Standing Charge on Unoccupied Property

Vetyver

I am completing on a property this Friday that is currently served by a "exotic meter"(??). Because of this "exotic meter", I can't get anyone to register my tenancy and switch my account, until 15 weeks' time. Meanwhile, the flat will be empty and unoccupied while major renovation takes place, but I'll need to pay a standing charge until they can sort it out. Is this unavoidable?

(Sorry if I'm being dense. I'm an FTB; zero experience with energy companies )

insanegloss

In a word, yes, it's unavoidable everyone pays the standing charge regardless of a property is occupied or not.

Nada666

Is the renovation really going to rely solely on petrol-driven generators? Not a single light bulb or pot of tea?

[Deleted User]

By "exotic meter " do you mean something like an Eco 7 two rate meter, or EDFs 20/20 meter ?. It may be better to bite the bullet and pay the supplier to switch you to a standard single rate electric meter. costs maybe something like £80

Vetyver

Nada666 wrote: »

Is the renovation really going to rely solely on petrol-driven generators? Not a single light bulb or pot of tea?

No, but seeing as renovation can't start for a few weeks until the builders are ready, it will literally just be sitting empty. But now I understand that standing charge is applicable to everyone, so that's OK; just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

sacsquacco wrote: »

By "exotic meter " do you mean something like an Eco 7 two rate meter, or EDFs 20/20 meter ?. It may be better to bite the bullet and pay the supplier to switch you to a standard single rate electric meter. costs maybe something like £80

It must be the two-rate one (there are two meters in the box, one is hooked up to a timer and the other isn't)...

macman

Major renovations? If you are installing gas CH and DHW, then you may want to consider switching to a single rate meter, rather than E7.

[Deleted User]

it sounds like a eco 7 meter. You need to be using approx 30% of your total at the cheap night rate to make it pay. It sounds like like your cheap rate is hooked up to an analogue timer. If the time on that is not correct you may be getting your cheap 7 hours at an advantageous time to make best use of the half price electric. You will have to monitor the switchover times yourself to find out the cheap 7 hours . Green Energy do a no standing charge on electric , not sure if they support eco 7

undaunted

Have you entered into a contract with anyone?

It seems to me that if not & you haven't used any energy then there surely can't be a deemed contract so how can there be a standing charge if they don't have a contract?

This is a grey area however (which Ofegem are apparently considering at present) so here are some other people / firms views

http://www.nabarro.com/Downloads/Real-Estate-update-September-2010.pdf

http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/ofgem-standing-charge-call-for-evidence-%E2%80%98misses-the-point%E2%80%99/981682

If your supplier will not be reasonable have you considered a switch to a no standing charge tarrif / supplier in addition to comments on the meter change?