Economy 7 Day/Night mix confusion

bodlang

Hi,

I've been googling this subject for some time and never found anything. Basically, I am being billed by Scottish Power on an Economy 7 night rate for all my electricity.

My house used to have storage heaters. About 12 years about it was fitted with mains gas central heating and all storage heaters removed and wiring disconnected (fused spurs replaced with single standard sockets)

The meter cupboard has 2 mechanical meters and a large mechanical timer switch. The main power feed comes into the main fuse, then to a connector box, then from there 1 set of tails to the timer switch and 1 set to one of the meters (Meter A). The timer switch then runs to Meter B.

Originally there were two fuse boxes - Fuse Box A was the main household lighting/ring/garage and is connected to Meter A. Fuse Box B was connected to the Storage Heaters and Meter B. The timer switch powered fuse box B between midnight and 8am - so anything plugged into there would only work then. I did not use the sockets.

I had a consumer unit installed to replace Fuse Box A and had Fusebox B removed and disconnected from the timer switch. I had the sockets connected to the consumer unit.

I needed the tails to the consumer unit upgraded for a 10KW shower so phoned Scottish Power who told me to contact Southern Electric. Southern Electric came out an replaced them. I asked them to remove timer and Meter B. He refused as it wasn't on his job card and I could ring up and pay for it to be removed at a later date. I didn't bother.

I have been with Scottish Power since day 1 and they were the existing provider. They request readings for both meters and have had meter readers out to check too. It would seem the meters are mixed up - either physically in my cupboard or on their system.

Do I just keep quiet in that I'm payin 5p/kwh for all my electricity? Should they notice that my day rate has been 0kwh for 3 years? Am I liable for back charges if I tell them? What if I change providers and stay on Economy7 or go standard?

Any thoughts?

Premier_2

What do you think you should do?

Cardew

As you have been receiving bills, the 12 month back-billing rule does not apply, so when discovered you are liable to pay back charges.

Should they notice that my day rate has been 0kwh for 3 years?

'They' in this instance is just a computer - bills are untouched by human hand!!! - and it obviously isn't programmed to raise this scenario as an anomaly.

IMO you have the responsibility for the incorrect re-wiring of your electrics. The work by Southern Electricity on the consumer unit for the shower was nothing to do with the incorrect rewiring.

HappyMJ

Every time I report 0kWh usage on the gas (summer) they ring me and tell me there is an issue with billing and refuse to issue the bill. I'm suprised you haven't had those calls yet.

bodlang

Thanks for the opinion/advice.

Interesting to read about the 12 month rule.

I was interested if someone had ever had the same issue. I assume it has been intentionally or unintentionally rewired in the past. According to uSwitch my current tarif is a bit rubbish as Economy7 so to go legit with BritGas wouldn't cost that much more.

PS. @premier - thanks for echoing my conscience.

Cardew

bodlang wrote: »

Thanks for the opinion/advice.

Interesting to read about the 12 month rule.

The 'rule' is actually the Billing Code.

It states that if you haven't received a bill, and it is the supplier's fault, they can only back-bill 12 months.

You have received bills and it is hardly the supplier's fault that your house is incorrectly wired.

Scottish_Power

Hi bodlang,

Hopefully this is somthing I can sort for you.

To begin with if you have two seperate meters you do not have econemoy 7, it sounds like you have an off-peak tariff, from the information you have given possibly somthing like Total Heat Total Control or THTC for short.

I understand your reluctance in coming direct to ScottishPower with this problem with the risk of back billing etc, however if you wish to e-mail me your details at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] I will personally look in to this for you.

Without knowing exactly what is wrong I am unable to make any promises, however I will make every effort to prevent a large bill in your direction. You will however have to expect in increase in charges going forward.

What I would say is that at present we are working on a new billing system and cleansing all our accounts to ensure they are billing correctly, I would expect that this will catch up with you at some point.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Graeme @ ScottishPower