Ethical dilemma over Scottish Power incompetence

Hugo_Farquhar-Selfe

Hi all

Just received my first notification from Scottish Power for several months on the Online Fixed Price Energy September 2014 deal. Tried to analyse it, and although I'm a degree-qualified engineer with many years' experience in complex number analysis, I find it very difficult to work out whether I'm being charged correctly. Here are some thoughts:

1. I thought I'd signed up for a single tariff electricity deal but it turns out I'm being charged for separate day and night rates, just because the meter has separate readings. We don't use night storage heaters, so I think I'm being overcharged.

2. The tariff allows so many kWh per quarter for gas and electricity at a higher rate then a lower rate for use over these levels. I'm at a loss to identify the algorithm they apply to work out the break point between tariff rates, as the bills are not aligned to quarters. I think I'm being charged right but can't verify it.

3. The day and night electricity meter readings (labelled "normal" and "low" respectively) are being used the wrong way round, so I'm being charged lots on my night consumption (almost nothing) and much less on the day consumption (almost all). I clearly benefit from this, massively.

Item 3 outweighs all reasonable calculations of any overcharging from 1 and 2, so what is my legal and/or ethical duty to Scottish Power? What would it be if I was not so highly numerate and couldn't analyse the bills?

dogshome

Meter Chargeing
You have an ECO7 Day & Night rate meter, (apparently)
This is registered as such on the Regional Elec meter data bases - which means that when you moved to the property or switched supplier, the supplier had to charge you for the type of meter on the Data Base
Some suppliers will, at customer request, will charge the ECO7 meter as Standard meter rates, but this only a note on your account - It is much better if the meter is changed, for which some suppliers charge whilst others do it for free

Kwh split chargeingYou signed up a little while ago as Ofgem have now banned NSC, (NO STANDING CHARGE)tariffs, however those already in place are allowed to continue their term - The billing of Prime Units is so many a year, which are billed for how many days each bill covers

DAY/NIGHT rate chargeing
Take steps to firmly establish the correct readings for Day & Night rate - Read the meter at noon & 1am to establish which record is moving - If as you say it's the wrong way round at present, which with low Night use is in your favour, be aware that that eventually the supplier will catch on and send you a catch-up bill - However you can make claim under the 12 month billing agreement that they can only back-invoice you for the previous 12 months

sheffield_lad

This sounds easy to me. I would call them and explain,


1 Your reading are the wrong way around. (if you don't they will catch up one day).
2, tell them you want to have the e7 meter removed and a single rate meter installed (this is down to you), but worthwhile if you don't use storage heating.
3, fix on a tariff with a standing charge so no more high/low unit rates.


GL

Richie-from-the-Boro

Hugo_Farquhar-Selfe wrote: »

Hi all

Just received my first notification from Scottish Power for several months on the Online Fixed Price Energy September 2014 deal. Tried to analyse it, and although I'm a degree-qualified engineer with many years' experience in complex number analysis, I find it very difficult to work out whether I'm being charged correctly. Here are some thoughts:

1. I thought I'd signed up for a single tariff electricity deal but it turns out I'm being charged for separate day and night rates, just because the meter has separate readings. We don't use night storage heaters, so I think I'm being overcharged.

2. The tariff allows so many kWh per quarter for gas and electricity at a higher rate then a lower rate for use over these levels. I'm at a loss to identify the algorithm they apply to work out the break point between tariff rates, as the bills are not aligned to quarters. I think I'm being charged right but can't verify it.

3. The day and night electricity meter readings (labelled "normal" and "low" respectively) are being used the wrong way round, so I'm being charged lots on my night consumption (almost nothing) and much less on the day consumption (almost all). I clearly benefit from this, massively.

Item 3 outweighs all reasonable calculations of any overcharging from 1 and 2, so what is my legal and/or ethical duty to Scottish Power? What would it be if I was not so highly numerate and couldn't analyse the bills?

The Online Fixed Price Energy September 2014 expires on the 31 August, 2014 at which point you will be automatically rolled onto 'Standard' tariff prices, so you change tariff and meter or go onto the more expensive 'Standard' tariff.

As to the E7 or E10 tariff / meter you have SP won't have a clue what type of heating you have, and will care even less its none of their business. If you did not inform them that you wanted a different non-E7 / E10 meter and tariff then you are not being overcharged but are being charged correctly.

Your online account will show a two counter tariff as will your paper bill. The meter readfings you give SP each month will also show two counter readings - how can you not know what meter and tariff your are on my friend. Your starting point is to get onto a proper tariff for your needs, SP's Online Fixed Price Energy February 2015 [v3] is a reasonably price E7 tariff. Whether or not you should be on an E7 /E10 is your decision, if your heating and hot water is delivered via gas then you are probably best changing your meter for a single tariff.

Nada666

This is not a dilemma. You simply have a choice and a gamble. Be ethical or be a chancer. Where is the dilemma?