Business Charges for Unused Meter

FiMalone1971

We moved into our business premises on 1 January 2020. We set up electricity contract with a new supplier. Then we have just received a bill from Corona Energy for nearly £700 as apparently we have a gas meter. First of all is this correct we can be charged for this and also is this company being dishonest as it has only just sent us a bill 8 mths after we moved. Is there anything we can do to get this sorted out. Thanks 

FiMalone1971

I also meant to say that the property hasn’t used gas in years as the boiler is broken. The gas meter is turned off.

daveyjp

If it has a meter you pay a charge and as the new property occupier you you will be on an expensive deemed contract.

To stop the bill you need the meter removing and supply capped off.

MWT

This is mostly a consumer forum so there is not a lot of experience with business contracts on here.

This may help you though...

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/business-gas-and-electricity-guide/understand-energy-contracts-businesses

If you have the gas meter reading for the day you took possession of the premises and the current reading shows there has been zero use then you may have some options, as although the deemed contract system applies to a business just as it would to a consumer, with zero use you have not actually triggered the supply requirement, but you should have contacted them the moment you moved in just like you did with the electricity.

If you do not intend to use the gas at all then I would suggest asking them about a zero standing charge tariff, but even then I'd expect there to be a minimum annual billing requirement, and of course consider switching to a different supplier as the deemed contract cannot have a restriction on leaving....

Look closely at the bill as well, it probably has an estimated use component as well as the standing charge, also check the meter readings and make sure the opening reading matches your reading on the day you took possession of the premises.

Do you own the premises or is it a lease?

Having the gas meter removed is always an option if you own your premises, but you need to think carefully about that obviously...

Robin9

This site is essentially a domestic site so there will be limited knowledge of commercial contracts. I am not sure if the deemed supplier arrangement applies. I know that you have to be careful when contracts run out

I suspect that just turning off the gas will not be enough - it needs to be capped

Who is the bill from ?  I presume its ESTIMATED.  Standing Charges for Commercial Supplies can be high - I'm paying £2.18 a day plus CCL and 20% VAT

Ectophile

The way the Gas Act (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/44) is worded, you only become a deemed customer of the current gas supplier once you have taken a supply.  If you have never used any gas since moving in, then you have no contract (deemed or otherwise), and they have no grounds to bill you.