Electricity usage

nnb

I am after help on electricity readings - please be gentle, I've only dealt with energy bills once before so am a bit of a thick newbie!!

I was under the impression my rent was all inclusive except council tax so didn't bother to look for the meters. I'm moving out at the end of the month and have found out my rent was NOT all inclusive and I owe for water and electricity. In hindsight, I should have read the contract better but it wasn't entirely clear anyway. So I'm now trying to pay this off so I can get my deposit back next month.

Anyway I finally found it and have the reading. I have called the company who apparently supply it and they claim they have a reading from the day after I moved in. (This sounded a bit convenient seeing as they weren't aware I had moved in and the last girl moved out a month before...)

I am trying to find out what a typical difference between these two numbers should be? I really don't understand meters!

The property - I live alone in a very small 1 bedroom flat in Yorkshire, it's a typical 3 story old house that has been converted into separate dwellings. I have actually spent about 5/6 weeks away from home in total during this time so realistically there's only been 3.5 months 'normal' usage. I am out most days of the week. The only things that are on permanently are my under-counter fridge and my wifi box. My mobile is plugged in to charge overnight. I do not have a landline or tv, and I leave absolutely everything switched off/unplugged when not in use. My shower is NOT electric, but my oven IS electric. I use the oven once a day but never use my kettle or microwave. Lightbulbs are energy saving and used sparingly anyway.

Hopefully that's enough info! haha

I would expect my usage to be really low but I am struggling to find out what a low number would be? Does anyone know a rough figure?

SECOND QUESTION...
I really don't like/trust the company who the girl before signed up to. They are really shady on the phone. Can I switch to a trustworthy provider just so I can pay what I owe and then close the account? I don't want this company having my bank details!


If anyone can help me out here, I'd really appreciate it!!

Robin9

So you moved in about 5 months ago when the main part of the winter was over - therefore no heating by electricity. Consumption about 1000 - 1500 kwh.

You cannot switch before you pay your present provider.

What is your definition of a trustworthy provider - most people here will have tales of wo covering the whole utility industry.

nnb

Robin9 wrote: »

So you moved in about 5 months ago when the main part of the winter was over - therefore no heating by electricity. Consumption about 1000 - 1500 kwh.

You cannot switch before you pay your present provider.

What is your definition of a trustworthy provider - most people here will have tales of wo covering the whole utility industry.

Thanks for your post. I haven't even turned on the radiators since I've been here so there'd have been no heating costs either.

So 1000-1500kwh would be the usual amount if I'd been here every day? As there is about 5/6 weeks where virtually nothing was used (except fridge - I turned the wifi off), then is it fair to assume it should be less than 1000kwh?

I agree that 'trustworthy' is a matter of opinion. I have never actually agreed verbally or in writing to have a contract with them though? I appreciate that 'agreeing to the contract by using the service' may be the response I am given, but I am just trying to clarify if that is legally binding!

molerat

Yes it is legally binding, part of the respective energy acts. As soon as you move in and flick a switch you are legally in a deemed contract with the original supplier of the property.

footyguy

nnb wrote: »

I am after help on electricity readings - please be gentle, I've only dealt with energy bills once before so am a bit of a thick newbie!!

I was under the impression my rent was all inclusive except council tax so didn't bother to look for the meters. I'm moving out at the end of the month and have found out my rent was NOT all inclusive and I owe for water and electricity. In hindsight, I should have read the contract better but it wasn't entirely clear anyway. So I'm now trying to pay this off so I can get my deposit back next month.

Anyway I finally found it and have the reading. I have called the company who apparently supply it and they claim they have a reading from the day after I moved in. (This sounded a bit convenient seeing as they weren't aware I had moved in and the last girl moved out a month before...)

I am trying to find out what a typical difference between these two numbers should be? I really don't understand meters!

The property - I live alone in a very small 1 bedroom flat in Yorkshire, it's a typical 3 story old house that has been converted into separate dwellings. I have actually spent about 5/6 weeks away from home in total during this time so realistically there's only been 3.5 months 'normal' usage. I am out most days of the week. The only things that are on permanently are my under-counter fridge and my wifi box. My mobile is plugged in to charge overnight. I do not have a landline or tv, and I leave absolutely everything switched off/unplugged when not in use. My shower is NOT electric, but my oven IS electric. I use the oven once a day but never use my kettle or microwave. Lightbulbs are energy saving and used sparingly anyway.

Hopefully that's enough info! haha

I would expect my usage to be really low but I am struggling to find out what a low number would be? Does anyone know a rough figure?

SECOND QUESTION...
I really don't like/trust the company who the girl before signed up to. They are really shady on the phone. Can I switch to a trustworthy provider just so I can pay what I owe and then close the account? I don't want this company having my bank details!


If anyone can help me out here, I'd really appreciate it!!

They will probably have the clsoing read of the previous account holder.
i.e. that will be the start reading for you.

If the previous tenancy ended a month before yours started, then the landlord would have been the previous account holder, and presumably provided a closing read when your tenancy started to ensure he was not billed for your consumption.

(You should also have the agreed meter readings on the ingoing inventory/statement of condition that should have been done when you started the tenancy)

nnb

footyguy wrote: »

They will probably have the clsoing read of the previous account holder.
i.e. that will be the start reading for you.

If the previous tenancy ended a month before yours started, then the landlord would have been the previous account holder, and presumably provided a closing read when your tenancy started to ensure he was not billed for your consumption.

(You should also have the agreed meter readings on the ingoing inventory/statement of condition that should have been done when you started the tenancy)

This is where it goes horribly wrong.

She did not close her account - they confirmed this. AND I know she has left the country. This supposed meter reading is coincidentally "the day after you moved in", hmmmm.

Also the agent never did an inventory or anything, the flat was filthy when I arrived. There is nothing in writing at all about readings, furnishings, or cleanliness. Just a contract saying I am a tenant.

footyguy

nnb wrote: »

This is where it goes horribly wrong.

She did not close her account - they confirmed this. AND I know she has left the country. This supposed meter reading is coincidentally "the day after you moved in", hmmmm.

Also the agent never did an inventory or anything, the flat was filthy when I arrived. There is nothing in writing at all about readings, furnishings, or cleanliness. Just a contract saying I am a tenant.

Good luck with your rental!

nnb

footyguy wrote: »

Good luck with your rental!

Thanks for that. Did you even fully read my first post? *I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL INCLUSIVE.* There's no need for the sarky comment is there? I'm just looking for some help here.

sevenhills

nnb wrote: »

Thanks for that. Did you even fully read my first post? *I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL INCLUSIVE.* There's no need for the sarky comment is there? I'm just looking for some help here.

It does not matter what you think is a fair usage; the electricity company have a first reading and you need to provide them with a final reading, they will have to use that.

Robin9

sevenhills wrote: »

It does not matter what you think is a fair usage; the electricity company have a first reading and you need to provide them with a final reading, they will have to use that.

nnb This reading on the day after you moved in is good news for you. Accept it for what it is, give the supplier a reading now unless you have already done so and pay that bill. It may be on an expensive tariff but only for a low consumption and for a short period of time.

Switch to that suppliers best tariff for the rest of your tenancy. On leaving give your readings.