Broken Electricity Meter - Company Wants to Charge Me "National Average"

Skiny

Earlier in the year, I moved out of a flat and to another in a different city.

I had paid my final electricity bill at the old address and thought all was settled. However, now 9 months later, the electricity company have contacted me, demanding £400, as they say the meter in the flat was broken and wasn't registering usage.

I spoke to the current tenant in that flat and they have confirmed that this is true. The meter was never accessible by the tenants and the reading only obtained by the maintenance guy, as it was a new block of flats.

The electricity company have now sent me a bill for £400, saying they're going to charge me the "national average usage".

What are my rights regarding this? It seems very unfair, as there was no telling how much electricity was used.

Thanks in advance!

photome

I dont know the legalities, but didnt you think wow my bills are cheap here

Valli

I would be disputing this and citing that, as you had no access to the meter you were unaware. Were meter readings ever taken by the elec. company? If so when was the last true reading taken? How long were you resident for?

Zandoni

I'd be negotiating along the lines of the national average for the flat size minus 20%, especially if you are out a lot.

If you also had gas this will need to be brought into the calculations.

Hintza

Use historical readings from previous years? (less a bit )

There must be precedent on this somewhere try and find it.

What is a national average? For everyone? For flats that size? For 2.1 number of people?

agrinnall

photome wrote: »

I dont know the legalities, but didnt you think wow my bills are cheap here

I'd guess that the OP received estimated bills for the whole time they were in the property. Whether the actual usage in that property is similar to the 'national average usage' is difficult to say, although I would probably expect a 2 bedroom flat to have lower consumption than a 3 bedroom house, which seems to be what a lot of figures are based on. The other thing to consider is whether it was an all electric property, which would push up the usage compared to the average.

naedanger

Skiny wrote: »

Earlier in the year, I moved out of a flat and to another in a different city.

I had paid my final electricity bill at the old address and thought all was settled. However, now 9 months later, the electricity company have contacted me, demanding £400, as they say the meter in the flat was broken and wasn't registering usage.

I spoke to the current tenant in that flat and they have confirmed that this is true. The meter was never accessible by the tenants and the reading only obtained by the maintenance guy, as it was a new block of flats.

The electricity company have now sent me a bill for £400, saying they're going to charge me the "national average usage".

What are my rights regarding this? It seems very unfair, as there was no telling how much electricity was used.

Thanks in advance!

How long is the period they are covering? Did they attempt to read the meter while you were responsible for the bill? And if so did they actually read the meter or what was the reason that prevented them from doing so?

The following is worth a read. (Usually, if your supplier was at fault, they should not seek additional payment for unbilled energy used more than 12 months prior to the error being detected and a corrected bill being issued, provided you have co-operated with any attempts they have made to read meters, resolve matters etc.)

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/who-contact-if-its-difficult-paying-energy-bills/energy-back-billing-your-rights