Meter Reading/Serial Number Confusion

Happy_C

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could help/give advice on what I should do in regards to my electric meter/bills?

I have been a tenant in my current flat for nearly two years and when we first moved in we obviously registered with an energy company and started paying bills.

About two months in I submitted a meter reading as the estimated bills were very different. The guy from the provider was concerned our reading was very low so he sent someone out to confirm for themselves.

After two visits and numerous phone calls all they said was that the serial number on our meter is not even a valid number and it turns out that the meter serial number printed on our bills is NOT the same as the one within the flat.

We informed the letting agents this was going on and were told by the energy company that they would look into it. Almost two years on and nothing has been done.

Im concerned that when we move out (which will hopefully be soon as we are currently buying our first house) the energy company will charge us a ridiculous amount when they finally rectify the problem.

So my questions really is, what more can I do to resolve this matter? And also is it my responsibility to keep chasing it as the serial number on the bill doesn't match the one on the actual meter?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :-)
Thanks in advance.

chanz4

Sounds like your l/lord has done an underhand meter install, ask them to refer to the rpu for exchange

Happy_C

chanz4 wrote: »

Sounds like your l/lord has done an underhand meter install, ask them to refer to the rpu for exchange

Thanks for your speedy response :-)

I've also mentioned this to the landlord when I met him for the first time the other day. He seems to have no idea why it could be (well he would say that if it was dodgy I guess)

Sorry complete novice at this, ask who to refer to the what?

Terrylw1

There can be all sorts of reasons for an incorrect meter number, many of which are errors in data between suppliers and their agents.

The supplier should send out an engineer to confirm the correct meter number, this causes an update of meter details to the supplier and the meter reading agent. The supplier now has to sort out your consumption since the billed readings are nothing like the meter. This will mean re-estimating your account opening reading (if you didn't have it, which given the situation is likely or it would have been spotted then) and billing up to a current meter reading.

Usually, this type if investigation takes a month or so due to lead times in getting out there, getting the data back, reworking the account, etc.

In terms of root cause, there are loads such as crossed with other flats due to incorrect recording at connection, tails numbered incorrectly, incorrect address in distributor database hence supplier agents going to the wrong property, etc.

Its always harder to resolve when your meter is crossed with another property. If yours isn't so its just your property...its pretty simple to resolve.

In terms of your rights, since you are receiving estimated bills, you will be protected by the ERA billing code as you have notified them, calls/visits occurred but they just gave up, they won't be able to bill you beyond 12 months ago. Now given you are paying, be careful how they do this as they may try to bill you for 12 months on top of your payments which is not compliant with the code as any payments would go against any additional debt for the last 12 months.

Increase your chances of resolution and any gesture of goodwill by raising a complaint. After 8 weeks you can escalate it to the ombudsman.

chanz4

If it cant be found on the database, it maywell be an unregistered meter. Their is a hell of a lot of them out there.