How long is an Energy Supplier charging period?

Sandybanks

Just had the latest Bill from Scottish Power and the "Quarter" is 106 days long since the last bill. Both this bill and the last were automatically generated by SP. I remember asking by email after the last bill when I should submit the next readings and reply came back that they could not say when the next bill would be due.
It surely cannot be a random thing and they must know in advance when they are sending the next bill out?
Ive looked on the bill and there is all sorts of information but it does not tell you when the next bill is due or when to submit your readings.
It would maybe save them a fortune in all the re issued bills if they did!
Does anyone know of any regulations on quarter length?

sheffield_lad

I know of no regulations over how long or short a quarter can be.

Unless your an old biddy why not set up an online DD account? Save you money via been on a better tariff & no quarterly hassle?

You can even stay with the same Co just give them a call and tell them to stick you on the online version which should at least save you £100-£150 with DD discount.

GL

[Deleted User]

I think the quarterly billing period is 91 days,it is on electric prepay meters

Sandybanks

sacsquacco wrote: »

I think the billing period is 91 days

Perhaps we could ask the Scottish Power rep to give the official view on the length of a charging quarter?

spiro

Charging periods can vary if the supplier has requested the meter reader to read the meter that quarter because the bill is issued when either the reading is received or the read window closes. There is no legal right to a bill exactly every 3 months.

As others have said get yourself on a DD tariff, save some money and stop having to worry about when the bill will arrive.

Sandybanks

spiro wrote: »

the read window closes.

What is a read window?

[Deleted User]

Sandybanks wrote: »

What is a read window?

read window is the ammount of time given to generate a bill, usually 2 weeks on cyclic quarterly billing. at the end of the read window it will go to an estimate if no reading obtained from customer or meter readers

Sandybanks

So that would be from day 77 onwards (91-14=77) if I understand correctly. If im waiting to submit a reading on day 90 and a Meter reader pops round and reads the meter on day 78 I will get a bill for a short quarter. The meter is readable from the outside of the building so the only way we know it has been read is if the Meter Reader forgets to lock the door on the box and it flaps about in the breeze!

Scottish_Power

Hi Sandybanks we will issue a bill at any time over the reading window once the read is received. So yes this could mean a short bill or a long bill. In practice I don't think I've ever seen a bill shorter than 80 days by the time we get the reading back and issue the bill. If you're not already on Monthly Direct Debit, I suggest we could save you money. Please e-mail your details to [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] referencing this thread and we will check for you. Thanks David