Electricity Bill Help

Miss_Muppet

I'll try and keep this short, but I'd like your opinions please, because you sound like a wise bunch.

My flat was built last year, and I'm the first person to live in it. It stood empty from November when everyone else moved in, until I got it at the end of March.

When I moved in, I couldn't give an electricity meter reading because the Housing Association haven't given me the key to the meter cupboard (I've asked and they said they haven't got a spare). They also told me my supplier was London Electric. I called LE up when I moved in and they said they weren't the supplier. I think I called the number of the place who can tell you your supplier, but they didn't have any record of the flat (to be fair even the council didn't have a record of the flat at first).

I signed up to a new supplier not long after, and I've been happily mooching along with them since.

I got a phone call about 3 months ago from the Housing Association saying there was an outstanding bill from Powergen. I told them that Powergen weren't my supplier, so it must be from before I moved in and quite frankly, they hadn't given me a meter key cupboard, or the correct previous supplier, so how was I supposed to have given them a meter reading? The Housing Association obviously didn't take a reading when they gave the keys to me either.

I've never had a bill, but I've come home to a Notice of Debt Collection, because the cheeky Housing Association have given them my details (with atrocious spelling). There's no indication of when the period of the outstanding bill is for, nor could I have checked it, as I can't access my meter (still...)

What can I do? I really don't mind paying my share, as long as someone can prove what my share is.

Pixie28

As Powergen are the original supplier, you should contact them. They will have record of the meter reading from when the meter was installed in the property. There will likely have been little electricity used until you moved in in March. They will also have been provided a final reading by your new supplier on the exchange date. I would also visit my nearest B&Q or hardware store and purchase your own cupboard key...they only cost a couple of pounds.

Miss_Muppet

Pixie28 wrote: »

As Powergen are the original supplier, you should contact them. They will have record of the meter reading from when the meter was installed in the property. There will likely have been little electricity used until you moved in in March. They will also have been provided a final reading by your new supplier on the exchange date. I would also visit my nearest B&Q or hardware store and purchase your own cupboard key...they only cost a couple of pounds.

Thanks for your reply.

Firstly, I'm almost certain no-one took a reading on the exchange date. If the Housing Association can provide it, and Powergen can calculate the bill based on that, and actually send me the bill, then I'll pay. I certainly didn't take a reading because I didn't have access to the meter cupboard, I still don't.

And sorry, I think I've been misleading. The meters are behind a locked door (a yale type lock) in a room on the ground floor of this building. I'd definitely need a proper key, not just the kind of key you can get at B&Q.

Pixie28

Oh I see! Has your new supplier had a meter reader out? If they do not have an accurate start read from your meter than that could lead to more problems regarding your first bill from them.

tripled

Some of the bill will be yours, as it would have taken a few weeks to switch to your new supplier after you took over. As to the reading, Powergen will need to estimate it for you if you give them a call to sort it out.

Miss_Muppet

Pixie28 wrote: »

Oh I see! Has your new supplier had a meter reader out? If they do not have an accurate start read from your meter than that could lead to more problems regarding your first bill from them.

I gave them that reading - I found a neighbour in the meter cupboard and took the opportunity to nip in. Stupidly, I don't know the date or what it was though (I'll dig out my first bill, I think it will be on there). Haven't been able to get back in since (so my most recent bill was estimated as the suppliers can't get into this cupboard either).

In my opinion, the bill is probably partially mine from the first few weeks before my new contract was set up, but also my Housing Association's from when the builders were still in the property, and when they were doing viewings etc. I'm just annoyed because they've given Powergen my details (which I can prove I didn't, as my name is spelled wrong) and no-one has detailed to me what electricity it's for and when it was used. Nor could I ever have checked it, as I don't have the key.

SwanJon

Not that this will help your current problem, but you could ask a neighbour to lend you a key to get one cut for yourself.
You can then get another reading and use that and the older one to estimate a read yourself for the day you swapped.

Cardew

How much do Powergen say you owe?

When did your bills from your new company start?

I assume that your heating is electric? If that was on from Nov - to March it could be a lot of money.

Terrylw1

Suggest there were builders in, negogiate an opening reading with your Supplier based on your average usage determined over a period of time. This tends to be done over 7 days or readings but may require some adjustment if it spans seasons. This is a standard and practice and some suppliers don't care about the seasonal difference to resolve this quickly.

Also, were the builders on file with them or did the housing association take liability for that to then pass on a bill? If not, you've probably been billed for their usage as well as PG wouldn't be aware (this happens all the time and your Supplier will be more than happy to bill them seperately and even send the bill via the housing assoc if necessary)

The meter readers usually keep a key from housing associations to gain access if a private room or cupboard is housed around the meter because they cannot be denied access and gain easily gain a warrant of entry. The problem is thesedays where the meter reader market has been opened up so sometimes keys remain with an old reader and not passed on.

Agreed with the comment above, if they have issued a neighbour with one, get one cut or you can look forward to continued problems with your bills.