My power bill

celticmist

To whom it concerns,

I signed up over 2 years ago with Scottish Power..    I live in a pretty small flat in Edinburgh in   Scotland.    They  promised an attractive tariff  which, with projections of my existing metre readings they estimated that  an annual bill should be around   £500-  £600  sterling  per annum.  I was receiving and paying a bill, in FULL,  every two months.  However I received a bill based upon a metre reading they took  on January  6th  and the  bill      has   come to an astonishing   £815.30.

There is no way my  bill could have came to to such an amount as it was paid every 2 months and for the past month, the flat had virtually been unoccupied. I had been out of the country for  pretty much most  of  December  so there is no way  that I could have used up that much  energy.

They're us no way that I  can  pay that amount  upfront right now, having been shielding from work  due to my asthma and health status.


Can you   advise me or possibly help as this sort us causing me great distress?




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Robin9

If the meter reading on January 6th was the first time a meter reading had come in 2 years then yes it's quite probably right - all the others may have been estimates.

Have you been giving the supplier readings every month ?  

Have a look at the bills and look for the letter A, E or C  -     what do you see ?

tim_p

You need to edit your post and remove the name / contact details!!

Gerry1

A fixed direct debit is no guarantee that there will be enough in the kitty to pay the bills.  It's not an All You Can Eat tariff, that's what meters are for.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay

So you probably haven't been paying in full for the energy that you have used.

If you haven't been reading the meter then the next meter reading can trigger a bill shock if the estimated usage turns out to have been too low. Ask for a payment plan.

Verdigris

As this is a flat, and the meter has apparently been read without your assistance, I'm assuming it is in a communal cupboard or plant room. It is possible the wrong meter has been read. You need to check the meter with the serial number given on the bill to see if the reading is similar to that given on the bill (it will be higher, of course, but in the same ballpark if the correct meter has been read correctly).

Oh, and don't believe any projection made by a supplier that is based on no evidence. They don't know the thermal efficiency of the flat, what appliances are installed, what you habits are, how hot you like the rooms. It's a how long is a piece of string question. You can only work from your historic consumption and that requires you to take regular meter readings, so you get accurate bills and an accurate annual consumption. If you neglect this, you tend to get surprises - usually nasty ones.

Gerry1

Also do a sanity check on the meter. In the evening, switch off sensitive items such as computers and the TV, switch off all the circuits at the consumer unit, then switch off at the main switch.  Watch the red light on the meter (marked 1000 Imp/kWh or similar) for a few minutes and make sure it never flashes. Switch everything on again and see the red light flashing away merrily.

If you have gas, you can do a similar test, but first make sure you know the procedures about turning the boiler and appliances on.  Switch off at the meter, make sure the appliances don't work and that the boiler goes off.  Switch all the gas appliances off, restore the supply and switch the boiler on again.

Verdigris

and see the red light flashing away merrily.

There are, literally, hundreds of types of meter in use. They don't all have flashing lights. Meter readers (should) only read against a correct serial number. Any markings that say "Flat x" or whatever aren't taken as gospel.

[Deleted User]

I'd imagine you'll be able to set up an extended payment plan (12months max before any credit report) or longer if need be.

Brewer20

You don't say how much you pay per 2 months, how much you use (do you know) and assuming it's just electric not dual fuel? You could be paying £50 or £150 payments for all we know? A bit more understanding of the situation and never reveal your personal details on a forum.
Love to help but help us with more info.👍