Electricity meter reading 88.8.8.8.8.8.

Saver-upper

I received a letter from my energy supplier (Marks and Spencer/SSE) yesterday,saying costs have gone up,my DD will increase.


I have been meaning to change energy supplier since January ,when contract ended and I was put onto standard tarriff.So this was the push I needed.


This morning I phoned SSE/M+S,and when I went to give them meter readings,found the electricity meter was reading "Rate 8 88.8.8.8.8.8." The lady asked if there was a button to reset-there wasn't.She said because it is Saturday,and because they are changing over their systems,and because they were busy,she couldn't put me through to the meter accuracy department,who I need to come out and check the meter,see what's going on.


Suddenly I am a bit worried about changing supplier while there is a problem with the meter.The lady said I could,because the meter doesn't belong to " a supplier",so it doesn't matter who comes to check it out,notr where I am in the energy swap process.Is this right?It sounds like it will be a few weeks before anyone could come out to see it,and I would like to change before new rates take effect (11th July).


Some questions:
Does it matter if I change supplier over the next few days,without this meter being sorted?
What sort of things could cause meter to suddenly read this way.It was last read in March,so was fine then.
When fixed,will it "reset" so that accurate measure can be taken,ie,will I/they be able to determine accurate usage since March,therefore bill accurately?


Am just a little bit worried.

molerat

What make / type of meter is it ? Unusual to have that may 0s unless it is the type of meter that does have buttons on it.



Don't try to change suppliers without a properly functioning meter. It is going to be a pain sorting this out with one supplier involved, bring another into the mix and it will be chaos !

Saver-upper

Thank you molerat.I have looked again,and there are 7 "8"s on the display(not zeros,sorry-have corrected title).
It is simply labelled as a "Single phase watt hour meter",seems to be "Reporter" brand,property of Western Power Distribution.
No,I don't feel confident changing while there is this problem,thank you for taking the time to respond.

matelodave

Sounds like you haven't been reading your meter regularly otherwise you might have noticed the malfunction a lot sooner.

I'd do as Molerat suggests and wait until you get it sorted out with your current supplier before trying to swap.

Saver-upper

matelodave wrote: »

Sounds like you haven't been reading your meter regularly

It was last read March 22nd.

matelodave

Saver-upper wrote: »

It was last read March 22nd.

that's quite a long time ago. They will now have to try and estimate (or guess) your consumption since then.

Ideally you should should read it monthly and send the reading into the supplier to avoid getting estimated bills

wavelets

Saver-upper wrote: »

I received a letter from my energy supplier (Marks and Spencer/SSE) yesterday,saying costs have gone up,my DD will increase.


I have been meaning to change energy supplier since January ,when contract ended and I was put onto standard tarriff.So this was the push I needed.


This morning I phoned SSE/M+S,and when I went to give them meter readings,found the electricity meter was reading "Rate 8 88.8.8.8.8.8." The lady asked if there was a button to reset-there wasn't.She said because it is Saturday,and because they are changing over their systems,and because they were busy,she couldn't put me through to the meter accuracy department,who I need to come out and check the meter,see what's going on.


Suddenly I am a bit worried about changing supplier while there is a problem with the meter.The lady said I could,because the meter doesn't belong to " a supplier",so it doesn't matter who comes to check it out,notr where I am in the energy swap process.Is this right?It sounds like it will be a few weeks before anyone could come out to see it,and I would like to change before new rates take effect (11th July).


Some questions:
Does it matter if I change supplier over the next few days,without this meter being sorted?
What sort of things could cause meter to suddenly read this way.It was last read in March,so was fine then.
When fixed,will it "reset" so that accurate measure can be taken,ie,will I/they be able to determine accurate usage since March,therefore bill accurately?


Am just a little bit worried.

In response to your questions:

Does it matter if I change supplier over the next few days,without this meter being sorted?
It would be unwise to change supplier whilst you have a faulty meter.
The current supplier is responsible to repair/exchange the meter
If you switch supplier beforehand, an agreed, obviously estimated, meter reading will be used as your final/start meter reading.
But you will still have a faulty meter, and you will go to the back of the queue of your new supplier ... and that will not happen until at least 17 days from now, possibly as long as 5 weeks.

What sort of things could cause meter to suddenly read this way.It was last read in March,so was fine then.
It sounds like the meter has developed a fault if there is no reset possibility.
Often meters flash between 88888 and the actual reading - it's a method to ensure the display has not developed a fault ; the 8 requires all parts of the digit to be displayed.

When fixed,will it "reset" so that accurate measure can be taken,ie,will I/they be able to determine accurate usage since March,therefore bill accurately?
Probably not. They will simply replace the meter, and your consumption until that time will probably be estimated.

macman

Since you've already gone through the coldest months of the winter on standard tariff (the most expensive), then most of your losses have already been incurred: a few more weeks awaiting a meter switch will make little cost difference now we are into summer.

Saver-upper

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply.As suggested by M+S on Saturday,I waited until today to contact their Meter Accuracy Department.All my details/meter details/serial numbrer/fault details etc were taken.It can be up to 15 days before they even phone me back (really??),then a time will be organised for them to come and see the meter.
I will sit tight,use the time to look for a new supplier (currently paying £97/month for gas,£93/month for electricity,about to go up :eek: :eek:-4 bedroom house)

poppellerant

15 days response time? Assuming that's working days, then 3 weeks for a response. :eek:

I would go through to complaints and see if they can do anything.