Scottish Power gas standing charge

Wonderhamster

I recently switched my electricity supplier from Scottish Power (to M&S eco). I didn't switch gas supplier because I haven't used the gas here for over a decade, and in fact had the gas meter removed some 18 months ago because it was taking up space under the sink.

I eventually received a cheque from Scottish Power for £300-odd overpayment. All good. But now they're harassing me for payment of a £30+ gas bill, apparently in respect of standing charges.

I remember when I got rid of the gas cooker in 2004 checking and being told no, there would be nothing to pay because there was no standing charge. I can't afford to pay it, being disabled, living alone and on benefits but also don't think I should have to.

What's my best way forward? And has anyone else here been trapped like this?

:mad:

Cardew

In 2004 there were no standing charges for gas(or electricity) however these charges were made mandatory a couple of years ago.


Probably nobody bothered to tell Scottish power your gas had been disconnected and they still have your old meter serial number registered to your address.


If you write and explain to Scottish Power that gas was disconnected years ago and you have no meter, they should cancel the bill.

Wonderhamster

I had no idea standing charges had been made mandatory. If I'd known, I'd have had the gas meter taken out immediately! Shouldn't Scottish Power have informed me that there was now going to be a charge?

Thanks for the advice, Cardew, I'll write to Scottish Power with the date the meter was taken out and at least that'll reduce the bill.

[Deleted User]

Standing charges were about in 2004. It was a bit of a con. You could elect for a no standing charge tariff, and most did grab at it, where your standing charge was determined by your usage in a two tier tariff. Low users hardly paid a penny and were suddenly hit with the true costs of a having a gas supply when Ofgem rightfully changed the rules and stopped low/zero being subsidised by larger users. You could also elect for a standing charge tariff. The two tier tariff system was rightfully abandoned by Ofgem as too baffling for many to understand their bills .Now everyone must pay a standing charge. I hope the OP is prepared to pay for the meter to be refixed at some stage. because if you are renting you should replace the meter if you depart. It wont be free if this is the case, expect about £80.
We have just had a complaint on here why people on electric only tariffs can not get the really cheap rates available to a dual fuel customer so is the OP classified as a dual fuel ? You can get cheaper electricity being dual fuel so maybe removing your gas supply you shot yourself in the foot and are now paying more for electricity.
Also OP who actually removed the meter ? You should have only done it through Scottish Power, so they would know already that the meter has been unscrewed and capped. I ve met many people who have just unscrewed it themselves and pulled the control valve shut..that is illegal, the meter is owned ( and rented ) by National Grid and they or their contractors are the only ones to be touching the meter so be careful before you get on the phone to berate SP. .It must only be done by National Grid (through your supplier )and would attract a NG price (usually ) for both disconnection and re-connection.
Maybe your best way forward is to transfer the gas supply to Ebico who still maintain a zero standing charge

Wonderhamster

The power distribution organisation for my area removed the gas meter. As a homeowner I shan't be getting the meter reinstalled in the foreseeable future.

I opted for the no standing charge tariff in 2004 when I replaced my gas cooker with an electric one, and at no time was I informed that a standing charge had been reapplied.

[Deleted User]

Wonderhamster wrote: »

The power distribution organisation for my area removed the gas meter. As a homeowner I shan't be getting the meter reinstalled in the foreseeable future.

I opted for the no standing charge tariff in 2004 when I replaced my gas cooker with an electric one, and at no time was I informed that a standing charge had been reapplied.

So now you can only apply for electric only tariffs with suppliers which are more expensive than a dual fuel deal.Considerably more expensive if you had , say, applied for the MSE BG Collective dual fuel only, where I got my electric at only 8.25 p/kwhr. I too am quite a low user on gas, I have cooker only, but a higher user of electric. I can t get anywhere near that BG tariff if I went single electric only. It may be cheaper to get the gas cooker back in, when your electric cooker packs in, as it surely will do.Gas cooking is faster and cheaper than electric for cooking.
Suppliers did inform everyone but it would just have been a line or two on the statement/bill. The phrase "no standing charge " tariffs was nt exactly right and misled people and was a con because most average users on a NSC tariff paid the full whack anyway, even if you used a few units a year you paid a little standing charge. Only complete zero users got away scot free.These standing charges go to National Grid anyway for meter and pipe upkeep, the suppliers pass it on. You still have a gas pipe direct to the property just that hopefully its properly capped. Scottish Power should nt need to be informed if its been officially done years ago by National Grid ( not the power company, they deal with electric only ) We can t contact a DNO or National Grid ( unless an emergency ) ourselves, it has to be through your supplier.

footyguy

Wonderhamster wrote: »

I recently switched my electricity supplier from Scottish Power (to M&S eco). I didn't switch gas supplier because I haven't used the gas here for over a decade, and in fact had the gas meter removed some 18 months ago because it was taking up space under the sink.

I eventually received a cheque from Scottish Power for £300-odd overpayment. All good. But now they're harassing me for payment of a £30+ gas bill, apparently in respect of standing charges.

I remember when I got rid of the gas cooker in 2004 checking and being told no, there would be nothing to pay because there was no standing charge. I can't afford to pay it, being disabled, living alone and on benefits but also don't think I should have to.

What's my best way forward? And has anyone else here been trapped like this?

:mad:

I'm struggling to make head or tale of all this (and there's usually a common reason when that occurs), but I'll try my best to address the issues you raise.

You say you've not used any gas for over 10 years and even had the meter removed 18 months ago.

So up until 18 months ago, were you not receiving bills from SP for the gas supply you had? If so, they would have shown any standing charge applied.

If not, why were you paying them for gas? You said you got £300 back when the supply was diconnected 18 months ago.
Presumably you were paying over the last 10+ years because I wouldn't have thought anyone who couldn't muster £30 together because they are "disabled, living alone and on benefits" would have left £300 as effectively an interest free loan to someone for over 10 years.

So onto the charges they are now, according to you "harassing" you for. What exact period are these charges for, seeing as they presumably effectivley closed the account 18 months ago when you had the gas supply disconnected, and they returned the balance on the final bill of £300 to you.

If it's since you have had the meter disconnected, then you should not be billed for any supply after then as you didn't have a supply. If that's the case, just tell them.

Or is it perhaps from over 18 months ago, despite them having finalised you account since then? If so, you should refer them to the 12 month backbilling code.
http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/customers/energy-industry-codes/code-of-practice-for-accurate-bills.html

Either way, you should owe nothing

(Now I'm still not sure this was the answer you really wanted, and I've deliberately avoided what I think you were hoping to debate, because your post doesn't actually need to debate that - the answer I have provided should address the issue as you described it )

Btw, always regularly check the comparison sites, and they will indicate the cheapest options for you and your usage ... even if it is zero
(Actually you might have issues with the comparison sites and zero usage, so use 1kWh/year instead of zero)

teddysmum

I recall being given the choice of having or not having a standing charge tariff, but wasn't aware that they later became mandatory.


However,my sister and I both did calculations and worked out that standing charges worked in our favour so we both opted for them .Having no need to be informed of change, we would not have been informed of any.