Being Charged for Meter Change

Beancounter

We recently moved house to a property that has solar panels on the roof.

We took the opening meter readings on day 1 and called British Gas with these. I then put a supplier switch in motion, switching to OVO. On taking the meter reading when the switch happened it was clear the electicity meter was running backwards! We reported this to British Gas who informed us that we had actually already switched so it was down to our new supplier to change the meter.

I called OVO yesterday who have arranged a meter change but they are charging us £30 for this. Would this be correct? I am assuming that this meter fault didn't just start when we moved in and must have been happening for ages. Indeed, British Gas admitted to us that the meter should have been changed to a digital meter when the solar panels were installed.

Have we got a case to put to British Gas for compensation for the charge we are paying to OVO?

System

You are not the only one:

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/feed-in-tariffs-explained/meters-running-backwards/

SoletraderSteve

How did this not flag up with British Gas when you have them your opening meter readings? If had been happening before you took ownership surely the meter readings would not have ran in line with previous readings they held for the property?

Beancounter

SoletraderSteve wrote: »

How did this not flag up with British Gas when you have them your opening meter readings? If had been happening before you took ownership surely the meter readings would not have ran in line with previous readings they held for the property?

They did say to my wife the reading appeared to be lower than the closing reading given by the previous owner but went with our one.

Given that the solar panels were installed last June they may be in for a large bill soon!

[Deleted User]

Beancounter wrote: »

We recently moved house to a property that has solar panels on the roof.

We took the opening meter readings on day 1 and called British Gas with these. I then put a supplier switch in motion, switching to OVO. On taking the meter reading when the switch happened it was clear the electicity meter was running backwards! We reported this to British Gas who informed us that we had actually already switched so it was down to our new supplier to change the meter.

I called OVO yesterday who have arranged a meter change but they are charging us £30 for this. Would this be correct? I am assuming that this meter fault didn't just start when we moved in and must have been happening for ages. Indeed, British Gas admitted to us that the meter should have been changed to a digital meter when the solar panels were installed.

Have we got a case to put to British Gas for compensation for the charge we are paying to OVO?

Yes , you have a strong claim for the £30 from British Gas, plus the problem of being there to let the meter fitter exchange the meter.You may have to take time off work. British Gas should have exchanged the analogue meter when the solar panels were installed
I m constantly finding backwards running analogue meters ( another 3 last week ) where the solar panel users are making a lot of money by using these faulty meters.The meters are faulty and by the terms of their energy agreements , the occupiers are obliged to report a faulty meters.That never ( or rarely ) happens of course.
All these faulty meters can easily be found by a simple check of the serial number when the solar panel are installed ALL Sangamo Westons ( a very common analogue meter ) will reverse , so the suppliers have no excuse for allowing this to happen.Its just plain laziness.Any analogue meters can then be exchanged rapidly. I m finding meters which have been collecting 50 p a kwhr feed in tariff, and also deducting last nights electricity for over 5 years and the stupid suppliers do nothing about it. The public are never going to volunteer it, so the suppliers have got to wake up to this drain on the National Grid

Beancounter

sacsquacco wrote: »

No. you don t not have a claim for "compensation ", that would really be compensation culture gone mad.Your loss is £30 , which is a bargain really for a meter exchange (Scot Power charge over £200 ) , you have a claim for £30 only from British Gas.
I m constantly finding backwards running analogue meters ( another 3 last week ) where the solar panel users are making a lot of money by using these faulty meters.The meters are faulty and by the terms of their energy agreements , the occupiers are obliged to report a faulty meters.That never happens of course.
All these faulty meters can easily be found by a simple check of the serial number when the solar panel are installed.Any analogue meters can then be exchanged rapidly. I m finding meters which have been collecting 50 p a kwhr feed in tariff, and also deducting last nights electricity for over 5 years and the stupid suppliers do nothing about it. The public are never going to volunteer it, so the suppliers have got to wake up to this drain on the National Grid

When I said "compensation" I meant the £30 to cover the cost I have incurred due to something the previous owner has failed to report.

We reported this the moment we discovered it was happening. I have little doubt the previous owners have benefitted from this for the year they had the panels on the roof prior to selling.

[Deleted User]

Beancounter wrote: »

They did say to my wife the reading appeared to be lower than the closing reading given by the previous owner but went with our one.

Given that the solar panels were installed last June they may be in for a large bill soon!

It would be great if BG actually did get round to an estimated back billing , but I fear that nothing will be levied as they just say " I did nt know " ...yeah right !
There is a report today in the news of a possible black outs if the wind does nt blow.
all the outlets for free energy could be mostly eliminated by the useless suppliers being ordered to take a hard line on the vast amount of bypassing in the UK, the "professional renters " never paying a bean and the legions of solar panel users enjoying a reversal of last nights consumption. When people get their energy for free, they tend to consume a lot more like a kid loose in a sweetshop.

naedanger

sacsquacco wrote: »

Yes , you have a strong claim for the £30 from British Gas,...

That was my initial thought but, having read the article Hengus quoted, I am now more of the view that the OP does not have a good claim against BG unless BG were paid to check (and modify, if necessary) the meter when the solar panels were fitted.

If standard meters are not required to cope with "feed in" energy (which seems reasonable) then they would require to be altered when solar panels are fitted. And it seems reasonable that the cost of alteration should be borne by the owners of the houses getting solar panels fitted. If any owner never told their supplier about the installation then I think they should still be liable for costs of fixing their meter when the problem is eventually found.

If the previous paragraph is accurate there is then the question of whether the liability remains with the original owner (in which case the OP could demand they pay the cost of putting it right). However I suspect the liability will have transferred to the new owner when the purchased the house.

Beancounter

Meanwhile us honest mugs pick up the tab for the freelloaders.

Beancounter

naedanger wrote: »

If the previous paragraph is accurate there is then the question of whether the liability remains with the original owner (in which case the OP could demand they pay the cost of putting it right). However I suspect the liability will have transferred to the new owner when the purchased the house.

Seeing as we have had to pay for a new lock for the garage door as the key "was not found" I doubt we will have much success asking for the £30 for the meter back!:mad:

[Deleted User]

Beancounter wrote: »

Seeing as we have had to pay for a new lock for the garage door as the key "was not found" I doubt we will have much success asking for the £30 for the meter back!:mad:

Send your complaint into OFGEM and the Ombudsman. BG, and all the others, should damn well make sure that faulty meters, because thats what they are, should nt be allowed to be in use when solar panels are fitted.They have all the info at hand with meter serials to know exactly which ones don t have a backstop and which do.
A guy last week with his meter flying backwards as if the kettle was on, was bragging about his 50 p a kwhr feed in tariff. When I told him his meter was running backwards , and it should nt do, and that he should report it, his reply was "get stuffed thats their problem" He was well aware of it happening.Many are not aware at all but a lot are.The suppliers are well aware tho and should take action from day one on PV installs