Electricity Bill - Readings round the wrong way ?

AdamR6

Hi

We've recently received our electricity bill through (we're with Southern) and we have a significant credit rather than debit (Pay a set monthly price on Direct Debit) I was a bit curious as to why so i started checking the meter readings.

We only moved in 2 years ago, this is our 1st house. The house was built in the 50's and the electricity meter was change when the previous owners lived here in 2009. The central heating and water heating is all done on gas which was installed AFTER the house was built (not sure when). Oven is electric and hob is gas.

I've never had to provide readings from the electric meter (Digital), always had someone come round or it gets estimated. There are 3 figure rotating on the display, a T figure, a 1 figure and a flashing 2 figure. I'm not familiar with reading electricity meters so don't know whats what.

We're on economy 7 and these are the readings:

Date

---

Service Plan

---

Night energy----Day energy
30-Apr-2012

---

Default Economy 7

---

11778

---

2542
31-Oct-2011

---

Default Economy 7

---

8639(E)

---

2156(E)
28-Apr-2011

---

Default Economy 7

---

8022

---

1845
28-Jan-2011

---

Default Economy 7

---

6889(E)

---

1756(E)
28-Oct-2010

---

Default Economy 7

---

6047

---

1542
27-Jul-2010

---

Default Economy 7

---

4624(E)

---

1425(E)

Does it look like they are round the wrong way ?

If I bring it to their attention will they correct it and we'll end up paying more ?

Regards,
Adam

molerat

T is total, the sum of 1&2.
Take a reading of 1&2 mid morning
Take another mid afternoon.
The one that has increased is your actual day reading.

Looking at the readings they do indeed seem transposed and E7 is not suitable for your usage. You are currently being charged less than you should be, more at cheap rate less at peak. If they back bill I would argue that their incompetent agents, through no fault of yours, have continually incorrectly read their meter and they should only back bill up to 12 months.

jalexa

AdamR6 wrote: »

I've never had to provide readings from the electric meter (Digital), always had someone come round or it gets estimated.

It is good that you are picking up on this.

Perhaps for the benefit of others, an estimated bill always provides a means of submitting a customer read. Southern Electric bills have a very clear "thumbs down" for an estimate and advice about what to do.

That said, it would not be reasonable for a layperson to read the meter more knowledgeably than a meter reader and on the face of it the readings are transposed.

The Southern Electric Customer Charter http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CoreMarketingSites/Assets/Documents/CustomerCharterSouthernElectric.pdf has information about backbilling. Page 24 refers. You may note the reference to a customer "obligation" to update estimates. Fortunately I do not think your failure to do so is relevant in this case.

AdamR6

Thanks for the replies.

I've monitored the meter and 2 is the one that is increasing which means that its the day usage. The number 1 figure is the night usage.

Also, i've noticed that that is a HUGH hike between Oct 2011 and Apr 2012 compared to the previous 6 month period.... is that an error or have we really just used that much more electricity ?

Jul 10 - Oct 10 - Usage - 1423
Oct 10 - Jan 11 - Usage - 847
Jan 11 - Apr 11 - Usage - 1133
Apr 11 - Oct 11 - Usage - 617
Oct 11 - Apr 12 - Usage - 3139

It appears we're now being billed every 6 months rather than every 3 months, can do that ?

Regards,
Adam

jalexa

AdamR6 wrote: »

Also, i've noticed that that is a HUGH hike between Oct 2011 and Apr 2012 compared to the previous 6 month period.... is that an error or have we really just used that much more electricity ?

Well April '12 is an actual reading but the lower readings are estimates. So it is impossible to say and not worth speculating on an estimate.

Do you have an online account? If so you can enter customer readings as often as you like. You may not get a bill generated but you will get an updated account balance.

[Deleted User]

the reading you see flashing is the rate in progress as you look at the meter. If its daytime, thats the day rate.I would say you cannot trust a meter reader with these meters. In my area, Yorkshire, they just put in Rate 1 into the night rate regardless of what the actual rate is and British Gas are daft enough to bill it as such

Mayfair82

A couple of questions if that's okay.

You've identified Rate 2 as your Day Rate but just to clarify does the meter reading correlate with the day rate on your actual bill?

As far as the rise in usage goes, it's impossible to tell because of your estimated bill - as someone has mentioned before it is your responsibility to provide accurate readings to correct an estimate, if you don't and the estimate is below your usage then yes you can expect what appears to be a sudden hike.

Meter readers don't always come out to a property, as you can see, legally it's once in 12-18months, so the responsibility lies with the consumer. Reading a meter does not need to be difficult and the majority are actually very simple now. Even the old clock face dials can be read fairly easily with a little practice. Do you ever correct your estimates or provide your own readings? It can be a good way to see how a company fairs for under or over-estimating, plus obviously you'll know exactly what you're paying and what to expect next.

Also, basing on an assumption that the day rate on your meter does NOT correlate with the day rate readings shown on your billing, have you considered requesting to move to a single rate tariff that you may find better suited? You do always need to shop around, a single rate tariff depending on region is not ALWAYS cheaper than a E7 option, but often can be. Compare the unit prices of the SR tariffs and the E7 day rate/night rate that you are currently using and do some calculations, many times what you save for the very few units you use at night is far outweighed by what you could save having cheaper electricity at peak time.

Also consider other things around the house when thinking about consumption. Many people go for the basics, heating, lighting and cooking… but when you really stop and think there's a lot more that can be guzzling electricity such as fish tanks, security lighting, pond pumps, the nice big TV… the list can get very long. I've even known people shocked at their high bills who forget they have underfloor electric heating in the winter and air conditioning units running in the summer. We're all guilty of it!

If this is indeed a case of twisted meter reads, contact your supplier as soon as possible and bring it to their attention. Bear in mind however when arguing that their agents couldn't read the meter that meter readers are 3rd party agents and not directly employed by the suppliers. They are also human, it only takes one person to make a mistake once and it can have a knock on effect for years. If a mistake was made recording which was the meters day and night rate when it was installed a new meter reader can only know the information that they are given. If you were told to go next door and read their meter and were only told that Rate 1 was day and Rate 2 was night, how would you know if that was true or not without knocking on their door and asking when they use the most electricity?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say 'sucks to be you' or anything else, if the reads are twisted a mistake was made somewhere along the lines clearly not by yourself and it needs to be rectified. I'm merely showing that we are all human and these sorts of problems are good examples why everyone needs to be vigilant about everyone else's work.

Check, check and check again cause you can never be certain the last guy did!