Two electricity meters - paying for unused one

Cleagarr

I own a property that was once two - a commercial property (police station) and a flat upstairs. They were converted into one dwelling by the previous owner (all done legally).

Both properties took an electricity feed from the main cable coming in and had separate meters. Now only one meter is being used but I am having to pay Utility Warehouse (£8.37 monthly) for the standing charge on the unused meter.

At the time I took the property on I was told it was illegal to remove the meter and when the meter owner (?) Utility Warehouse were contacted by the previous owner of the property he was told firstly that they could not remove the meter and then that they could but it would cost at least £600 to do so.

Two years on I am still paying the standing charge and constantly being asked to justify why the meter readings do not go up (UW send a man round every now and then to prove it).

So I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on what to do - it might not sound much but £8.37 and the hassle of dealing with UW is getting to me. Does anyone know how I might go about getting the meter out and/ or what is the cheapest standing charge I could switch to? UW are now badgering me to have a smart meter put it - is this an opportunity somehow to get rid if it?

Many thanks for taking the time to read!

Farway

Switch to a supplier with Zero standing charge
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/electricity-standing-charge/

Talldave

I can't help on the meter removal, but Utility Warehouse are ripping you off (I've always seen them as more of a cult than an energy supplier!).
Comparison sites probably won't accept zero annual consumption, but try with whatever the lowest figure they will accept and that will bring up suppliers with the lowest standing charge (remember to select the "all suppliers" option). You could then switch whilst researching the costs of meter removal if it's going to take some time.

EDIT: Have the meters been updated to non commercial in the national database? If not you'll have problems switching. I had that problem in a former commercial property - only the current supplier can fix it.

silvercar

I'm not sure why you have taken on supply from that meter. When you moved in you should have taken over the meter you wanted to take your electricity supply from and not the other one.

My understanding is that you form a contract either by signing up with a supplier or starting to use the electricity it supplies. If you do neither no contract should be formed.

DawnCrush

Cleagarr wrote: »

I own a property that was once two - a commercial property (police station) and a flat upstairs. They were converted into one dwelling by the previous owner (all done legally).

Both properties took an electricity feed from the main cable coming in and had separate meters. Now only one meter is being used but I am having to pay Utility Warehouse (£8.37 monthly) for the standing charge on the unused meter.

At the time I took the property on I was told it was illegal to remove the meter and when the meter owner (?) Utility Warehouse were contacted by the previous owner of the property he was told firstly that they could not remove the meter and then that they could but it would cost at least £600 to do so.

Two years on I am still paying the standing charge and constantly being asked to justify why the meter readings do not go up (UW send a man round every now and then to prove it).

So I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on what to do - it might not sound much but £8.37 and the hassle of dealing with UW is getting to me. Does anyone know how I might go about getting the meter out and/ or what is the cheapest standing charge I could switch to? UW are now badgering me to have a smart meter put it - is this an opportunity somehow to get rid if it?

Many thanks for taking the time to read!

How may addresses do you now have?
i.e. how many rates and/or council tax bills are you receiving?

If it's only one address, pay to complete the job that previous owner did not complete, and have the extra meter removed.

Do not attempt to switch to 2 different suppliers, as most suppliers will only accept 1 meter per postal address.

If you still have 2 separate postal addresses (and so receiving rates and/or council tax bills for each), then you can have 2 different suppliers, as it will still be considered 2 separate properties.
But it would be far cheaper to get this sorted properly.
One address and one meter.

When you purchased the property, why did your solicitor advise you that it would be illegal to have the unused meter removed? :huh:
Which law was he or she relying upon?

spiro

I am unaware of any law that makes removing the second meter removed. Do you have to main intake fuses 1 per meter or 1 fuse and 2 meters? If it is the former the supplier can remove the meter but to get the service cable removed you will need to contact the distributor but I don't know what the charge will be. While you have 2 cables there are 2 charges involved. If it is the latter and the 2nd meter is no longer connected tell your supplier that you want it removed. If they say it is illegal ask them to provide you with a copy of the law.

Cleagarr

Thanks for all the replies.

They are listed with different addresses even though they are in the same cupboard - one is 'Old police Station' and the UW one is 'Flat, Old Police Station'.

I'm not sure of the exact setup with fuses etc but will take it up again with Utility Warehouse and see where we get - I feel a bit more informed and 'armed' for the conversation now so thank you to all.

Cleagarr

By means of an update - just got off the phone to UW who have said they will remove the meter (for free) next month which is in direct contrast to what they had previously said was possible! I'll believe it when I see it but just possible this might get sorted!

D_M_E

Just make sure you are npresent when they turn up to remove it - you don't want them to remove the wrong one...............

Also, have they offered any gesture for all the standing charges they have been taking off you for an unused, redundant meter?