Problem switching gas & electric to first utility

magpieman

I have tried to switch my electric and gas from Npower to First Utility via the Cheap Energy Club on this site, I filled in all my details and I have had an email from First Utility saying they can't supply me with energy on the cheapest tariff because I have the wrong sort of meter.

As far as I know my meters are just the normal sort, nothing unusual about them, I had no trouble changing from Eon to Npower when I moved in this house 3 years ago.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know what they mean by the wrong sort of meter?

I have emailed them but so far no response.

macman

Do you have an E7 (dual register) electricity meter, yet are seeking a single rate tariff? If so, many suppliers will not total the 2 registers, but require a new single rate meter. Some charge for this, some do not.
Or possibly you have an E10 meter?More info needed.
There is only one type of gas meter, so this should not be an issue.
However, I'd consider that it's done you a favour if it prevents you falling into the clutches of the aptly named FU...

magpieman

Thanks for your reply, how do I find out what sort of meter it is? It's says it's single rate.

lstar337

Sounds like FU are starting early by cocking things up before you are even a customer.

You could link to a piccy of your meter and somebody here can double check that it isn't something special.

macman

magpieman wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, how do I find out what sort of meter it is? It's says it's single rate.

Can you expand on that please? A modern E7 meter has a single display, but you can scroll through the display to get the day/night registers.
Does the property have any E7 equipment, e.g. storage heaters?
What is your current tariff, i.e. any E7 or E10 mention?

magpieman

macman wrote: »

Can you expand on that please? A modern E7 meter has a single display, but you can scroll through the display to get the day/night registers.
Does the property have any E7 equipment, e.g. storage heaters?
What is your current tariff, i.e. any E7 or E10 mention?

Ah so E7 is Economy 7? No it's definitely not Economy 7, it was when we moved in but we had it changed, it's just a normal tariff no mention of E10 either.

matelodave

That's possibly your problem then - whoever changed the meter from E7 to standard tariff probably hasn't updated the central records so FU can't identify your meter properly.
I'm not sure what you can do about it, perhaps someone more knowledgeable could advise you how to sort it out or tell you how to identify what you've got on the central record.

magpieman

matelodave wrote: »

That's possibly your problem then - whoever changed the meter from E7 to standard tariff probably hasn't updated the central records so FU can't identify your meter properly.
I'm not sure what you can do about it, perhaps someone more knowledgeable could advise you how to sort it out or tell you how to identify what you've got on the central record.

It's certainly looking that way, thanks your help everyone.

macman

What exactly did you have changed? You presumably removed NSH's and installed gas CH and DHW, but did you get the old E7 meter changed to a single rater meter as well? If not, that is the issue-FU will only offer you an E7 tariff.

magpieman

macman wrote: »

What exactly did you have changed? You presumably removed NSH's and installed gas CH and DHW, but did you get the old E7 meter changed to a single rater meter as well? If not, that is the issue-FU will only offer you an E7 tariff.

I didn't change anything regarding CH, the previous occupants were on E7 but I can't for the life of me understand why! They had gas central heating, no storage heaters etc., I just switched to Npower and told them I wanted a normal tariff and they came and changed the meter.

pooch

magpieman wrote: »

I have tried to switch my electric and gas from Npower to First Utility via the Cheap Energy Club on this site, I filled in all my details and I have had an email from First Utility saying they can't supply me with energy on the cheapest tariff because I have the wrong sort of meter.

As far as I know my meters are just the normal sort, nothing unusual about them, I had no trouble changing from Eon to Npower when I moved in this house 3 years ago.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know what they mean by the wrong sort of meter?

I have emailed them but so far no response.

When did you email them?

Have they responded yet?

We can only guess what is meant by having "the wrong sort of meter", and you may deny it (rightly or wrongly) anyway.

If you are still waiting for a response, why not give them a call and ask them to explain it to you