Validated meter reading discrepancy

Marksfish

I have just changed energy suppliers. On the day of transfer, I provided meter readings to my old and new supplier, readings taken directly from the meter. After 5 weeks of being "validated", I have had the following response from my new supplier about my electricity readings.

"The validated electricity opening meter readings that were eventually returned to us differ ever-so slightly from the readings that you provided on the 27th April. Your old supplier has also been sent the same readings so there won’t be any overlap in the energy that you are charged for. The readings are as follows:

You provided 57197 – Industry returned 57250 (+253 unit difference)

You provided 12576 – Industry returned 12561 (-15 unit difference)

The reason for the difference is due to a sensitive validation check that the industry perform between the readings provided and what the industry would expect the readings to be based upon the historic consumption. A warmer or colder winter than the previous year can be enough for the validated readings to be different. In summary, it means your old supplier will bill you for 253 extra day time units (we wont bill you for these) and we will bill you for 15 more night units (your old supplier won’t bill you for these). "

Why am I being subjected to "guesswork" by an organisation I know nothing of who are telling me that my meter reading is wrong and that I have to pay my old supplier for 253 more units than I have used? Surely the idea of a meter is for accuracy and not for someone to make assumptions about?

Not really sure how to handle this!!

Mark

spiro

The readings are passed through industry agreed validation which rarely rejects a real reading unless something different has happened at the property. You are entitled to dispute the CoS reading but the total difference is less then 250 so such a small difference does not normally do through the process. It is the new suppliers agent who does the validation so it is them you would need to argue with.

Carrot007

All reads will go though validation to ensure they are in line with what was expected. However if you have had holidays etc, things can get messed up.

With a +250 unit discrepancy you should be able to dispute if you want to? (Are you moving to a cheaper rate, prices have gone up).

If you want to dispute you need to do this with the old supplier. Though they will probably be reluctant but may give you cash instead!

Carrot007

spiro wrote: »

It is the new suppliers agent who does the validation so it is them you would need to argue with.

You sure of this. They have nothing to validate against except the data sent from the old supplier.

The old supplier should validate the final read and send it to the new supplier. This is where people often come undone by only sending the reads to the new supplier who can't do anything with them.

Marksfish

I don't understand why my readings have been rejected, or am I being a bit thick here? surely the point of having a meter is to be accurate? Are they saying I can't read a meter, or am I being accused of lying?

Looking at the reading I gave my new supplier after one month of supply (I supply my readings monthly), the 253 units is over half of my monthly consumption. Why should I be paying the old supplier (a higher unit rate) for electricitiy I have consumed with my new supplier?

Carrot007

Marksfish wrote: »

I don't understand why my readings have been rejected, or am I being a bit thick here? surely the point of having a meter is to be accurate? Are they saying I can't read a meter, or am I being accused of lying?

It's purly the computer saying it thinks it should be this for the period and overruling your read. There is no person in the process to accuse you of anything. The computer thinks it is far enough out of what is expected to maybe think you misread and overrule you. I always take photosd everytime I read so there can be no confusion.

Marksfish wrote: »

Looking at the reading I gave my new supplier after one month of supply (I supply my readings monthly), the 253 units is over half of my monthly consumption. Why should I be paying the old supplier (a higher unit rate) for electricitiy I have consumed with my new supplier?

Are you leaving late then after going onto a standard tarrif. Otherwise you would probably be paying less! I you want to dispute the read ring your old supplier.

Marksfish

Not leaving late, there was no penalty for leaving. probably left 1 day early from end of fixed rate, but was told leaving within 30 days of end was permissible. The new supplier will save me about £80pa (not a huge amount), but I do object to having to pay someone else for something I haven't used with them. To my mind, it is a bit like buying a pint in the local pub, but the one around the corner taking payment for it.

Will be contacting both companies on Monday to try and sort it, but wondered what the hell was going on.

Binks26

I know how you feel and wish you luck. I am having to pay for electricity I didn't use.I have disputed an inflated electricity end/start reading with my old supplier, Co-op/ my new supplier, So Energy. So Energy said I'd have to take it up with Co-op, who said they'd look into the fact that they had (over) estimated my last reading when I had actually given it to them.. The man on the phone seemed very helpful and sent me a follow -up email.I then noticed the penultimate reading was incorrectly recorded too- they had transposed two numbers in the reading I gave them. I forwarded an email from another customer service member which proved they had received and accepted this reading. (At the time the Co-op site had technical probs and unsure the reading had been entered, I sent an email explaining this / giving the reading, to which I an agent replied that she was entering this figure) Co-op had incorrectly entered one reading then decided to estimate the next instead of using the actual reading. Since then silence from the nice man at the Co-op! So Energy has stated they will not be pursuing the matter as it's a discrepancy of less than 250 units, but why is a discrepancy of less than 250 units insignificant? If it's neither here nor there, why ask for readings ? If it's truly insignificant, why does the 250 unit policy only work one way(i.e. in their favour)?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Marksfish wrote: »

You provided 57197 – Industry returned 57250 (+253 unit difference)

You provided 12576 – Industry returned 12561 (-15 unit difference)

maybe doesn't make much difference, but 57250 - 57197 = 53.

spiro

Carrot007 wrote: »

You sure of this. They have nothing to validate against except the data sent from the old supplier.

The old supplier should validate the final read and send it to the new supplier. This is where people often come undone by only sending the reads to the new supplier who can't do anything with them.

100% sure it is the new suppliers agent. They are provided with the Annual Advance (AA) and Estimated Annual Consumption (EAC) from the old suppliers agent and it is these figures that are used as part of the calculation.

spiro

Marksfish wrote: »

Not leaving late, there was no penalty for leaving. probably left 1 day early from end of fixed rate, but was told leaving within 30 days of end was permissible. The new supplier will save me about £80pa (not a huge amount), but I do object to having to pay someone else for something I haven't used with them. To my mind, it is a bit like buying a pint in the local pub, but the one around the corner taking payment for it.

Will be contacting both companies on Monday to try and sort it, but wondered what the hell was going on.

No point in contacting both, only speak to your new supplier as they provide the reading. As has now been pointed out the difference is only 38 (+53-15) so they are unlikely to do anything.