Changing supplier, what happens on switch date?

Nada666

benwarwick123 wrote: »

if you can take a picture of your meter readings on the day of switch, because british gas tried to overcharge me by £50 about 30 more kwh even though I gave meter readings to both parties. British gas basically called my a liar and I had great satisfaction sending the picrure of my meter to them, Even gave me £50 compensation for the trouble.

£1.67 for a kWh of gas? Yikes.

EnergyInside

Hengus wrote: »

The process of switching is undeniably convoluted as customer meter readings have to be adjudicated on by the Metering Authority. For example, a customer works out that he will be 'x' pence per unit better off by switching so he provides a meter reading which is a few 00s of KWhs less than what is stated on the actual meter. The Metering Authority notes the discrepancy (error); it then adjusts the reading and passes it on to the old and the new suppliers. Both have to agree. If they disagree, an appeal is made and so on. Bring in an IGT for gas and the switching process becomes even more convoluted. Patience is a factor here. My start date with OVO was 14 April but it took until Jun to get an accurate gas statement. I then had to check back to my final statement with EDF to find that the latter had quote manually unquote done their own thing in producing final meter readings. This took a further couple of weeks to resolve. Smart meters - whether you are for them or not - will simplify the switching process.

The key thing here is that the meter readings do not have to agree with what a customer sends in - the opening and closing meter readings just have to be the same. The difference in cost to the customer if they are slightly out is likely to be minimal.

Excellent description from Hengus. If you aren't an energy insider I'm very impressed by your understanding of the process.

I would add that the majority of issues arising from the change of supply process are incorrect estimated readings. These are called Deemed readings for electric and Gas Estimates for gas. These estimates are based on calculations using previous actual meter readings (ones provided by customer or meter reader) and can often turn out to be inaccurate (if you are lucky by just a few units, if not by thousands of units). The only way to get these readings amended is to raise a "SAR", Shipper Agreed Read process with either old/new supplier. This can take 4-6 weeks (often longer) and is a real hassle.

If there is one piece of advice I could tell everyone, it is to take regular (once a month is sufficient) meter readings.

When you are changing supply ALWAYS provide your new supplier with a start reading when they request it, or ask them why they aren't asking for one. If they don't have an opening read they will estimate it and it will cause issues for you down the line.

System

EnergyInside wrote: »

Excellent description from Hengus. If you aren't an energy insider I'm very impressed by your understanding of the process.

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No I am not an energy insider but I do have some experience of changing suppliers having moved home 23 times in 40 years. In fairness to EDF who managed to produce 'manual' (their word not mine) final readings when I switched away from them earlier this year, they did produce a detailed explanation of what should have happened but didn't. They also went onto explain that they should have disputed the readings given to them but that they failed to do so. It was resolved eventually but it really shouldn't be such a difficult process to get opening and final meter readings to match.