and look at the unit rates, you can then make an informed decision. Write the information down and contact your provider, ask them for their help and support. We have had some instances of the readings being reversed after the meter reader had been, but after we have made contact we always had it corrected.
Have you ever had your meter read? Did the meter readers give the wrong information.

The OP has data for 21 months consumption and has used just 10.25% at night time rates.

With storage heaters obviously Economy 7 is the only way to go.

However with Gas CH it is very difficult to ever get Economy 7 to be worthwhile.

Oakley2702

Cardew wrote: »

Was this a New build house?

It isn't a new build house, just our first together.

When they back charge will they charge at an economy 7 rate or could I try and get them to charge at a standard rate, it that's even possible?

Bertone

The billing code would only apply if the supplier was at fault. As you have said its your fault the billing code will not apply.

Bertone

Oakley2702 wrote: »

It isn't a new build house, just our first together.

When they back charge will they charge at an economy 7 rate or could I try and get them to charge at a standard rate, it that's even possible?

They will charge at the economy 7 rate as this is the meter and tariff you are on. Ive tried this before but they refused.

Cardew

Bertone wrote: »

The billing code would only apply if the supplier was at fault. As you have said its your fault the billing code will not apply.

As I said above "However some firms interpret the Billing code so that they will only charge going back 12 months,"

There is an almost identical case in a thread currently running where NPower, without the customer even asking, wrote off 2+ years and only backbilled 12 months. There have been a couple of similar cases.

See

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3089852

Oakley2702

Thank you guys! I will be ringing them tomorrow, I'll let you know how I get on!

spiro

Oakley2702 wrote: »

When they back charge will they charge at an economy 7 rate or could I try and get them to charge at a standard rate, it that's even possible?

This may depend on what tariff you ask to be on when you signed up. If you sign up and they have assumed you want E7 because you have a 2-rate meter they MAY bill you on a 1-rate tariff, if you asked to be on an E7 tariff then no chance.

Oakley2702

Well, what a result this has proven to be!

I spoke to a very helpful lady at SE, explained the situation and gave her all the figures and details. 10 minutes later she rings me back and tells me that there will be no, I repeat, no back charge. They will simply apply the correct figures as of January this year when our last bill was received.

I then mentioned about the fact that I felt we shouldn't be on economy 7, she agreed and free of charge we are having the meter replaced this Friday!

So in summary, cheaper bills, correct figures and no hassle - I couldn't recommend SE enough right now!

Thank you all for your help as well guys!