Huge bill- help needed ! :-)

robbiforgold

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Is it even correct? Until you confirm that, the meter reader could have taken it off the wring meter.

In elec, the supplier has a responsibility to make a safety check every 2 years. Normally a reading would be taken. That's the Ofgem side.

However, the Balancing & Settlements Code (BSC) side, governed by Elexon, needs data to accurate at 14 months which is the cut off point for supplier payments. The easiest way to do this is to make sure you get readings.

So, shaft by checking that meter.

Then ask how many times they have been out in these years, did they get access, if so what happened to the reading, etc.

This is crucial because if your account has been underestimated throughout this time, it could be that they have taken quite a few readings and failed to get your billing accurate. This is where the "no back billing over 12 months" argument starts to come in.
Do that and repost as you may need an understanding of back billing, which suppliers frequently abyss.

Hey, thanks for this. I'm going to do another reading now and check against the estimate log that's online. I'll let you know!

jalexa

robbiforgold wrote: »

Unfortunately my mother is elderly...

Probably your mother is entitled to be on the supplier's "special needs" register.

British_Gas

Hi - have you contacted us regarding your bill? If you send me a PM with your account details, and I'll be more than happy to assist you with your enquiry

Alex
British Gas - Social Media Team

Terrylw1

spiro wrote: »

I know I'll get shot at but BGs t&cs (plus other suppliers) state that customer should provide meter readings twice a year and they clearly show on a bill that it is based on estimated readings. What you have received is a 'catch up' bill so I suspect BG have adjusted the DD to catch up over the next 12 months.

The other problem with elec is that the 2 years resets every time you change supplier so if you change frequently its possible your meter is never read.

Very brave Spiro! :D

I don't think they are alone on that t&c. However, how enforceable is it? When signing you, do they ensure you even have access or perform a risk assessment of the consumers health to determine whether they are bound by this.

Without doing these kind of checks, I think Bgas would have a hard time trying to enforce them.

I agree it should be done, its completely linked to what you pay so it makes sense plus all estimation becomes more accurate.

davidgmmafan

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

The meeter would have to have a physical read, either by yourselves or the company, when you change supplier. You cant "estimate" the reading when you switch.

Just thought I would add that this is nonsense. It happens all the time, there is even a term for it deemed reading.

Putting it another way what do you propose the two suppliers do with regards to a reading if the customer doesn't give a reading and they don't have access to get one???

To the OP I think its worth looking at your usage in addition to tariffs and negotiating as long a payment period as possible. Ten thousand kwh's is alot, the national average is 3300 in a year. I appreciate this may have built up over longer, but you need to know what is using the electricity in order to know if you can do anything about it. Your supplier should have an energy efficiency team or similar who can help in this regard.

Alternatively home energy monitors are an option, although personally I reckon you can get decent enough results just from observing the meter (not an option for all clearly).

robbiforgold

British_Gas_company_representative wrote: »

Hi - have you contacted us regarding your bill? If you send me a PM with your account details, and I'll be more than happy to assist you with your enquiry

Alex
British Gas - Social Media Team

Hi Alex,

I tried to PM you but a message states that you have "chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her"!

Is there another way?

Thanks :-)

robbiforgold

davidgmmafan wrote: »

Just thought I would add that this is nonsense. It happens all the time, there is even a term for it deemed reading.

Putting it another way what do you propose the two suppliers do with regards to a reading if the customer doesn't give a reading and they don't have access to get one???

To the OP I think its worth looking at your usage in addition to tariffs and negotiating as long a payment period as possible. Ten thousand kwh's is alot, the national average is 3300 in a year. I appreciate this may have built up over longer, but you need to know what is using the electricity in order to know if you can do anything about it. Your supplier should have an energy efficiency team or similar who can help in this regard.

Alternatively home energy monitors are an option, although personally I reckon you can get decent enough results just from observing the meter (not an option for all clearly).

Yes, defintiely have to get in the habit of monitoring it actively. I am not sure whether a home meter can be installed on that type of meter though I'll confess I am not quite sure how to actually install it!

I think the tariff is not so good, it certainly hasn't been changed for many years and so probably not giving the best value for money.

I just checked the meter and did all the tests specified above. It is incredibly strange. I turned the consumer box off and took a standstill reading. Then I turned it back on and the meter started whirring very fast compared to the others. I got my brother to turn off ALL applicances including the boiler, cooker/hob etc and basically anyhting on standby (they are quite good with those things anyway and have those funky standby power saver plugs) and it seemed to slow down but not enirely- strange because there was nothing 'on' to our knowledge. It's a very small apartment so really don;t know what is causing this electricity 'drain'. Do you lovely people know what possible cultprists could be? (I know that's so vague), but basically anything that is a huge electricity offender that I am in the dark about (i.e how much do home boilers use?). The hot water is always on so I am not sure if that impacts it...

Anyways thank you all for your kind support. I will certainly be in touch with BG about looking at payment plans and perhaps trying to get them to come and review the meter and see if there could be an underlying issue.

Many thanks :A

alleycat`

How is the hot water heated?
Do you have a tank with an Immersion element in it?
If so is that on and left on all the time as that is the equivalent of a giant electric kettle (well almost anyway).

Night Storage heaters (if the flat has them)?

Possible places to start.

smithers1981

Also see if British Gas have a cheaper tariff you can move to.

Terrylw1

Did it stop when you turned it off at meter? If so, there isn't any mixed wiring issues, unless it caused appliances in the other flats to stop which only they will know.

Can you see if the seals are intact? Any dodgy looking wiring that perhaps shouldn't be there?

If you rule all that out you are left with a possible speeding meter or your usage. So, rule out what you are using which can test by taking a load of readings through the day.

If you rule that out, the supplier would need a Standard Load Test (SLT) but suppliers charge for this if its not faulty, hence you need to do your own checks first.

Your reading is inline with the bill? What about your opening reading for when you moved in? If you get that too low, a spike occurs when it catches up and over ti e this spike would be made worse.