npower only reading the meter once a year

ratcliffe_mike

The other day I received a letter saying that npower are increasing my direct debit threefold.

npower estimated the bill every month until December and gradually lowered my direct debit from £134.00 to £83.00. As a result of them lowering the direct debit my December bill is £999.80.

I never had any problems with previous suppliers so I am shocked that npower are only reading meters once a year.

Is the responsibility of sending in meter readings solely the responsibility of the homeowner?

This is a huge bill for us to face as a young family and we feel that npower should have some responsibility to stop this from happening... particularly if other providers manage to read the meter at least once a quarter.

molerat

Very few read meters more often than once a year, in fact that is probably more often than most. Sorry but this one is pretty much down to you. Did you not see the note on the estimated bills for you to check the read and submit an accurate one if necessary ? My electric meter was last read in Jan 2017 and gas in July 2017 but I have never had any shock bills.

Mister_G

I have to say, I don't know of any supplier who sends out a meter reader every quarter these days.

All you can do is ask npower if they would allow you to make stage payments over a period of time.

This does demonstrate how important it is to read your meter regularly and to check that what you are paying lines up with your actual consumption.

Robin9

Yes its in your own interest.

My electric has not been read in the last 5 years - and I've been with Eon, gbEnergy and Flow over the years.

I read mine at least once a month and keep my own records.

Rodders53

ratcliffe_mike wrote: »

Is the responsibility of sending in meter readings solely the responsibility of the homeowner?

Not solely.

BUT if you want accurate bills read the meter(s) monthly and input them on your nPower account as customer reads. It's what any sensible moneysaving person does. :money:

You could also ask them to fit a "smart meter" so they can do that bit for you remotely, with no need to visit your home at all. :eek:

What is so hard about doing this ? I even grovel on the ground with a torch to read my water meter every month. Gas and electric are usually much easier to access.:beer:

[Deleted User]

There was a discussion about meter reading frequency last year, which can be found here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5612241/physical-meter-reading-frequency-and-the-law

ratcliffe_mike

Maybe it was only getting read so regularly because it is a new build and the estate is still under development.

Because I have owed this for less than 28 days I can switch to another supplier (33% cheaper) and pay npower over the next few months.


Thanks for your advice.

Robin9

ratcliffe_mike wrote: »

Maybe it was only getting read so regularly because it is a new build and the estate is still under development.

Because I have owed this for less than 28 days I can switch to another supplier (33% cheaper) and pay npower over the next few months.


Thanks for your advice.

Before you jump from a frying pan into another fire - where are you getting the 33% from ? Is this from a comparison site - in which case the savings will be being quoted against nPowers standard tariff (which you would default to at the end of a fix - you are on a fix aren't you ?) You need to look at the estimated costs and not the savings.

I assume you are using an actual figure for consumption and not nPowers estimates.

With such a high debt nPower may well block you switch. Where do you get the debt of less than 28 days from ?

You say a new build site - are you the first occupier ?

As its a new build site the meters would have been Smart (at least until anyone switched suppliers) and even less reason for meter readers to come.

Ilona

I can't remember when I last had a meter reader visit, I think they come once a year. I log onto my page on the suppliers web site and put in readings once a month. I don't do direct debit on utilities, they send a quarterly bill, and it's always about right. I can compare my present usage with previous years, it's fairly static because I am careful about switching things off when not needed.

ilona

System

Ilona wrote: »

I can't remember when I last had a meter reader visit, I think they come once a year. I log onto my page on the suppliers web site and put in readings once a month. I don't do direct debit on utilities, they send a quarterly bill, and it's always about right. I can compare my present usage with previous years, it's fairly static because I am careful about switching things off when not needed.

ilona

The meter reading requirement was changed by Ofgem in April 2016. The requirement placed on all suppliers by Ofgem is now as follows:

Quote: 21B.4 The licensee must take all reasonable steps to obtain a meter reading (including any meter reading transmitted electronically from a meter to the licensee or provided by the Customer and accepted by the licensee)

(a) at least once per year from each of its Customers; and

(b) as from 1 April 2018 (or any other later date pursuant to a direction issued by the CMA no later than 1 September 2017) at least once per month from each of its Customers with a Supply Meter able to remotely transmit meter readings. Unquote

Note the use of the word 'obtain'. There is no longer any requirement for suppliers to read meters.

brewerdave

Haven't seen a meter reader since Nov. 2015 for either utility!