Why do EDF bills change like the weather ?

macman

The farce continues with EDF's billing system. I've just received my annual DD review for gas. They've now dropped my DD to roughly the right level. So far so good, but what is really hilarious is their calculation of my last year's usage-they state that it was 337,519kWh! Which is only out by 1300 per cent...
This appears (I think) to be due to a change of meter during the year; clearly the software has no provision for a meter rollback to a zero reading.

GooliesOfFire

If they will be doing it with me then I won't be with them for long I think

They said my estimated monthly cost will be £70, I use 9500kWh gas and 2500kWh electricity a year. I'll be on their Blue tariff "fixed" until May 2014. I wouldn't be happy to pay £130 a month for sure.

hubb

I am locked in to this current tariff till December and then I can change to the blue tariff. However, she did say that the fixed blue tariff is a higher rate so be warned !

StevieJ

jalexa wrote: »

It has taken me a year, but I have aggressively managed the accuracy of my account projections and it is now correctly managed. I have a competitive fixed price until April 2014. I'm staying, partly because leaving is just jumping from the "poêle à frire" into the supply industry fire.

Having finally received a gas bill I notice that the forward calculation for the next 12 months has an estimated usage figure slightly higher than the number I supplied 12 months ago, even though I have consumed around 20% less than that over the past 12 months (fair enough, it was a mild winter), what they haven't done is include in their calculations the relatively high credit credit balance that has accrued since I moved over. I am quite happy with the tariff, not so sure about their systems

jalexa

StevieJ wrote: »

Having finally received a gas bill I notice that the forward calculation for the next 12 months has an estimated usage figure slightly higher than the number I supplied 12 months ago, even though I have consumed around 20% less than that over the past 12 months (fair enough, it was a mild winter), what they haven't done is include in their calculations the relatively high credit credit balance that has accrued since I moved over. I am quite happy with the tariff, not so sure about their systems

You should ask for a detailed explanation of any calculation and any "assumptions". Then dissect the argument. I make it not worth their while to argue about the monthly payment and to be fair Customer Service advisers don't (just as long as a modest credit balance is maintained).

Specifically regarding the projected consumption, I believe they are relying on an industry measure called AQ. This is hopelessly out of date and in some circumstances may still be capturing consumption from the severe winter. AQ, AFAIAA, does not take into account Customer Only Reads.

Confront them head-on and tell them to use your previous 12 month figure as the projected basis. The Midata previous 12 months consumption figure appears to me to be "accurate", except for one thing. It is too early to say (meteorologically) that this winter will be colder than average, however from my gas records the heating season has started about a month earlier than last year. Be aware that Edf Midata sees that as higher consumption.