Could our Economy 7 readings be around the wrong way ?

MrsOs

Hi

I’ve never paid that much attention to
Our energy usage or bills and we have been with Scottish power for donkeys years.

So our deal came to an end at the end of jan and for the first time I didn’t like the look of what they wanted to offer us. I asked for our usage so I
Could shop around.

They told me it’s 3775 and 733 for electric on economy seven. I asked the lady we deal with often which is which
As in night and day and she said 3775 day and 733 but something wasn’t adding up with the quotes on uswitch and what we had been paying so I delved a little deeper.i spoke to a few agents on chat who
Told me my usage was 3775 at night and 733 day and finally when I checked my bill that also showed high usage at night. When I checked which rate was going up during the day it’s the night rate (2) going up and it seems the day rate (1) is coming on very late at night. I’m wondering if the meter readers have accidentally switched the readings around ? I have always given (1) and (2) readings not knowing which is which and hoped the people at the other end was reading them correctly

What do I do about it I don’t want to be faced with a massive bill! It’s not our fault this must have been going on for years and years! I’m really stressed about it. Help! Thanks

David_Aston

If you are able to see your meter, depending what model it is the digital display rotates through a series which likely includes two numbered rates. I.e. 1and 2.
One of these will be day and one night. Normally the one in current operation "flashes". Certainly the higher figure should be day. In our house our winter time night rate runs from 0330 till 1030. In summer, 0430 to 1130.
It suits us, and I don't see a problem.
See if you can work out your changeover times. Have to be trial and error I'm afraid!

[Deleted User]

Most definitely you could have your Eco 7 readings reversed especially if Scottish Power is your supplier. MDS ( formerly G4S ) read Scottish meters and many of their meter readers always input rate 1 on a meter as the night rate and rate 2 as the day rate.. Their data collectors are set up that way... Most but not all , digital meters have rate 1 on the meter as the day rate.
You are the best person to see exactly which rate on the meter is night or day and you cannot trust as Scottish Power meter reader

MrsOs

What I’m worried about is who’s fault is it, am I going to get in trouble and could I be liable for a massive bill going back donkeys years. Or do I stay quiet and keep benefitting from the night rate during the day ? I don’t know what’s the best thing to do.

[Deleted User]

MrsOs wrote: »

What I’m worried about is who’s fault is it, am I going to get in trouble and could I be liable for a massive bill going back donkeys years. Or do I stay quiet and keep benefitting from the night rate during the day ? I don’t know what’s the best thing to do.

As a meter reader for Scot Power for many years my advice is to switch supplier . Lots of people over the years have been in this situation. Its originally Scot Powers fault for taking notice of MDS and G4S meter reading data and not having the common sense to decipher the mistake.
I ve told my bosses many times about the way our data collectors are set up will lead to many reversed readings but they put the onus on the supplier to switch the rates at their end. We also read for EDF and they have managed to do it.
The customer also has a obligation to inform the supplier of the discrepancy so its not all one way.
You certainly won t get into trouble..Nothing illegal has happened..
If anyones at fault its a company called Accuread who used to read for Scot Power and BG/EDF.. They set their original program on their data collectors, and when they sold to G4S it remained in place along with another switch to the current holder of the contract MDS.
I could send you a photograph of the meter reading screen which we use which would show you why many meter readers would mess up the readings.
Eventually Scot Power will install a smart meter and find out .These meters should never make this mistake. Suppliers can only go back 6 years to reclaim billing errors.

wavelets

MrsOs wrote: »

What I’m worried about is who’s fault is it, am I going to get in trouble and could I be liable for a massive bill going back donkeys years. Or do I stay quiet and keep benefitting from the night rate during the day ? I don’t know what’s the best thing to do.

I'm sure the supplier will be sympathetic to a request to a repayement plan in these circumstances, if you cannot settle a revised bill when issued.

MrsOs

What if I switch supplier to one that has the same rate for day and night? Would that not sort the problem without me having to pay about £2k In bills going back 6 years ?

brookheather

Surely you will be protected by the back-billing rules so would only be liable for previous 12 months under payment?

Your supplier can’t ask to be paid for unbilled energy used more than 12 months ago, if you haven’t been accurately charged for this usage before.

Check the Ofgem webpage for more details about this.

Tom99

This is not helped by the way you enter readings online. I put both mine and a relatives reading onto the First Utility website, hers have to be entered as 1=Day 2=Night and mine 1=Night 2=Day.

MrsOs

I have never put them in myself I always email someone at Scottish power and they do it or the meter reader guy does it

macman

If you have night storage heaters and an immersion heater running on E7 and the readings have been reversed, then you should be owed a substantial refund, as the night rate units will be the bulk of your total consumption, and will have been billed at the expensive day rate. Your units used in the daytime will only be maybe 20% of those used in total, across the year, so you are not benefitting at all.
If you don't have NSH's, then E7 is probably not the right tariff to be on. If you do, then switching to a single rate tariff will triple your heating costs.
I'm also dubious about your quoted annual usage, as 4,500 kWh in total is incredibly low, even for a tiny property. Do you have some other form of heating? I suggest you refer to your annual statement or bills to get proper kWh figures. 13,000 kWh wold be nearer the average