Electricity meter reading confusion!

Dreamscometrue

Howdy,
I recently switched from NPower to Ovo and realised there was an issue with the electric readings when I got Ovo's first bill. I've just gone through NPower's old readings to see if they were correct and now I'm wondering what's happenned.
NPower's readings were:
18/2/12 Cust reading 54642
1/3/12 Actual 54718
20/8/12 Cust reading 57749
4/12/12 Actual 59646

Ovo's readings are:
4/12/12 Estimated 59646
24/1/13 My reading 56740
3/2/13 My reading 56818

I called Ovo on Jan 24th asking them to look into it and they told me that it would be investigated independently but I haven't heard anything yet. I didn't give them all of NPower's figures as I've only just looked at them. I'm wondering whether I gave them an incorrect reading on August 20th, well, I must have done! I was away from home for 60 hours a week with only the fridge, freezer and fish tank running whilst out! The NPower reading for December 4th says actual at 59646 but I've just read the meter again today and it's only 56818! Perhaps the figure for December 4th should say estimated? Confused!
The final bill from NPower was enormous so I hope someone rectifies this issue soon.

victor2

It does all seem to hinge on that final reading for nPower, which from what you say can't have been an actual reading, possibly an estimate based on your previous (incorrect) one.
Doesn't look good as you have left nPower and the final bill has been produced. Ovo can't be expected to supply you for nothing, just because your starting reading was incorrect. It may be that correctly says estimated because that's what nPower did and passed on to Ovo.
Perhaps somebody who understands the business better can advise if it's possible to effective re-align the contracts with a more realistic reading?

Dreamscometrue

Ovo told me that they would continue to take direct debits as normal whilst this is being investigated (a whopping £145 p/m for dual fuel). My account is currently showing as £118 in credit. I believe that they will give me 3% interest for a credit balance.

Wywth

Dreamscometrue wrote: »

20/8/12 Cust reading 57749
4/12/12 Actual 59646

24/1/13 My reading 56740
3/2/13 My reading 56818

Are you sure your readings are correct?
Your figures do not appear to align with either an official meter readers or a customers (yours? or a previous account holder?) previous reading?

What type of meter do you have. Is it one with a numerical/digital output, or one of the older style with all those different dials?

The older ones are very easy to mis-read.
Otherwise, there could be an issue with your meter itself.

I think it is correct that the supplier should investigate.

As your monthly payment will be based on either what you said your annual consumption would likely be or histrorical usage (depending on how long you have been with your current supplier) then it is correct that they continue to charge you this monthly amount until they get to the bottom of this issue.

Yes, Ovo credit customers accounts monthly with interest at 3% per annum on credit amounts. (this is actually applied before VAT so is effectively 3.15%p.a. and is totally tax free )

If your latest meter readings are in fact correct, (and the meter is ok) then it looks like you could be due a large refund from nPower (at least £300 I would say) :beer:

Dreamscometrue

I have an older style meter with the dials even though the house was only built in 1995. I believe this years figures to be correct as I triple-checked after the confusion. I guess I cocked up the August reading somehow. I was probably half asleep at the time as back then I was working horrendous shifts. I'm presuming that NPower estimated the final figure but I'd assumed that someone would always come round to check this actual figure in order to produce the final bill. Maybe not?

Wywth

Dreamscometrue wrote: »

I have an older style meter with the dials even though the house was only built in 1995. I believe this years figures to be correct as I triple-checked after the confusion. I guess I cocked up the August reading somehow. I was probably half asleep at the time as back then I was working horrendous shifts. I'm presuming that NPower estimated the final figure but I'd assumed that someone would always come round to check this actual figure in order to produce the final bill. Maybe not?

When you change supplier, the old supplier gets their final reading from the new supplier.

The new supplier usually either has to be provided with a meter reading by you, or sometimes they come and read it themselves but they can't really estimate it.

Did you not supply the start meter readings to Ovo? I know I was asked to when I moved to them.
(The fact yours is shown as estimated, suggests you ignored their requests )

Dreamscometrue

Yes I did supply Ovo with the reading as soon as they requested it at the beginning of December. They asked me whether I had when I called them on the 24th. I said "Yes, I think that I did" and the lady then confirmed that I had as she could see it on her screen. I don't have the figures that I supplied and I can't see them when logging onto my Ovo account.

Dreamscometrue

The Ovo gas reading says actual for December 4th but electricity says estimated for the opening reading of December 4th. I always take both gas & electricity readings at the same time and know that both were given.

[Deleted User]

Dreamscometrue wrote: »

I have an older style meter with the dials even though the house was only built in 1995. I believe this years figures to be correct as I triple-checked after the confusion. I guess I cocked up the August reading somehow. I was probably half asleep at the time as back then I was working horrendous shifts. I'm presuming that NPower estimated the final figure but I'd assumed that someone would always come round to check this actual figure in order to produce the final bill. Maybe not?

I have had many people say they know how to read dial meters properly and they ve been miles out, when the pointers align with borders is the danger period, the dial to the right of the border dial will indicate the correct number

Dreamscometrue

sacsquacco wrote: »

I have had many people say they know how to read dial meters properly and they ve been miles out, when the pointers align with borders is the danger period, the dial to the right of the border dial will indicate the correct number

I'm sure that you're right but nonetheless there is a huge difference between 59646 and 56740 so even if I've cocked up the readings again surely I can't have got it that wrong! I have been checking the dial to the right when the dial looks borderline, i.e. if the dial is hovering between 1 & 2 but the dial on the right reads 9 note down 1 but if the dial to the right reads 1 then note down 2.

Dreamscometrue

Ovo have just given me an update. The case has been passed to the team for investigation. I asked them if they had the electricity figure I gave them just before the switch took place. It was 56360.