Can't Move Supplier because of Meter?

ChristineMac

Hi,
Can anyone help with this? I moved house at the start of the year. The house didn't have any gas just electric and old storage heaters. The meter looks pretty complicated there are several boxes I think to do with he storage heaters.

I am now trying to switch suppliers with the money saving mass changover but have been told that EON don't support these meters. What should I be asking Scottish Power for? Can I demand a new meter? I did wonder why my electric bill is double that of my gas, could it be anything to do with these meters. I did query these meters when I first moved into house but Scottish Power have such poor customer service I got nowhere.

footyguy

ChristineMac wrote: »

Hi,
Can anyone help with this? I moved house at the start of the year. The house didn't have any gas just electric and old storage heaters. The meter looks pretty complicated there are several boxes I think to do with he storage heaters.

I am now trying to switch suppliers with the money saving mass changover but have been told that EON don't support these meters. What should I be asking Scottish Power for? Can I demand a new meter? I did wonder why my electric bill is double that of my gas, could it be anything to do with these meters. I did query these meters when I first moved into house but Scottish Power have such poor customer service I got nowhere.

Do you own the property, or is it rented?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

are you on E7 or Comfort Plus?

Can you post a picture of the 'several boxes' please.

ChristineMac

HI,

Thanks for response.

I own the property.

Just checked my bills I'm on Comfort Plus - there are day and night readings.

I've tried pasting an image into this but not working.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Comfort Plus is tricky to swap, there will be 3 readings.

I think Scottish Hydro (SSE) do it.

Edit: Wee story from The Guardian here.

footyguy

ChristineMac wrote: »

HI,

Thanks for response.

I own the property.

Just checked my bills I'm on Comfort Plus - there are day and night readings.

I've tried pasting an image into this but not working.

You have an old metering system which is not supported by any other supplier. Scottish Power is the only supplier that is obligated to carry on with the legacy tariff appropriate to your metering.
Other Big-6 suppliers (except British Gas as they formally did not supply electricity) may also have legacy tariffs for their legacy supply regions, but they will not be compatable with your metering.

Any attempt to switch supplier with your current metering invariably ends in tears.

What you can do is ask Scottish Power to arrange to replace your existing metering with the usual metering installed today. They may apply a charge for this (typically about £50).
Then you will be able to switch supplier.

What I would also suggest you do before this is to seek independent expert advice. e.g. Your home may require rewiring, and your existing (old) storage heaters will not work correctly if you change the metering (or you will be charged at normal rates for heating them up, at least for some of the time).

Btw, the legacy tariff you are on is actually not a bad deal for what you can receive.

Edit: you say in your OP that your electric bill is twice that of gas. It should be infinitely greater than gas, as you said the house has no gas.
Or have you got gas installed since you purchased the house?
If you have, did you seek out any advice first?