Meter Reading Validation

spiro

For electricity the validation is done by the NHHDC who is appointed by your supplier to act in that role, details of their procedures can be found here - https://www.elexon.co.uk/documents/bsc-codes/bscps/bscp504/ Appendix 4 covers validation but may not make a lot of sense. Bascially they use historic consumption (AA - annualised advance) and future estimated consumtion (EAC - estimated annual consumption) together with a profile of how the energy is expected to be used over the year.

Talldave

spiro wrote: »

For electricity the validation is done by the NHHDC who is appointed by your supplier to act in that role, details of their procedures can be found here - https://www.elexon.co.uk/documents/bsc-codes/bscps/bscp504/ Appendix 4 covers validation but may not make a lot of sense. Bascially they use historic consumption (AA - annualised advance) and future estimated consumtion (EAC - estimated annual consumption) together with a profile of how the energy is expected to be used over the year.

And it probably works quite well when people don't change their lifestyle or habits. But people move homes and new occupants can do things differently and that's when the algorithm breaks. So it's fundamentally flawed.

When I moved into my last property I had a real battle signing up with the incumbent electricity supplier because they wanted to set a direct debit more than double what I knew was necessary, based entirely on what the previous occupants had used.

I believe they only relented because I had such detailed knowledge of our previous energy consumption. I estimated our annual consumption would be 3600 kWhr and it actually came in just over 3500 kWhr. The supplier, using their useless industry data, would have had me paying towards an 8000 kWhr figure and rapidly running up a massive credit.

Talldave

I know they don't get involved in setting direct debits. It may even be that the supplier was using their own data to try to force a higher direct debit.

Does this mysterious agency simply offer a reading in, reading out service? Or is there more data available to suppliers?

I've suffered from the reading in, reading changed (incorrectly), reading out problem. Which cost me a few quid on a switch. Full marks to Pure Planet- the new supplier- for recompensing me out of their own coffers.

spiro

Talldave wrote: »

Does this mysterious agency simply offer a reading in, reading out service? Or is there more data available to suppliers?

The NHHDC has the following available to validate meter readings; meter read history, EAC and AA data plus obviously details of the meter. If they get a reading that is 'out of range' then if it is confirmed that this an actual accurate reading then they will process it. Changes in consumption pattern can occur for various reasons some legal some not.

Robin9

Spiro - you are in the industry aren't you.

Is there are data around that merits the use of this mysterious "independent" body that justifies its existence ? ie are 1 in a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand readings wrong?

Highland76

As well getting meter readings verified independently, meter readers also check if the meters have been tampered with in any way. Considering the meters are NOT owned by the end users, I'd say there's nothing wrong with the meter owners checking to see if the meters are working as they should be.

Cardew

Robin9 wrote: »

Spiro - you are in the industry aren't you.

Is there are data around that merits the use of this mysterious "independent" body that justifies its existence ? ie are 1 in a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand readings wrong?

Surely this 'independent body' is only involved when a customer is moving house or changing supplier.

If I, or a meter reader, submits an incorrect reading OR even an
accurate reading the computer(algorithm) 'thinks' is incorrect, it is simply ignored and an estimated reading simply substituted with no further action.

D_M_E

The validation process is based on what was/has been used IN THE PROPERTY, not what has been used by however many occupants over their particular period of occupancy.

I often wonder why, when a new occupier takes residence, a fresh dataset is not started for the new occupant which would show their own use after a period and which could be compared to previous usage at the property.

Robin9

Cardew wrote: »

Surely this 'independent body' is only involved when a customer is moving house or changing supplier..........................

I agree - just wondering how they justify themselves. Why are they in the middle of all switches if, say, only 1 in 100,000 is an issue ?

Talldave

Cardew wrote: »

Surely this 'independent body' is only involved when a customer is moving house or changing supplier.

If I, or a meter reader, submits an incorrect reading OR even an
accurate reading the computer(algorithm) 'thinks' is incorrect, it is simply ignored and an estimated reading simply substituted with no further action.

Not according to Symbio, who send every meter reading for validation which causes a delay of 7 days. Brain numbingly tedious.

But hence my interest in whether Symbio have to pay per reading or pay a flat rate.