Help -completely baffled by NPower and our meters!

thestens

We moved into this house on 1st April (yes, I know - but it was after lunch!) and phoned in the final readings left by the previous owners to NPower. We planned to leave NPower and transfer to Ovo, but got an e mail from them stating as we had 2 meters we would have to pay 2 standing charges. We actually have 3 meters in the house.
On talking to NPower they said we were only paying one standing charge with them - this actually is wrong, we now find.
In June we received a bill from NPower,which I paid on line. Stupidly, I didn't look at it carefully. When I did have a good look, it said we had used no units but the bill was £96! It seems like the bill was taken using an estimate from a meter which doesn't seem to move at all!! We rang NPower to try and get some sense over all this, have rung several times, referred to "back office", no progress. Now have another estimated bill for £136, from 6.6 to 29.7, which is ridiculous as all we use electricity for is water heating. Looking at the latest bill, it looks like we have 2 meters they are charging us for, one is just a standing charge, number S83L02688 and the other is the charge of £136, number D03L21160. Why would we have 2 meters and why is NPower charging us so much? What can we do? we have asked them to come and read the meter and also given them actual readings, seemingly to no avail!!

lstar337

How come all you use electricity for is water heating?

thestens

Actually lights as well! But it still won't come to £136!!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

BoP will now chuck in. OP, did you buy a property that was previously 2 flats?
(PS I would not use electricity to boil my kettle!)

thestens

No it's a single house, 3 beds. We have underfloor heating in bathroom and kitchen, but haven't used it at all. Husband wondered if that was what one of the meters was for. We cook with bottled gas. Use TV about 2hrs a day and other stuff like washer, dishwasher but only moderate use as only 2 of us. Husband also says that NPower have been given accurate readings since getting first bill of £96 which was estimated but said we hadn't used anything!! How can we get them to sort it out? We have told them we aren't paying anything else until we are confident it is correct, but ....

macman

SC's accrue whether you use the supply or not.

lstar337

What started as 'just water heating' is now water heating + lights + TV + Washing machine + Dishwasher?

What about fridge or freezer?

Are you sure you are not just underestimating what you actually use?

JJ_Egan

<We have underfloor heating in bathroom and kitchen, but haven't used it at all >

I wonder if that is on a separate meter for some reason on the underfloor heating . As you have not used it the consumption is nil but standing charge is valid . Third meter gas i hope .
What did you buy are their no details on purchase or can you contact previous owner and clarify the two meters .

lstar337

Got any pictures?

Looking at the meters might offer some clues.

sheffield_lad

sounds to me that this is an off peak meter for under floor heating.


One meter supplies electricity for lights, sockets etc 2nd meter is for the under floor heating.

thestens

On close inspection there are two modern meters( digital display) and one old meter with wheel to show its working. This has used no KW and I assume should be able to be removed therefore saving a standing charge fee. The other two are included on the bill as one standing charge.
Re usage - what was meant by water heating was water heating on top of all other normal usage. £136 for little under 2 month seems a bit steep.