Cheaper Gas and Electricity

Plantfood

So, the primary units of many gas and electricity tariffs are twice as expensive as the secondary ones, also a utility company has the right to read a meter every two years. Therefore does it follow that if I give a meter reading that estimates two years usage in one quarter, pay the bill, then give a zero reading for the next two years, that I will not be breaking any law and will be getting half price gas and electricity. I know I will be paying one huge bill in advance, but, half price and no increase in tariff. Any thoughts.

HappyMJ

Plantfood wrote: »

So, the primary units of many gas and electricity tariffs are twice as expensive as the secondary ones, also a utility company has the right to read a meter every two years. Therefore does it follow that if I give a meter reading that estimates two years usage in one quarter, pay the bill, then give a zero reading for the next two years, that I will not be breaking any law and will be getting half price gas and electricity. I know I will be paying one huge bill in advance, but, half price and no increase in tariff. Any thoughts.

If you provide a false meter reading to get a financial advantage then you would be committing a crime...Fraud.

Plantfood

But, technically how could it be proven, Fraud is a word that could be used to describe the utility companies managing of their tariffs, is this why smart meters are being introduced?

chris1973

If you provide a false meter reading to get a financial advantage then you would be committing a crime...Fraud.

The legal profession would probably prefer to classify it as "gaining a Pecuniary Advantage". Even then what the OP is suggesting would probably fall into a very grey area in respect of that potential charge.

Fraud is a pre-meditated plan in which to defraud or trick a person or entity into depriving them of property, goods or services with absolutely no intention or plan to pay it back or to give them any value in return for an investment or a payment.

The OP isn't suggesting anything like that, nor are they suggesting not paying it back, in fact if you re-read their post, you'll find that they are even intending to pay the energy company for two years worth of energy in advance - I can't imagine any energy company prosecuting a customer for 'Fraud' simply because they have just sent them a cheque for £3000!

that if I give a meter reading that estimates two years usage in one quarter, pay the bill, then give a zero reading for the next two years

I also imagine given the increasing number of threads relating to 'needless increases in direct debits' that if your point was accurate then the courts would be full of Energy Companies facing similar charges.

From what the OP describes, in theory, its no different than the Energy Companies getting the customer to overpay during certain periods and then equalising the balance later in the year. Or a heating oil customer buying 5000 litres of heating oil during the summer when its cheap, and then running down their stock when the prices increase over the Winter.

Although, in practice, actually doing this for two years would be pushing their luck a bit, and giving a zero reading for two years even when in credit, is likely to cause their computer to blow a microchip or two, triggering getting them a visit from revenue protection in the belief that either the meter has broken, or you are illegally abstracting electricity.

So in reply to the OP, yes your idea has its merits, however there are two many pitfalls, and do you really want to be a test case?. If so good luck with that, let us know how you get on.

is this why smart meters are being introduced?

Actually smart meters are now going to be voluntary, or at least it will be once the i's have been dotted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/financialservices/utilities/Business-energy/9053100/Smart-meters-for-energy-to-be-voluntary.html

macman

If you give readings that suddenly indicate no usage, the system will probably reject them and bill you on estimated usage. They will either then want to read your meters themselves, or assume a meter fault and want to inspect them.