Opening meter reading before switch date?

rjmachin

I am in the process of switching supplier from Avro to Octopus.

Octopus have advised that the switch will complete on the 2nd March and they will send me an email to submit meter readings on the 25th February (although I can submit them any time before 7th March)

Is it normal to ask for reading between a week either side of the switch date?

When I previously switched in 2017 (Avro has been cheapest ever since until now for me) from Sainsburys to Avro, I submitted meter reading on the day of the switch and all seemed to work out well with no issues.

When do you normally provide meter readings when switching?

My tariff with Avro is fixed until 8th March

Chino

rjmachin said:

When do you normally provide meter readings when switching?

Five days before the switch in my recent experience.

GunJack

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

MWT

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

Gerry1

The customer cannot choose the exact switchover date, so there has to be several days flexibility because some people may be away during the week.

Jyana

I switched to Octopus last month, gave them the reading they asked for 5 days before the change and then gave the old supplier the closing reading they wanted on the last day I was with them. Neither were that important really, as MWT has pointed out above a third party will decide what the actual reading will be within a few weeks of the switch and both suppliers will have to go by that figure. In my case it was decided that the second reading I gave on the last day was the 'correct' one and everything was pretty smooth sailing from there, thankfully.

GunJack

MWT said:

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

This is true, but so far I've never had an issue with any disputed readings doing this. It generally saves having a few days estimated supply either side of the switch date for anyone to argue with, and if they've both had the same reading it just helps with tracking where any possible disputes come from...

brewerdave

MWT said:

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

In my experience it's better NOT to give the old supplier readings even if they ask for them. On two switches in the last few years, it has caused issues with units being charged twice as readings overlapped. And this can be a pain to sort with frontline CS as they quote the "250kwh" difference rule ,which is irrelevant !!

[Deleted User]

brewerdave said:

MWT said:

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

In my experience it's better NOT to give the old supplier readings even if they ask for them. On two switches in the last few years, it has caused issues with units being charged twice as readings overlapped. And this can be a pain to sort with frontline CS as they quote the "250kwh" difference rule ,which is irrelevant !!

I agree 100%. How many times do people get what they think is a Final Bill when it isn't: it is just a bill raised on the readings provided. Best to let the 'system' do its own thing imho.

bristolleedsfan

GunJack said:

MWT said:

GunJack said:

On the last day of supply by the old supplier, and enter the same read on your old supplier's site

That isn't going to make any difference.

The reading that will be used by your old supplier has to come from the new supplier and be vetted/adjusted by the 3rd party agency that approves the final reading.

This is true, but so far I've never had an issue with any disputed readings doing this. It generally saves having a few days estimated supply either side of the switch date for anyone to argue with, and if they've both had the same reading it just helps with tracking where any possible disputes come from...

Yes I do the same and agree with you, also from my experience - Scottish Power issued final bill with credit in my Bank account 10 actual days after switched out date ( I gave reading to So Energy day before switchover day)

So Energy created final Bill on 3rd actual day following switch out date due to Green Network Energy accepting reading I gave 10 days before it ceased trading (I gave reading to both So Energy and GNE the day before switchover date)

Some new suppliers clearly do not in all instances send readings to 3rd party agency that might adjust/approve the final reading. ( if anybody wants to contradict my experience I will ask So Energy to clarify procedure it operates on So Energy thread)

EDF are going through meter reading check system , 7 days and counting  since switch date ......

bristolleedsfan

Gerry1 said:

The customer cannot choose the exact switchover date,

Someone signing up to Octopus Energy within welcome email there is an option to change and choose switch date, I have never known a switchover date be different to what was stated/chosen ....and I do a lot of single fuel switches .....