Energy Company Rip Off

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

EdwardB wrote: »

I was reliably informed that the ombudsman's decision is final and that if they did not find in my favour that was the end of it.

Does anyone have any experience of what they are like, do they just serve the industry or the consumer?

You were informed incorrectly.

You can sue any person, company or institution to court. For whatever reason. Having previously used the ombudsman has no bearing; if anything it's a positive as in the law of tort the claimant is expected to mitigate their losses. If you wish to appeal (on a point of law, not of fact) you can theoretically persist with your claim as far as the ECoJ.

When I worked in the energy industry cases that went to the Ombudsman were generally settled in the customers favour. However it's worth pointing out that in my experience the vast majority of customer complaints the customers were in the wrong and didn't understand some basic principles which they'd have understood if they'd read their contract. IMHO the Ombudsman favours the customer as a general rule.

In any case, trying to second guess what your experience will be is folly - your case will be materially different to those that went before it and the Ombudsman do (yes, really!) consider each one on its merits.

EdwardB

Cardew wrote: »

I am not sure I understand the situation. What I have gathered:

You are on Economy 7 and you say:



I understand that 71% corresponds to the 17 hours in 24 hours at peak rate.

1. Are you saying that you never got any cheap rate electricity for 7 hours?

2. Instead of the timer switching power to immersion heater and storage heaters for 7 hours, did it supply power to immersion heaters and storage heaters 24/7 and this was at peak rate?

3. In your house does all electricity go to off-peak rate for 7 hours or only the power to immersion heaters and storage heaters?

Sorry, yes it is Economy 7 and yes the 71% equates to the 17 hours during the day when the heating would not usually be on.

The fault in the timer caused it to power heating and hot water 24/7.

However, it was not only the timer because the readings were erratic, with even night readings going through the roof for no apprarent reason. There are simply not the devices that could use as much electricity.

That is why I say that their readings cannot be relied upon.

During this period I was not at home during the day, I had no TV or Computer, the only thing that was powered was the fridge which I have tested and uses less than one unit around every three days and the telephone, which is also nominal.

I was told that the energy company has a duty of care to have accurate recording equipment and that when they are found to have failed this they have in come cases been forced to credit 100% of the bill.

Others suggested that I should not have to pay the standing charge as it relates to the equipment they are supposed to maintain in good working order. They also said that I should not have to pay a guessed rate or some average rate. They said that as the company is a fault and I have years of readings that it would be reasonable to use the lowest rates recorded for this property. Even if this was slight lower than my usage it would be fair because it is the company that messed up.

I think that is reasonable, but of course is there is a rule that says they have to credit 100% I would like to know about it.

I see that OFGEM does not get involved in single cases so I am wondering if there is some rule somewhere or was it the ombudsman?

EdwardB

sheffield_lad wrote: »

Fair enough but I have never come across a meter which has been fixed onsite. They are calibrated instruments and generally the only way's to confirm a faulty meter is to piggy back with an accurate meter or run a basic load test and record the results.


GL

Yes that Piggy Backing of an accuracy meter is what they promised but I saw the guy inside the meter and he put a new anti tamper seal on it.

I have worked with electronic equipment myself and have seen surges which is what I think happened here.

I wanted the accuracy meter fitted with the faulty equipment IN SITU so we could determine the impact of it. They promised to do that but then declined once they found the faulty timer. They then said another engineer would come fix it (which took a month) and that he would fit an accuracy meter. He did not either.

EdwardB

Thanks Bluebirdman of Alcathays that is really useful. I have been very stressed by this and spent a huge amount of time trying to make sense of it.

I think the Energy Company are only interested in one thing, minimising their losses.

Cardew

EdwardB wrote: »

Sorry, yes it is Economy 7 and yes the 71% equates to the 17 hours during the day when the heating would not usually be on.

The fault in the timer caused it to power heating and hot water 24/7.

Just a point.


Your immersion heater and storage heating will not be taking power 24/7.They have thermostats/cut outs.


i.e. If your immersion heater would normally take, say, 6kWh in the 7 hours off-peak period, you cannot extrapolate that rate of consumption and assume it will consume the same amount over 24 hours; even if power was supplied to the heater.

EdwardB

No I gather that but it heats up the water all day as it gets cold, it was still substantially more than it should have been.

I do not think they can just pluck a number out of the air and decide that is what they are going to charge.

Nor should my usage be based on averages, my usage would have been very low IF their equipment had worked.