British Gas meter mystery

Gingerman_2

I recently noticed that our electricity meter was 'going in reverse' and a couple of times this year I have submitted readings which were 'less' than previous month. I reported this to BG and they said 'oh yes this happens if you have Solar PV cells fitted' shall we change the meter. The PV cells pre-date BG becoming our supplier and we don't appear to have any issues until this year. They have fitted a new digital meter starting at zero, but now BG say they will have to estimate what our electricity consumption REALLY was! Surely it is their meter and any issues re functionality are their issues. Can they really retrospectively attempt to estimate my consumption in spite of what readings say. And a veiled threat was made when the customer service person said if the meter reading is less that the previous month 'then it must have gone arounf the clock and could mean we owe thousands...' a little unprofessional or heavy handed? Appreciate views or advice.

Air_Cooled_75

I had this issue when we had our panels put it. I wish I hadn't said anything however we are still on a dual tariff (not sure why as we aren't on economy 7 or anything). They came out really quickly to put a new meter in (when I was roasting a chicken actually, no notice)

Not much help but we were always with BG so haven't had any of their threats. I'd tell them to do one. What they haven't liked is due to not using the tumble dryer so often and restricting things like the water going on we've really reduced our leccy bills, so much so that they've come out to read the meter quarter for the past year...

Martyn1981

Hiya Gingerman and welcome to MSE.

This is going to get tricky, there is some info in the PV FAQ's section 4:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3872445

Technically they can try to get you to pay for units consumed, then 'wiped' off by your backwards spinny, but how will they estimate this since you've changed supplier. Even comparing to before PV won't work as your new import will be lower than before, and will vary by month and weather.

Also, was it a freely backwards spinning meter, or like many, wouldn't go backwards passed zero (I think) in the units column? So start the morning on 55551 export 9 units and only 1 will be removed from the meter closing on 55550, but start on 55559 and you'd wipe off 9 units.

Also the meters have to be fit for purpose, and that includes functioning with micro-generation, however, in fairness to the leccy companies you do need to notify them if it's going backwards so that they can resolve the issue.

There are so many factors that many companies just change the meter and let it go, but that doesn't mean they have too. They can try to get some dosh off you, so negotiate and point out all the problems, asking them if they know for certain what you should have paid ....... I bet they don't know, and can't work it out.

Best of luck.

Mart.

Gingerman_2

Thanks - yes, considering I informed them that I was concerned you might hope that they would say thanks and move on. I will keep you posted when they come back with their final reading 'proposal'.

bris

Pretty simple really, they can look at you consumption over time, apply an average and they would have a pretty good chance to get an accurate figure.

Martyn1981

bris wrote: »

Pretty simple really, they can look at you consumption over time, apply an average and they would have a pretty good chance to get an accurate figure.

Try it! Start with the fact that there is now no record of consumption, the meter reading (before replacement) is now a nett of import, generation and export.

Remember that consumption of generated units will act inversely to export and backwards meter. The more you generate and less you use, the more the meter goes backwards, the less you generate or more (of generation) you consume the less it goes backwards.

They can't look at consumption prior to PV as that will have little bearing on post PV consumption.

The only measure left would be to look at import now (going forwards) and after a suitable time period, perhaps 1 year to take into account varying seasonal generation, then try to analyse the past period ....... but what if you claim practices have changed, more (or less efficient goods) different generation etc etc.

You might be better at working this out than I, but I bet it will be anything but simple!

Mart.

bris

Of course they can, PV consumption is just another factor which will average out. No one is saying it's got to be exact but the maths will give an average over time, this can be used to generate a bill.

Martyn1981

bris wrote: »

Of course they can, PV consumption is just another factor which will average out. No one is saying it's got to be exact but the maths will give an average over time, this can be used to generate a bill.

But you still haven't explained how a bill can be generated.

You first mentioned consumption over time, but the pre-PV consumption is of no use, and the post install meter reading is of no value as it's a nett of multiple factors that conflict with each other.

Next you mention PV consumption, but this is also an unknown, how do you know how much generation is consumed? For a regular meter, over a year you could compare pre PV to post PV, but this information is not available in this case, so PV consumption is unknown.

If you generate 1kWh and use it instead of importing, then the meter doesn't move, and this is fine and should not be charged for, but if you don't use it and it gets exported, then it winds the meter backwards, for which you should be charged. But how do you know which happened?

Other than my suggestion of monitoring consumption forward, to bill backwards (something that would take a year and be very unlikely), how would you be able to calculate this ...... simply?

Try this test. Pre PV household uses 5,000kWh per year. The PV system generates 4,000kWh during the following year. They have a backwards spinning meter (free spinning all units) and the meter 'only' clocks up 1,000kWh for the 'PV year'.

How many of those 4,000kWh of generation were consumed on site (reducing import)? How many were exported (reducing meter)?

If that's not tricky enough, now what if consumption was only 500kWh due to improvements in efficiency of kit (lighting, fridge/freezer telly etc) and better awareness of electrical wastage due to increased general leccy awareness following PV install. What should the import meter reading now be?

Mart.