Quick question about meter readings

geminilady

I have just switched my new supply starts on the 11th Sept,when do I take my meter reading for the old company?the 10th?

lstar337

I was advised by my new supplier to take the reading ASAP so I could take advantage of their lower prices.

So if your new price is cheaper then take it sooner, and if your new price is more expensive then take it later. Make sure it is in your favour!

Cardew

The new supplier normally asks for a meter reading and that reading will be the start reading for the new supplier and end reading for the old supplier. The new supplier will inform the old supplier of the reading and date of switch.

footyguy

geminilady wrote: »

I have just switched my new supply starts on the 11th Sept,when do I take my meter reading for the old company?the 10th?

You supply the meter reading to your new supplier - they will pass it to the old supplier, just as they handle everything in a switch.

If your new supplier has not yet asked you for a meter reading, I suggest you contact them. (e.g. it may be they have already arranged for a meter reader to read the meter, but such situation is quite rare these days)

It is best to provide a meter reading taken on the day of the actual switch if possible, but one taken up to 5 days either side is usually acceptable (you have to provide the date of the reading).

matelodave

Ideally on the day or day before the switch - if you take it too early some companies will estimate (guess) how much you'll use between the date of the reading and the switch.


You don't need to inform the old company that you are leaving or give them a reading, the new company should inform them and agree the readings - make sure that the readings are the same when you get your final bill in from the old company

System

matelodave wrote: »

Ideally on the day or day before the switch - if you take it too early some companies will estimate (guess) how much you'll use between the date of the reading and the switch.

I have just spent most of the afternoon trying to resolve an estimated gas switch reading. The switch was delayed by 6 weeks. I provided the new supplier with an actual meter reading on the day of the switch. I also provided the old supplier with two meter readings a month up to the switch. Despite this wealth of actual usage information, the two parties have just agreed a meter reading 105C3Ms out. A dispute cannot be raised unless the difference is 109C3Ms.

spiro

Hengus wrote: »

I have just spent most of the afternoon trying to resolve an estimated gas switch reading. The switch was delayed by 6 weeks. I provided the new supplier with an actual meter reading on the day of the switch. I also provided the old supplier with two meter readings a month up to the switch. Despite this wealth of actual usage information, the two parties have just agreed a meter reading 105C3Ms out. A dispute cannot be raised unless the difference is 109C3Ms.

But how much has it cost you to do that in terms of your time and the difference in the kwh price for the 2 suppliers? I know for electricity the difference has to be 250kwh that is because there is a cost involved in changing the reading once it has been submitted to settlements.

footyguy

spiro wrote: »

But how much has it cost you to do that in terms of your time and the difference in the kwh price for the 2 suppliers? I know for electricity the difference has to be 250kwh that is because there is a cost involved in changing the reading once it has been submitted to settlements.

Obviously the final reading of the old supplier must be the same as the start reading of the new supplier, else a dispute can be raised no matter how much difference exists.

But that is presumably not the issue here. The issue here is presumably that the old and new suppliers have agreed the meter reading on the day of switch, but the customer disagrees.





In this case, the minimum level of dispute must be:

• 250kWh for electricity (as you rightly say)
• 1200kWh for gas (39 metered units for imperial, 109 metered units for a metric meter)

The cost difference for 105m3 of gas (which is about 1156kWh) could be at most about £23 at current prices, but probably half that or even less in the OP's case.

Edit: Despite the above, I see the poster has their own thread where they claim the assumed meter reading at switch (3 weeks ago) is actually higher than the meter reading actually was 3 days ago. Since the poster also claims to have supplied an actual meter reading on day of switch 3 weeks ago, I advised the poster to complain (and I didn't mean on MSE :cool:)... and in those circumstances I still offer that advice, ensuring as much evidence as possible is obtained and preserved.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5320364

[Deleted User]

If your out going supplier allows you to submit meter readings when ever you want, then I would supply them with the reading on day of the transfer as well as to your new supplier. Belt and braces approach.

Of course, this does not stop either supplier getting it wrong but at least you have tried to ensure that they both have the same reading.

And also take a photo of the meter, showing the reading and the ID code identifying it. Most phones will add a timestamp to the photo for documentation purposes.

System

footyguy wrote: »

Obviously the final reading of the old supplier must be the same as the start reading of the new supplier, else a dispute can be raised no matter how much difference exists.

But that is presumably not the issue here. The issue here is presumably that the old and new suppliers have agreed the meter reading on the day of switch, but the customer disagrees.





In this case, the minimum level of dispute must be:

• 250kWh for electricity (as you rightly say)
• 1200kWh for gas (39 metered units for imperial, 109 metered units for a metric meter)

The cost difference for 105m3 of gas (which is about 1156kWh) could be at most about £23 at current prices, but probably half that or even less in the OP's case.

Edit: Despite the above, I see the poster has their own thread where they claim the assumed meter reading at switch (3 weeks ago) is actually higher than the meter reading actually was 3 days ago. Since the poster also claims to have supplied an actual meter reading on day of switch 3 weeks ago, I advised the poster to complain (and I didn't mean on MSE :cool:)... and in those circumstances I still offer that advice, ensuring as much evidence as possible is obtained and preserved.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5320364

I have been complaining in writing since the end of July when it become obvious that a gas transfer had not been initiated by the new supplier. The reason for the discrepancy is simple: no meter readings for over 3 months although they were passed twice monthly to the old supplier. The issue for me is not the complaint per se: it is how do I switch suppliers with such a large discrepancy between actual and estimated usage without causing months of billing grief?

footyguy

Hengus wrote: »

I have been complaining in writing since the end of July when it become obvious that a gas transfer had not been initiated by the new supplier. The reason for the discrepancy is simple: no meter readings for over 3 months although they were passed twice monthly to the old supplier. The issue for me is not the complaint per se: it is how do I switch suppliers with such a large discrepancy between actual and estimated usage without causing months of billing grief?

:huh:

How could you have been complaining since the end of July when you only actually switched supplier (and so knew the meter reading now disputed) 3 weeks ago?

Good luck!