Opening and Closing meter readings on a new house move

maddesigns

Hello, Can anyone help with what I should do or what the energy companies should be doing?

I recently moved home and supplied closing and opening readings for both properties on the 12 January 2021.

Unfortunately, my supplier Octupus, was unable to supply me at my new property until the 23 January 2021, so SSE continued to supply energy at  this property being from 12th January 2021 to 23 January 2021). Octopus then took over supply from the 23 January 2021.

No meter reading was taken on the 23 January 2021, to close the SSE account, so SSE have billed me on estimate readings for the period of 12 January 2021, to 23 January 2021, (the period that they supplied my energy). I am not happy to pay estimated readings as they are very high for one weeks usage and Octopus have also billed me and taken payment  for the same period of 12 January 2021 to 23 January 2021. Octopus did this by using the same opening readings that I took for my new property on the 12 January 2021, as the opening reading for the 23rd January 2021. This is obviously incorrect and I am being asked by SSE to pay for the same period again, but they do not have any readings for the 23rd January to close the account; so SSE are telling me to pay £60 for gas for one week, on an estimated bill and they are sending out debt collection letters

What can I do?

Thank you in advance

Petriix

Octopus should use whatever made up reading SSE have come up with. You can only challenge this if it's out by a significant margin, otherwise you just have to lump it. But remember that it's only the difference in unit price between the old and new tariffs that you'll actually be out of pocket, so unlikely to be more than a few pounds.

Contact Octopus and ask them to ensure they're using the same reading as SSE.

Carrot007

Octopus are entirely wrong for using the same opening read for the 12th and the 23rd. They should have asked for a new one.

However I doubt it is that ridiculos whatever it is if SSE used the correct read for the opening (you are entirely in the wrong for not contacting them as there will always be a period where you have to use the old supplier even if it is a day).

The suppliers need to agree on a opening read for Octupos and lcosing for SSE and stick to it. While the insane new system deems it Octupus's responsibility so SSE would have only bileld you for standing charges, the entire industry was set up in 1997 to make it the responsibility of the old supplier and systems are entrecnched. Especially in a company like SSE. Regardless SSE would have contested it for no usage.

So get them to agree something. Complain more to yourt current supplier as they opened on the wrong read. They need to change it and then SSE need to agree and use the new read.

(do note SSE no longert being a current supplier none of this will happen properly and will be a painful manual process, such is the market now they reversed the roles).

[Deleted User]

Your new supplier Octopus should have asked you for an opening reading. This then goes through an industry validation process and it is then used by both suppliers to open and close your accounts. You will not be paying for the same energy twice as the opening and closing readings have to agree. In truth, your £60 overpayment is not the true additional cost to you: the true cost is the difference in unit prices times the excess number of units. Think of it this way: your actual meter reading was 02500 but the estimated changeover reading was 03000. So you have paid the old supplier for 500 units that you haven’t used. You will only pay your new supplier the daily standing charge until your meter index passes 03000. If your old unit price was 16p and your new unit price is 15p, then the true cost to you is 500 x 1p. You can make a fuss, try and get Octopus to initiate an Agreed Readings Dispute but is it worth all the hassle? The important thing to check is that SSE and Octopus are using the same reading to close and open your accounts.

Finally, talk to Octopus about the contract start date. You were on a Deemed Contract with SSE the day that you moved in to your new home. You cannot take an existing supply contract with you. You have to transfer (switch) back to your old supplier. Octopus and SSE should be using the same date for contract end and start.

rp1974

Why weren't SSE given the meter reading on 23/01/21?.
If they had been then you wouldn't be in this position now,what else do you expect them to do other than estimate the bill?.
Octopus shouldn't be charging for anything used before 23/01/21,they weren't your supplier.

maddesigns

Thank you for your reply, information and advice.

SSE did not use the correct readings but an estimate; and the bill was not just for standing charges.  I did call them and they then changed the electricity bill to standing charge only, which I have paid. However, the gas bill is a complete estimate and does not include my opening reading. They are asking me to pay £60 for one weeks supply of gas, which I consider a lot.

I will get onto Octopus again with your guidance, Much appreciated

maddesigns

I wasn't immediately aware that Octopus would not be taking over my supply on the 12th January. They always request a meter readinig via email, when required, but did not do so for the 23rd January, (when they were taking over the account), for some reason.

I understand that it is the difference in unit charge, thank you. But because Octopus have used the opening reading I took on the 12 January, as the opening reading for the 23rd January, and SSE are billing me for the same period as they supplied the energy for this period, 12 to 23 January, then I am being asked to pay twice for the same timeframe.

JGB1955

It will all come out in the wash - you should have been asked/provided anyway, an opening read for Octopus on 23/1.  At the same time I would have provided the exact same closing read for SSE (your deemed supplier until that date).

[Deleted User]

As I said above, you cannot take an energy contract with you when you move home. The existing supplier becomes what is known as the Deemed Supplier when you move in. You then have to notify them that you have moved in etc and give them a reading. You can then switch. Transfers of supply take about 15 to 17 days normally. Once the transfer has gone through, the Deemed Supplier can raise a bill covering standing charges and for energy consumed pending the transfer. Octopus is familiar with the way this works as I did it myself 3 years ago. The deal was that if I switched to them on moving in I could retain my old tariff terms (allowing for regional differences) until my existing contract end date.

Speak to Octopus. They should be dealing with SSE as the gaining supplier. You may have added a measure of confusion to the situation.

rp1974

Just for clarity,SSE didn't get a correct closing reading on 23/01/21,for some reason.
They then sent you an estimated bill because of that,dont see that SSE have done anything that you could call unreasonable.

Have you sent SSE the correct closing reading since then?.
They can revise the bill so that is accurate as opposed to estimated if you have.

As per previous reply you owe Octopus nothing for the period before 23/01/21,get an explanation as to why they are billing you for this.

maddesigns

Correct, except that there is no closing reading for the 23 January, as none was taken. So SSE have estimated random reading. Octopus have billed me for this period, because they have used my opening reading on the 12 January which I took when I moved into the property and used this reading as their opening reading for the 23 January?!! Octopus say, that the system did this otherwise it can not move forward?