Npower versus the vulnerable? Court Challenge

Terrylw1

It would be interesting in terms of the SLC I mentioned. It does allow a supplier yo say "we don't want your business, you have X days with us left" but there is no process to actually remove the supplier id from a distributors database...it would mean a manual amendment but they would never do it since they wouldn't get paid with no supplier appointed.

Perhaps the case could improve the customer blocking SLC to include a term where regardless of debt, the customer has lost faith and can be released...like a construction dismissal, so the supplier can no longer object. The question would be, when is that point reached.

chanz4

Terrylw1 wrote: »

It would be interesting in terms of the SLC I mentioned. It does allow a supplier yo say "we don't want your business, you have X days with us left" but there is no process to actually remove the supplier id from a distributors database...it would mean a manual amendment but they would never do it since they wouldn't get paid with no supplier appointed.

Perhaps the case could improve the customer blocking SLC to include a term where regardless of debt, the customer has lost faith and can be released...like a construction dismissal, so the supplier can no longer object. The question would be, when is that point reached.

Also with no supplier, would make the dno liable which they wont.

undaunted

Not sure which SLC you refer to though in the case the customer would have been quite happy for the supplier not to want their business. The supplier on the other hand is adamant that they will supply

chanz4

you cant request shiperless sites volountary

Terrylw1

Check out SLC22.7 (b) which suugests a supplier can give 7 days notice to no longer offer a supply contract where already supplying.

This isn't related to the "supplier of last resort" process as far as I know.

So, how on earth can:

a) the supplier actually do it? There is no data flow that allows them to do it.

AND

b) Ofgem are OK leaving the distributor with no paying supplier? What if the customer does nothing for 12 months since suppliers only pay from the registration date. So, how does the distribution charge all these customers...and how do the operate all the industry processes since they are only applied by the agreed parties?

Makes no sense to me at all but Ofgem have put it there?

It also opposes the Deemed contract obligation.

chanz4

If it has no shipper, the GT's are treating them as abandond after so many months. If no supplier for electric they will look to disconnect

lemontart

Ok I am totally confused, I am correct that when the person moved into the property npower were the registered supplier and there for a deemed contract came into being until the person switched, if so why on earth has it escalated to this - is it that no other supplier would take them on, or did they have a debt history that caused issues ?

Terrylw1

chanz4 wrote: »

If it has no shipper, the GT's are treating them as abandond after so many months. If no supplier for electric they will look to disconnect

Yeah, for elec it will be like skeleton registrations. It will cost the DNO to investigate it. Like we've said before, its not possible to de-register. The DNO could do it most likely, unless their system hard coding won't allow it?

Ofgem do however have a provision for, but it can't be used due to the above. Its a pointless statement, even if a supplier wanted to use it.

It would require new data items and data flows if they ever did...not that the distributors would ever want this headache!

undaunted

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Check out SLC22.7 (b) which suugests a supplier can give 7 days notice to no longer offer a supply contract where already supplying.

This seems interesting and could quite possibly prove very significant as Npower have argued that a deemed contract cannot ever be cancelled whilst remaining in occupation / debt and with them as registered supplier but in the version I'm currently looking at there is no 22.7(b) Interestingly there also appear to be discrepancies between what Npower say certain conditions refer to and the copies customer provides. Npower were asked to provide a copy of their license conditions but as far as I'm aware never have.

Can you provide a link to what you are reading please?

undaunted

lemontart wrote: »

Ok I am totally confused, I am correct that when the person moved into the property npower were the registered supplier and there for a deemed contract came into being until the person switched, if so why on earth has it escalated to this - is it that no other supplier would take them on, or did they have a debt history that caused issues ?

Yes Npower were apparently the registered supplier when the customer moved in.

No, there was no problem with Ebico - they had instigated the switch but Npower then blocked it.

Its escalated because Npower will not accept the customer will not allow them to remain supplier - which they claim to have the right to do - and the customer maintains that no such right exists and they alone will determine who they buy their electricity from - if that means no one then so be it, it shall not be Npower!

It should be noted that prior to disconnection the customer had offered a settlement figure which was in line with the Energy Ombudsmans suggested resolution and which Npower had claimed they would honour but failed to accept - by this point being determined to install their PPM.

The PPM would obviously have allowed them to set debt and repayment levels (Npowers written proposals for which, provided only the week before disconnection was intended the customers claims were entirely unaffordable and would consequently have left them without supply anyway in addition to removing the court resolution they felt necessary) whilst Npower subsequently claimed they would have set it at Fuel Direct levels

The customer had by this point clearly stated they would not ever be allowed to do so (and despite a warrant of entry being exercised was able to prevent it ) by simply telling them that if they were entering it was to cut it off, they would not accept a PPM.

Ultimately, after a stand off of about 3 hours and following discussions between a Police Sargeant by now in attendance and a Meter Plus Supervisor by telephone this was what had to happen.

Its an enormous fight they've taken on (and in various peoples opinions should never have reached this stage) but with Npower apparently already stating they will appeal if they lose and the customer saying they believe no one wants an appeal but no one is going to want to lose this - customer would quite possibly face bankruptcy if they do not win this so would be bound to seek an appeal whether they want to or not were they to lose its now a fight that looks certain to be fought and fought hard!