Smart Meters and independent verification

nic_c

Does having smart meters mean that when changing suppliers they are no longer "independently verified" or is this dependant if they remain smart. Just usually when I change supplier my readings are "verified" which usually means I pay a bit more to my old supplier for energy that I will use with my new supplier. Not an issue so long as both readings are used by both suppliers, just it could be a good reason to get smart meters and ensure they are mart enough for future switches.

Talldave

Sorry, I don't know the answer. But my cynical reply, because this is the incompetent energy industry, is that the industry's "meter reading tampering " body will carry on screwing things up for customers.

I've just experienced another switch where they changed my switching reading. Why, I have no idea. They obviously don't trust my eyeballs or the camera on my smartphone, which I find pretty insulting. This time, I found that my new supplier is going to use my reading and the old supplier insisted on using the wrong value from the meter reading screw-up body. I pointed out that I had a timed photograph of the reading and refuse to pay for anything other than the genuine consumption. So they credited the account with the equivalent of the difference, whilst not accepting that the reading was wrong.

matelodave

Talldave wrote: »

Sorry, I don't know the answer. But my cynical reply, because this is the incompetent energy industry, is that the industry's "meter reading tampering " body will carry on screwing things up for customers.

I've just experienced another switch where they changed my switching reading. Why, I have no idea. They obviously don't trust my eyeballs or the camera on my smartphone, which I find pretty insulting. This time, I found that my new supplier is going to use my reading and the old supplier insisted on using the wrong value from the meter reading screw-up body. I pointed out that I had a timed photograph of the reading and refuse to pay for anything other than the genuine consumption. So they credited the account with the equivalent of the difference, whilst not accepting that the reading was wrong.

Similar situation with me when I changed from Octopus to Eversmart last year (after IRESA went bust). Eversmart wanted to use an inflated estimated reading whereas Octopus used the correct reading for their final bill which gave a gap of around 300kwh which I haven't actually paid for. I've still got the £35 in the bank just in case someone tries claiming it in the future.

Talldave

matelodave wrote: »

Similar situation with me when I changed from Octopus to Eversmart last year (after IRESA went bust). Eversmart wanted to use an inflated estimated reading whereas Octopus used the correct reading for their final bill which gave a gap of around 300kwh which I haven't actually paid for. I've still got the £35 in the bank just in case someone tries claiming it in the future.

That's the better way around! I was going to end up paying twice for the same gas!

I'd love to hear someone in the industry explain why an estimate derived from my actual reading by the industry's "screwing about with meter readings" body is more appropriate to use than the actual reading I've recorded, both with my eyeballs and my phone's ludicrously high resolution camera?

It beggars belief that this is in any way a logical thing to do and just reinforces my opinion that the majority of the energy industry is run by incompetent idiots.

brewerdave

matelodave wrote: »

Similar situation with me when I changed from Octopus to Eversmart last year (after IRESA went bust). Eversmart wanted to use an inflated estimated reading whereas Octopus used the correct reading for their final bill which gave a gap of around 300kwh which I haven't actually paid for. I've still got the £35 in the bank just in case someone tries claiming it in the future.

I have the opposite problem in that Together Energy (on behalf of the defunct One Select) want to charge me for leccy I'd already paid First Utility/Shell Energy for. I've been trying to resolve since end of March - as a result I'm sitting on ~ £144 of TE's money, as I won't pay until they give me the correct OS credit!

[Deleted User]

I personally would nt mind if a competent supplier ignored my current reading I submit and add a new one which was higher.I like to build a lot of credit up in the summer months for the gas account .If I switch in August/September as I usually do, there is nt enough summer months to build up a healthy credit.
I don t usually stay more than one year with anyone anyway so any credit will be refunded..Banks don t give me much interest so I don t mind a supplier hanging on to some of my money

spiro

If it is a DCC enrolled smart meter there is a slightly revised process for agreeing the CoS meter reading.