Not the "usual" faulty meter

bill_stuffer

Hi all, please could someone give me some advice regards a potentially faulty meter or a meter that's incorrectly set up?

Two or three years back, we had a new meter fitted.
After a few months I was unsure of the readings as our billls dropped sharply.
I contacted the energy supplier (Was Powergen then but now EON) & they sent someone out to check etc.
They concluded the meter was fine.
I'm on Economy 7 & the night rate reading goes up but the normal (daytime) reading hasn't changed!
I'm concerned that, if/when they realise somethings amiss, I'm going to get a massive bill.
Where do I stand with this?

utility_csa

Contact your supplier asap. They are likely just charging you as a single combined rate though.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi bill stuffer

Sounds like a time switch fault as the day register isn't moving.

As utility_csa says, it's likely all the usage has been recorded on the night register. Let us know and we'll arrange to change the meter.

We've a specialist team who deal with this type of issue and they'll work out an estimate based on the past usage at the property before the day register stopped.

If this puts a debit balance on the account, we'll be happy to set up a payment arrangement to spread this over a more manageable period.

Hope this helps bill stuffer. Let me know if I can help further.

Malc

bill_stuffer

No offence Malc but as I queried this a while back surely it's EON's error?
This could well be several hundred pounds, why should I pay that when I'm not at fault?

Wywth

bill_stuffer wrote: »

Hi all, please could someone give me some advice regards a potentially faulty meter or a meter that's incorrectly set up?

Two or three years back, we had a new meter fitted.
After a few months I was unsure of the readings as our billls dropped sharply.
I contacted the energy supplier (Was Powergen then but now EON) & they sent someone out to check etc.
They concluded the meter was fine.
I'm on Economy 7 & the night rate reading goes up but the normal (daytime) reading hasn't changed!
I'm concerned that, if/when they realise somethings amiss, I'm going to get a massive bill.
Where do I stand with this?

How long ago was this exactly? :eek:

Powergen dropped it's name in favour of Eon back in 2005!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi bill stuffer

If the meter was faulty when we originally called then, I agree, it should've been sorted then.

The way I read your post, though, was that we had checked it previously and all was fine. I assumed the fault had developed since then. Sorry if my assumption was wrong.

If it was faulty three years ago and we failed to put it right when we called, then the Billing Code might apply.

The Billing Code kicks in where we're at fault for not billing correctly. If it does apply, we won't back bill for any energy used more than 12 months prior to the problem being sorted.

Not saying this is the case here as each request is looked at individually and a judgement made based on the particular circumstances of each case. Certainly worth asking the question though.

Sorry for any wrong assumptions and hope this is a bit clearer.

Malc

Terrylw1

In terms of understanding your suppliers error, its quite simple with a case like this. Everytime a reading was submitted by you or taken by a meter reader, it would have shown a nil advance on the day register which as Malc says, is a clear faulty time switch.

Usually a reading sent by the Data Collector will also have a data item included that states a possible faulty time switch has been found or they can send a separate notification asking for an investigation of a faulty meter.

If its gone on that long there has been a serious failing in the processes here. Definitely best to contact via Malc and get a complaint in.

I think they should be considering a gesture of goodwill here. I think they should also consider that any loss in revenue where they have had this flagged within the 12 month back billing timeframe is their loss.

Years ago, before the protective billing code, it was common to only amend these backwards to credit a customer. This was an acknowledgement of supplier failure but the billing code has made it easier for suppliers to back bill with these cases.

Malc - in recalculation, do you perform the same correction to the Data Collectors system at 12 months back? I always find you guys very helpful on here so I want to add that this question is to understand what Eon's settlement correction entails not to catch anyone out. If the settlement correction isn't made in this case, Eon would have purchased based on the off peak purchase rate. I tend to advise this as a way to complain your supplier doesn't make such a correction thus further profits from a higher margin in the back bill...so it would be great to get confidence in the Eon process.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Terrylw1 wrote: »

I
Malc - in recalculation, do you perform the same correction to the Data Collectors system at 12 months back? I always find you guys very helpful on here so I want to add that this question is to understand what Eon's settlement correction entails not to catch anyone out. If the settlement correction isn't made in this case, Eon would have purchased based on the off peak purchase rate. I tend to advise this as a way to complain your supplier doesn't make such a correction thus further profits from a higher margin in the back bill...so it would be great to get confidence in the Eon process.

Hi Terry

We've a specialist team who deal with time switch issues. They've access to much more metering info than general advisors.

Each case is looked at individually using as much correctly recorded data as possible. This is from both the account and the metering systems that back up the account.

If a re-bill is necessary, we try to gauge it so it best reflects what the customer would have been charged had the time switch been working correctly.

We'll also consider the implications of the settlement correction so the final outcome balances the electricity bought with that billed.

Hope this helps Terry.

Malc