Huge gas bills and defective gas meter

Lyn_Rupert

We have been concerned about our gas meter readings for the last year and after much badgering our supplier agreed to replace the meter and send the old one away for testing.
We have now had a letter from a contractor of the National Measurement Office with a certificate to say that the meter was found to be so defective that it could not be examined for conformity. Under Remarks it was stated "Meter failed to communicate; no reliable registration results can be obtained".
Does anyone know what should happen next in terms of assessing whether our gas bills were incorrect?

Wywth

Lyn_Rupert wrote: »

We have been concerned about our gas meter readings for the last year and after much badgering our supplier agreed to replace the meter and send the old one away for testing.
We have now had a letter from a contractor of the National Measurement Office with a certificate to say that the meter was found to be so defective that it could not be examined for conformity. Under Remarks it was stated "Meter failed to communicate; no reliable registration results can be obtained".
Does anyone know what should happen next in terms of assessing whether our gas bills were incorrect?

You will have your account adjusted by your supplier to take account of the defective meter. This may be based on historical data (from a point when the meter would have been known to be correct), future usage, or a combination of both

Lyn_Rupert

Thank you for your reply. Our supplier has said that they will have to monitor usage until March before they can decide on what should be done. I suppose this is not unreasonable.

macman

Invariably in these cases the customer come out ahead when consumption is estimated.

dogshome

A meter going on the blink is not your fault and nor is it the suppliers.

However, though the supplier still needs paying for the gas you've used, recording the new meters readings from now until March is not a big enough base to issue estimated bills for any period longer than January to March.

This problem has existed for at least a year and therefore you will be asked to pay Estimated billing covering at least 12 months - You should indeed pay these bills, but when they are presented, WRITE to your supplier saying that you require the charges on the Estimated bills to be re-visited, and re-calculated if required, after one full year has elapsed and you 'true' annual consumption as recorded by the new meter, is known.

You should ask for WRITTEN confrmation that this arrangement is accepted by your supplier and say you will refuse to pay the Estimated bills until the confirmation is recieved

HappyMJ

Over the next few months you should try and be as economic with the heating as you can. Use too much this year and you will pay over the odds. Use as little as possible and the estimated charge for last year will also be very low.