Electric meter key - extortionate!!

skattykatty

Recently moved into property as tenants. It's electric only, with a key for paying. Over the past, first, month of our tenancy we have only been in the property for about 18 days and we seem to be using £5 a day electricity. It seems extortionate. We've never had a key before. Always paid our bills and switched between suppliers if not happy. Can we do the same with the key system? The supplier is EDF. Is changing tariff, from whatever it currently is, feasible? Any thoughts/advice welcome. Thanks.

torbrex

Key meters are by their nature more expensive but just to check, was there any debt left on the meter from the previous tenant? did you inform EDF that you were new when you phoned them to give readings and did they send you out a new key?

skattykatty

No debt from previous tenants.
Agents told us they were arranging the transfer, but heard nothing since. We need to go chat with the agents tomorrow and sort this out and see about getting a standard meter fitted.

WantToBeSE

That is ridiculously expensive.

I am on a key meter for gas and elec and put £40 a month on each and am always in credit. I was with EDF until recently too.

I would call them and ask for the meter to be checked- their customer service was always great.

torbrex

Some power companies require you to be with them for 6 months before they will switch meters, if you have settled bills from a previous address they may take that as proof of reliability.

You had also better check with the agent if you are allowed to switch.

Cardew

skattykatty wrote: »

Recently moved into property as tenants. It's electric only, with a key for paying. Over the past, first, month of our tenancy we have only been in the property for about 18 days and we seem to be using £5 a day electricity. It seems extortionate. We've never had a key before. Always paid our bills and switched between suppliers if not happy. Can we do the same with the key system? The supplier is EDF. Is changing tariff, from whatever it currently is, feasible? Any thoughts/advice welcome. Thanks.

Whilst a prepay meter tariff is more expensive, people tend to exaggerate just how much more expensive.


You don't say the size and insulation properties of the property, the number of occupants and the type of heating.


By definition on a pre-pay meter you pay for what you use immediately with no opportunity to spread the cost over a year by paying by Direct Debit.


Actually £5 a day(£150 a month) would not be out of line with the bills for many all-electric properties for a Feb/March month.

G_M

Speak to EDF about switching the meter. The contract is between you and EDF, not you and the landlord.

However, you must leave the property as you found it at the end of the tenancy so if the LL wants the key meter reinstated and there's a charge for this, you might have to pay.

xHannahx

We have key meter. We are with ecotricity, their tariff is the same for all customers including key meters making them one of the cheapest for key meters.

pinkladyvenus

another vote for ecotricity. We are on a key meter and changed from sse we have already seen a saving, also there economy 7 has more practical times bst 1.30am on 8.30 am off winter 12.30am on 7.30am off

macman

It's got nothing to do with the agent. Your tenancy, your account, your bill. Call EDF, register for an account, get your own key, you can then commence a switch if you wish.
Cardew is correct. £35 a week is not hugely expensive in the heating season, especially if you are on a single rate tariff rather than E7-you don't say which. If you have come from a property with dual fuel or E7 then you can expect the energy bills to be 250-300% more on single rate.
You say you are 'not happy', but surely you knew the metering system and heating system before you took on the tenancy?
Since PPM's charge the same as Standard Variable, you'll save maybe 7-9% with a credit meter on the cheapest tariff. So your issue is likely to be the cost of an all-electric house, not the cost of a PPM.