unsure how to read my meter?

snowfairy84

hi everyone,
i have a couple of issues and could do with some help.
i'm with spark energy and live in a small 2 bed cottage that is electric only - we have no central heating or storage heatings etc.

when we moved in 6 months ago we set up our account with spark and gave them the meter readings (which the agency took also) and commited to a direct debit of £60 per month.

fast forward to early jan we phoned to give a meter update to be told we owe £750!! i created an online account to view our bill and discovered they had actually taken estimated readings from the meter from when we moved in instead of the actual ones we had given in july 2012!! they agreed to get confirmation of the readings from the agent from when we moved in and adjust the bill accordingly as they have our electric usage as over 10,000kwh for a 6 month period when we have in fact used about 2,000!!

over a week has gone by and we have heard nothing and the bill hasn't been adjusted!

also i have been trying to get to grips with our meter and although on our bill we have a 'day' rate and a 'night' rate i understand spark don't do an economy 7 tariff yet i think that is what we are on.
furthermore our night usage is a lot more that our day usage. e.g we used 8kw's in the day and 158 kw at night but i thought night rate would be midnight until 8am !! the time we r in bed before work!! could i meter be messed up?

dogshome

" I am with Spark Energy" - It's only a guess but were Spark Energy suppliers to the cottage when you moved in and you 'inherited' them, or is there a clause in your lease that says you must accept Spark as your supplier.

Sparks main marketing platform is to pay a 'bung' to Landlord/Letting Agents, so that a clause is included in the Lease that says the tenant must accept Spark as their Utility Supplier - The problem is that Sparks tariff to these 'tied' tenants is quite expensive

Whoever advised you that Spark don't accept ECO7 metering, was incorrect as they most certainly do - Only 10 days I was in a post exchange with a Spark customer on ECO7, comparing the rates they were charged as 'tied' tenants and the far *cheaper rates Spark charged to customers who were free to choose their supplier, (* 24% less on the Day rate and 41% less on the Night rate), so get back on to Spark to demand they charge an ECO7 tariff for your ECO7 meter

So far as involving your Letting Agent in the meter read problem - DON'T - It was this outfit who involved you with Spark for a few bob in a back pocket, they are not on your side, only their own

To sort the meter problem, WRITE to Spark heading the letter Complaint, insisting that they accept your opening meter readings, and if they counter with different readings from the Letting Agent, point out that the L/Agents are an interested party on their behalf, whom they paid to have Spark writteninto the lease agreement

The word Complaint in writing is a 'magic' switch in the Utilility industry, as it puts the supplier on notice under the terms on their licence to operate, that they must resolve the problem in 56 days, and if they don't, you go straight to the Ombudsman

[Deleted User]

The day, night , readings seem to be mixed up. I assume you have a digital meter which will prob show rate 1, and 2 and "T " for total. See which register advances in the daytime hours approx 7.30 am to 12.30 am. The cheap rate hours are usually around the 12.30 am to 7.30 am . but can vary

jdeeuk

Perform a load test.
Step 1: Take reads from both registers and timestamp it...do this about 09:00
Step 2: Fill electric kettle to max fill line and boil. Do this about 4 times letting kettle cool of its own accord in between.
Step 3: Take reads again and timestamp.

Doing this will show one of the registers advancing. (this is your day rate)

If you are using more during day than at night ask your supplier to either change meter or bill to single rate (if their systems allow it (Sap allows it so companies with SAP can bill you at domestic single rate)

PS if both registers advance you got a big problem.