E.ON - faulty electric meter

dawnie1972

Moved into the property last May. Has an economy 7 electric meter (2 readings). Got my bill yesterday which is double what it was last quarter, checked the readings and the low reading hasnt moved in 3 months. I'm on a single rate tariff with E.ON who have confirmed the meter is faulty but claim that my bill is still correct - how can this be if the meter is faulty? There argument is that I'm on a single rate tarriff and whilst I get that bit how can they be sure that if the meter isnt working properly that the readings are correct. Where do i go to get advice on this.

Andy_WSM

dawnie1972 wrote: »

Moved into the property last May. Has an economy 7 electric meter (2 readings). Got my bill yesterday which is double what it was last quarter, checked the readings and the low reading hasnt moved in 3 months. I'm on a single rate tariff with E.ON who have confirmed the meter is faulty but claim that my bill is still correct - how can this be if the meter is faulty? There argument is that I'm on a single rate tarriff and whilst I get that bit how can they be sure that if the meter isnt working properly that the readings are correct. Where do i go to get advice on this.

They're likely right. The dual register meters have a time clock that tells the meter which register to record your consumption on - it seems the time clock has stopped functioning and isn't switching over the register - therefore, all your consumption is being recorded on one register, rather than across the 2 and added up for billing purposes.

You can ask to have your meter checked by E.ON for a fee, which you would get refunded if you are indeed right in your suspicions. If you are absolutely sure the meter is wrong then you have nothing to lose by paying the initial fee.

notbritishgas

Lets see if I have got this right.
You have an E7 meter but you are on a normal tariff with EoN adding the 2 readings together and charging the normal rate rather than the inflated day rate of an E7 tariff,yes?

If that is the case then you have not lost anything as the previous poster has said it is just not switching over to the night rate so all usage is being recorded on the day rate, so you are paying the same.

When they come to change it perhaps you could ask to have a standard meter fitted as that would help if you wished to change in the future to a company that did not add the 2 rates together.

dogshome

Wether or not the bill is correct depends on what this 2 rate ECO7 meter is serving.

If you have Storage Radiators for overnight heating & hotwater that is still working despite the 'Dead' meter, then almost certainly your bill is wrong as all
the power you have used is being charged at the expensive Day Rate.

The flip side of this is that if a customer with an ECO7 meter requests to be charged at 'Standard' meter rates, ( Often because they have installed Gas CH ), the supplier will usually oblige by adding the meters Night & Day readings together, and then charge the total at Standard meter rates

E.ON_Company_Rep_Chris

Hi dawnie1972

I’m sorry for any concern over your electricity meter. I know it’s a worry when you’re told your meter is faulty especially when you have an unusually high bill.

As we’re charging you the same price for your electricity regardless of when you use it, you’re not being billed on Economy 7 prices.

Lot’s of people do this now as they have E7 meters but don’t use enough overnight for E7 prices to be of benefit, this is because you pay a higher rate for day use to offset the cheap rate electricity at night.
Normally we’d still take n both meter readings but make sure that you’re charged the same rate for both and that should work out cheaper. What sort of heating do you have? Any gas supply to your home?

It seems what’s happened here is that the night register has stopped advancing but we’re satisfied that your night use has been recorded on the day register instead. We have a specialist team that deal with these queries so you can be confident that they’re experienced in problems of this kind.

I regret that this familiarity could mean that our agents can appear nonchalant about what is clearly a worrying situation for you.

Have we offered an alternative explanation for your high bill? If you remain concerned, do speak to us about getting a 1 rate meter fitted instead and we can compare use recorded to the new meter with that on your bill.

Hope this helps Dawn, let me know if you need any more information

Amanda

Terrylw1

If your night rate is stuck, its a faulty time switch investigation that is needed, which isn't the same as meter test so its usually free and suppliers should raise that job as they notice readings not advanving correctly.

In terms of the bill being highest, it could be because you should be E7 charged instead. If the consumption itself has increased it might also nee a meter test as well but without knowing your daily kwh averages before and now, its difficult to say.

In terms of adding day to night any changing suppliers, not all E7 meters are allowed on a standard tariff. Its only compliant where the market domain data allows an update of the Profile Class from 2 to 1 in the dfistributors database. If it is not, your new supplier can stick you on E7 and be compliant, the blame lieing with the previous supplier who dodged paying for a meter change. They can check this so be careful with switches until you know.