First Electricity Bill for five years

RightRevBod

We have just received our first electricity bill for five years. When we moved into our present house the previous owners were apparently in the process of changing suppliers. As my memory serves, the bill and payment for the first one or two quarters went fine.

We then received a 'We are sorry to lose you' letters and I called to say that we did not want top switch. This is when things got interesting. We have gas from the same supplier, and this has been billed normally throughout.

The next thing that happened (about two years later) was that we got a letter to say that the rate for gas would increase as we were no longer an electricity customer as well. I called to tell them that we did get electricity from them and they agreed that we did, and said they would send a catch-up bill which we would be allowed to spread over sever quarters as it would be bigger than normal. This is when I discovered that the direct debit which I had been paying each month, covered only the gas.

Fast forward to Saturday, and an electricity bill arrives addressed to 'The Occupier' with an estimated bill for £700, with another £1500 written off. The estimated current reading was quite a lot lower than the real meter reading.

I phoned today to give the correct meter reading and to try to find out how much I actually owe. They have a meter reading from January this year, but nothing before that apart from April 2002 which "00001" so unlikely to be real.

The upshot is, they have no idea how much I actually owe them. The suggestion is that I take another reading in two weeks, and we then try to extrapolate for the duration.

So a few questions:

1. My belief as that since July 2006 the maximum liability was for 1 year's back charges. The lady at the electricity company informs me that this comes into effect in July 2007, and my present liability is for 2 years. Can anyone confirm which is correct (with a link to the information if possible)?

2. Without any evidence to show the actual electricity usage, how much is it fair for the company to charge? I would have said that the range of possible options ran from just the standing charge to the full amount they are guessing, but the tariff they are using has no standing charge. The temptation is to make an offer for full and final settlement up to the last bill date, but bearing in mind question 1, what is a reasonable figure to offer?

We are quite willing to pay what we reasonably should, but obviously do not want to pay any more than necessary.

I look forward to any helpful comments.

stewie_griffin

You can only be back billed for the past two years usage, changing to 1 year on 1 July. For more info see [URL=]www.energy-retail.org.uk/customerbilling.html[/URL] and click on the Code of Practice For Accurate Bills PDF and FAQS PDF links.

tripled

They will use the meter readings they already have and the one you will give them soon to estimate your usage and backdate it. However you should only be charged for two years usage as confirmed by stewie_griffin.

When you are billed it should take into account price changes, you shouldn't be billed for the lot at current rates as two years ago electrcity was cheaper. They should do this automatically, but make sure you check on the bill when the new one arrives.