How to change from a business meter to domestic?

lucy345_2

I am a new tenant and I am trying to switch to my own supplier.
The new supplier checked the National Database and told me that the electricity meter has business meter profile and I should contact the current supplier to change it.
I contacted them and they are mentioning changing the meter and charge for it.
Do they really need to change it or can it be only updated on the National Database?
Thank you very much in advance for your advices.

dogshome

Need more detail
Is your rented dwelling in a building that also contains business's ?
Are you certain that your meter only supplies your flat ?
Is your meter within your flat, or is it in another partof the building ?

chanz4

I also wonder if its 3 phase, that's been split

lucy345_2

The meter is in a room at the entry of the building and it is a separate meter for the flat. I don't know if other flats are doing business.

dogshome

So it seems that the entire building which had previously been commercial premises has been converted into domestic flats, each of which has it's own meter.

It's possible on a recent conversion, that the original Business Energy supplier still supplies the power - Despite the fact that Business Energy suppliers are not allowed to sell to Domestic dwellings - This is something the Landlord/Developer should have sorted out

WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR PRESENT SUPPLIER ?

You mention your preferred supplier checking with the National Data base.
It's only Gas meters that have a National Data base - Electricity Meters have a Regional Data base.
I'd advise that you Google "Who supplies my Electricity" for the phone number
which will tell you who they have registered as your current supplier

lucy345_2

Thank you for your reply dogshome. The present supplier says they know it has business profile but they charge at domestic rate.

lucy345_2

Are business and domestic meters physically different? Can they be used instead of each other only by changing the data base?

lucy345_2

I just had a look at it again, it is a singe rate meter.

Mrs_Arcanum

Seems a bit odd. We deal with many hundreds of different addresses for billing purposes. The worst company is Total which only supplies businesses. We have managed to get the right VAT charged which is 5% but the supply agreements taken up by companies we have taken over the property management from seem to be locked in to the remainder of the contract. Other big issue is because they are not a domestic supplier the rules over 1 year billing errors seem not to apply.

Very important to find out when the contract expires and be very clear you are not committing or agreeing to any contract from the current supplier.

This really is an issue to take up with the managing agents of the flats.

lucy345_2

I have to add that the current supplier is biling as domestic user although its profile is business.

Mrs_Arcanum

lucy345 wrote: »

I have to add that the current supplier is biling as domestic user although its profile is business.

If they are billing as a domestic supplier then there should be no issue over switching.

You really do need to say which company is currently supplying in order to get the best advice.