Massive unexpected EDF Electricity Bill

pukunui

Hi,

I have received a bill from EDF for dual fuel. The bill is based on actuals readings, and gas seems reasonable, however the electricity meter states that we have used 4878 units of electricity on a day rate over 13 weeks at a cost of £725.36 (night rate is 991 units at £53.81)

In the time between the meter reader coming out (reading on the bill) and my reading the meter today (seven days total) we have used only 45 units day and 11 units night.

My heating is gas and I have no extra or new electrical appliances that I have used over the past year.

They want to increase the total direct debit to £134 per month instead of £37 per month.

I have called them and they said that meters are not usually wrong, but I should take meter readings every day for the next week.

I am not sure how to handle this or what rights I have - I do not see how there is any way that I have gone from using an average 11.09 kwh per day this time last year to 72.45 kwh per day this year but how can I prove that if the meter reading shows the usage?

Any advice gratefully received.

penrhyn

Was the previous electricity reading estimated?

pukunui

No - they were actual readings. Day was 1407 and night was 584 at 27 Jan.

jalexa

pukunui wrote: »

I have called them and they said that meters are not usually wrong,

I despair at supplier advisers throwaway responses to this type of problem. And not only Edf.

The retort is true but irrelevant. Reading error is more likely and billing error more likely still.

To get meaningful help here you need to do the following. Post the opening and closing readings and reading dates from the bill in question *exactly* as described on the bill. Also post the meter readings as they are on your meter today.

cbrpaul

I am with EDF !!

i too had a abnormally high electric bill over short period of time , i put it down the family using more electrical items , hair drier, hair straightners , extra oven cooking , etc,,, for that month

The readings were all accurate of what i submitted , and were matched on the bill , i used as much if not more in a 4 week period, as i did in a 12 week period !!!

I never had this with my last supplier though for 8 years +

I have a spinning dial electric meter !!

Unexplainable ?????

pukunui

Thanks - here they are:

Electricity charges 28 Jan 12 - 17 Apr 12 = actual reading

Day 28 Jan 12 to 17 Apr 12
Previous1407
Latest 6285
Total used 4878 £725.36
Day Reading Today (25 Apr 12) 0633069

Night 28 Jan 12 to 17 Apr 12
Previous 584
Latest 1575
Total used 991 £53.81
Night Reading Today (25 Apr 12) 0158675

jalexa

pukunui wrote: »

here they are:

Electricity charges 28 Jan 12 - 17 Apr 12 = actual reading

OK, your recent readings are "normal". I think you will need to go back to the readings on the previous bill.

BTW, don't record numbers after the point, it is unnecessary and confusing. Do you have an electronic or a mechanical meter?

notbritishgas

pukunui wrote: »

Thanks - here they are:

Electricity charges 28 Jan 12 - 17 Apr 12 = actual reading

Day 28 Jan 12 to 17 Apr 12
Previous1407
Latest 6285
Total used 4878 £725.36
Day Reading Today (25 Apr 12) 0633069

Night 28 Jan 12 to 17 Apr 12
Previous 584
Latest 1575
Total used 991 £53.81
Night Reading Today (25 Apr 12) 0158675

How many digits after the point are there,
ie is it 063306.9 or 06330.69

You say the night is OK but 991 kwh in 13 weeks is high in my opinion as you have not got any night store heaters.

molerat

pukunui wrote: »

Thanks - here they are:

Electricity charges 28 Jan 12 - 17 Apr 12 = actual reading

Day 28 Jan 12 to 17 Apr 12
Previous1407
Latest 6285
Total used 4878 £725.36
Day Reading Today (25 Apr 12) 0633069

Night 28 Jan 12 to 17 Apr 12
Previous 584 0 (added 0)
Latest 1575
Total used 991 £53.81
Night Reading Today (25 Apr 12) 0158675

Those readings highlighted in red and blue look a bit suspicious. 1575-1407= 168, 6285-5840=445 = total 613 / 81 = 7.5 kwh per day which is closer to your current usage.

Terrylw1

Whatever it is, its the previous readings. Where do they come from?

Its a digital meter with 2 decimal points by the looks of it, so probably an Ampy model.

These reading are close to zero so I'm guessing you've had a meter change recently? It may be possible that the previous reads are the opening readings for the meter change and if so, perhaps they are incorrect and too low. If so, is there a tag or label left on the meter?

Its also highly likely that the reading causing this jump has been failed by the suppliers Data Collector, but they have chosen to use it. Since your meter now matches, that actions seems OK and its the previous readings that are an issue.

Terrylw1

cbrpaul wrote: »

I am with EDF !!

i too had a abnormally high electric bill over short period of time , i put it down the family using more electrical items , hair drier, hair straightners , extra oven cooking , etc,,, for that month

The readings were all accurate of what i submitted , and were matched on the bill , i used as much if not more in a 4 week period, as i did in a 12 week period !!!

I never had this with my last supplier though for 8 years +

I have a spinning dial electric meter !!

Unexplainable ?????

If you are talking the kwh rather than bill value, aside from the meter being faulty, it may just be your usage so start there. If thats normal, look to anything you are unaware of being attached, builders connecting to do work causing spikes, then finally consider the meter posdiby being faulty.