Energy companies deliberately using wrong meter readings?

ladycorley

Has anyone else experienced this? I recently switched energy supplier (EDF to Scottish Power). Neither company sent a meter reader. I supplied accurate meter readings to Scottish Power taken on the exact date of the switch. Scottish Power used a reading that was slightly lower than the one I gave and EDF used a reading slightly higher than the one I gave. Thus, both companies were making extra money out of me and I was paying for the same energy twice.


Obviously I complained and both companies eventually agreed to use the correct reading but I am suspicious that this could be standard practice to try to make extra money out of customers in the hope that they don't notice or can't be bothered to complain over such a small amount (it made a difference of about £7). I don't think it was a typo in either case because three digits were different, not just one (e.g. Scottish Power used 45882 instead of my reading of 45917).


If this is happening to lots of people then I think it needs exposing.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


From reports on here I don't think your situation(i.e. closing and opening meter readings differing) is happening a lot. If your suspicions that it could be 'standard practice' were correct, then it would be a clear case of conspiracy to defraud; a criminal offence that even the toothless Regulator Ofgem couldn't ignore.


There is often a situation where the 'losing' supplier challenges the meter reading* given to the 'gaining' supplier by the customer. Usually the two companies reach a compromise agreement, but the closing and opening meter readings should always be identical.


*There is a standard computer algorithm that estimates a reading on a certain date.

ladycorley

Fair enough, although I don't see why they would need to use an estimated reading when an accurate one was provided. Indeed, on the bill it appeared as 'actual', not 'estimated'. It is alarming that there seems to be no safeguard to ensure the two readings match - I wouldn't have minded them using an estimated reading if the other company had used the same one.


I guess you just have too keep an eye on these companies, as they don't appear to notice such discrepancies.

System

ladycorley wrote: »

Fair enough, although I don't see why they would need to use an estimated reading when an accurate one was provided. Indeed, on the bill it appeared as 'actual', not 'estimated'. It is alarming that there seems to be no safeguard to ensure the two readings match - I wouldn't have minded them using an estimated reading if the other company had used the same one.


I guess you just have too keep an eye on these companies, as they don't appear to notice such discrepancies.

The safeguard is the customer. That said, there is an 'allowable' difference in opening and closing readings. I have had situations where the difference has worked in my favour: i openly confess that I have said nothing about the few pence that I have gained. Conversely, when the error worked against me, a quick call was all that was needed to put matters right. The one good thing about smart meters (provided a common industry standard can be agreed) is that the days of customers submitting meter readings for switches will be gone.