BG Dual Rate Electricity Meter So Can't Switch Supplier!!

Chrishazle

Trying to transfer (dual fuel) from BG to Scottish Power as my existing Websaver 12 deal runs out end of this month and SP would be a lot cheaper.

Had a letter from SP this morning saying they could not switch as I have a dual rate electricity meter. Phoned them - they say this meter is specific to BG and would not be accepted by any other supplier, I have to get BG to change the meter to a single rate meter - which will cost they think about £50-60!

Originally (about 1991 when house was completed) house had electric central heating, thus "Economy 7" type meter would have been installed. About 2004 previous owner had gas central heating installed. Just after we bought the house 5 years ago the electricity meter was changed as it was "past it's sell by date". The new meter installed was again a dual rate one despite the fact that we no longer had electric central heating and were on a single rate tariff.

SP also said that, as my application was dual fuel, the rejection of the electricity transfer also meant they had to cancel the gas transfer - leaving me totally back with BG.

I'm fuming - when I did the price comparison a month ago, the best BG could offer was about £20pa more expensive than my current websaver 12, whereas SP were over £200 cheaper.

Strikes me that BG have been crafty with the meter installation - sort of restrictive practice. if I want the option to change suppliers I have to get the electricity meter changed. Otherwise I'm stuck with BG.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Anyone got any ideas about my best way forward? My current fuel bills run £1520pa - about £820 gas and £700 electricity.

YoYoY

Chrishazle wrote: »

Trying to transfer (dual fuel) from BG to Scottish Power as my existing Websaver 12 deal runs out end of this month and SP would be a lot cheaper.

Had a letter from SP this morning saying they could not switch as I have a dual rate electricity meter. Phoned them - they say this meter is specific to BG and would not be accepted by any other supplier, I have to get BG to change the meter to a single rate meter - which will cost they think about £50-60!

Originally (about 1991 when house was completed) house had electric central heating, thus "Economy 7" type meter would have been installed. About 2004 previous owner had gas central heating installed. Just after we bought the house 5 years ago the electricity meter was changed as it was "past it's sell by date". The new meter installed was again a dual rate one despite the fact that we no longer had electric central heating and were on a single rate tariff.

SP also said that, as my application was dual fuel, the rejection of the electricity transfer also meant they had to cancel the gas transfer - leaving me totally back with BG.

I'm fuming - when I did the price comparison a month ago, the best BG could offer was about £20pa more expensive than my current websaver 12, whereas SP were over £200 cheaper.

Strikes me that BG have been crafty with the meter installation - sort of restrictive practice. if I want the option to change suppliers I have to get the electricity meter changed. Otherwise I'm stuck with BG.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Anyone got any ideas about my best way forward? My current fuel bills run £1520pa - about £820 gas and £700 electricity.

Apply for a dual rate (E7) electricity tariff from SP.

Once switched, you can ask SP to change the meter to a single rate meter if you want a single rate tariff. (A charge will be made by SP for such change of meter)


Edit:
Just seen that SP say you have a meter specific to BG.
What is your 'meter time switch code' of your MPAN?
http://energylinx.co.uk/mpan.htm

It may be that you will have to get BG to change the meter before you can switch to any other supplier, but this would be unusual for a property built as recently as 1991.

You can still switch your gas as a single fuel switch if you want

Chrishazle

In the letter I received this morning :

"Unfortunately due to the metering configueration in your premises we currently do not have a suitable compatible electricity pricing arrangement to meet your requirements".

"If you have recently had your heating system upgraded and no longer use your Off Peak supply for heating you should contact your current supplier to have the redundant meter removed.

I have made arrangements for you to stay with your present electricity supplier until you contact us to advise that you have had the meter removed..."

On the phone there was no mention of SP having a dual rate tariff - it was simply "get rid of the BG specific dual rate meter if you want to be able to switch to ANY other supplier!!"

macman

The meter would have been switched to match the existing one when it's time-expired. The supplier has no idea that you have gas CH installed or anything else about your lifestyle. If you wanted it switched to a single rate mneter then that was the time to advise them.
A meter change costs money and you cannot expect other customers to subsidise it for you.

YoYoY

Chrishazle wrote: »

In the letter I received this morning :

"Unfortunately due to the metering configueration in your premises we currently do not have a suitable compatible electricity pricing arrangement to meet your requirements".

"If you have recently had your heating system upgraded and no longer use your Off Peak supply for heating you should contact your current supplier to have the redundant meter removed.

I have made arrangements for you to stay with your present electricity supplier until you contact us to advise that you have had the meter removed..."

On the phone there was no mention of SP having a dual rate tariff - it was simply "get rid of the BG specific dual rate meter if you want to be able to switch to ANY other supplier!!"

Sorry, edited my earlier post. If you could provide the detail I later asked for I can advise whether or not SP are correct.

Edit: Whoops ... and the user has gone
I do hope they come back with the info so that they can be helped further

LittleMissAspie

YoYoY wrote: »

Apply for a dual rate (E7) electricity tariff from SP.

Once switched, you can ask SP to change the meter to a single rate meter if you want a single rate tariff. (A charge will be made by SP for such change of meter)

Scottish Power charge £60 or so to change meter from E7 to single rate. I am stuck on E7 in a house that was built with electric heating but now has a gas boiler, although the difference in cost isn't really enough to spend the £60.

Chrishazle

YoYoY the mpan on my electricity bill is :

Removed per YoYoY suggestion

Macman, no need to be unpleasant - I know changing a meter costs, just annoyed if BG have installed a meter that they know is specific to them thus making it more awkward to change supplier - a cost I did not factor into the cost comparison but now know I have to - and hopefully from this thread will alert others to this possibility.

LittleMiss, we've (albeit unknowingly) had an E7 meter for the 5 years we've lived here despite always being on a single rate tariff - it's just meant giving BG 2 meter readings per quarter instead of 1, but their online system obviously knows I have a dual meter so asks for readings from meter 1 & 2. FWIW (I spreadsheet my utility bills!) meter 2 accounts for roughly 10% of our electricity used (about 640kwh out of 6320 in the last 12 months).

YoYoY

Thanks Chrishazle.

I would suggest removing your full MPAN for security reasons.
Your Meter Time Switch Code appears to be 22 :huh:

Are you sure this is correct as it should be 3 digits. Could it be 022 ?

macman

There was nothing unpleasant in my post, I was simply pointing out that the supplier cannot be psychic about your heating arrangements, and cannot be expected to provide a meter change without charge. Even at £50, it's already subsidised.
Having said that, some suppliers will accept a dual rate meter and merge the readings, and others may offer you a meter change FOC in order to win your business.

Chrishazle

YoYoY wrote: »

Thanks Chrishazle.

I would suggest removing your full MPAN for security reasons.
Your Meter Time Switch Code appears to be 22 :huh:

Are you sure this is correct as it should be 3 digits. Could it be 022 ?

I've been back through a load of electricity bills back to 2009, they all show what I put in my post above, starting S 02 22 with no sign of an additional zero.

Terrylw1

Can you see that 02 in your supply number?

Now, I'm guessing you are being billed on 1 rate instead of E7.

If you are, the new supplier can state this if the current supplier switched your tariff but didn't update that 02 to 01. Its know as your Profile Class (PC). However, not all E7's are allowed to operate on both so they need to be changed.

SP are known for having a policy of charging as opposed to using the above e method, at your cost.

So, if you have an E7 meter but no off peak load...get it changed to a single rats meter are this problem will never happen again.