Incorrect 'final' meter reading after smart meter installation

rp1974

Any sign of actual historic meter readings?,posting a photo,or the last bill,with identifiable information removed would be useful here.
Regarding what should be rejected as an erroneous reading is this a standard/specified amount,or an arbitrary one based on supplier xyz?.

[Deleted User]

rp1974 said:

Any sign of actual historic meter readings?,posting a photo,or the last bill,with identifiable information removed would be useful here.
Regarding what should be rejected as an erroneous reading is this a standard/specified amount,or an arbitrary one based on supplier xyz?.

Suppliers and their data collectors work to industry procedures.

https://www.elexon.co.uk/csd/bscp504-non-half-hourly-data-collection-for-sva-metering-systems-registered-in-smrs/

This link also provides information on how switch readings are validated and annual usage calculated:

https://octopus.energy/blog/secret-life-opening-meter-reading/

datimms

Thanks everyone for your comments so far. Agree 100% - the moral of the story is always take photos of the meter. You can't take it for granted they know what they are doing (more on that to follow). I've certainly learned my lesson.

Still nothing from EON regarding the investigation. Just to clarify, I have taken and provided manual readings on the old meter more or less monthly since we moved in 4 years ago (several different suppliers over that time). I've only had estimated bills if I miss a bill deadline, which has happened in the past but this gets sorted out quickly because I always provide regular readings. The opening reading EON based the bill on was one of these manual reading taken by me when prompted as part of the switch process. The last time an official reading was taken was some time ago. 

However, in the meantime, a contractor turned up to audit the installation and so I was able to discuss this with him. It turns out they do have a photo of the old meter. The photo is not great, not detailed enough to take a reading but importantly does clearly show the position of the needles against the dials. I showed the auditor the detailed photo from last year and he used that to read off the position from the offical (bad) photo. His conclusion was that the original reading of 50xxx was incorrect and we could clearly see it was actually 49xxx. I'll try and post photos so you can all see. I'm grateful that he said he would be happy to go on record to back me up. So hopefully EON will take this into account and recalculate my bill.

That is not the end of the story though. The auditor ended up completely redoing the electricity meter install. Seems the whole thing was off code. Not a great day for the first guy, clearly. 
 
I'll update when I hear back from EON but this is encouraging and I'll be happy to take this to the ombudsman if they won't move. 

irisheyes153

if you can get me 2 meter readings within 10 days I can do an average daily use for you. It might be a bit high (With the spring usage rather than the summer, but it's nearer to what you would have used). If you provide me with the meter reading before the meter was installed, I can work out what your reading should be in the region of. 

Perhaps if you spoke to the gentleman from Eon who posted before me, you could work something out (no promises).

[Deleted User]

datimms said:

 
I'll update when I hear back from EON but this is encouraging and I'll be happy to take this to the ombudsman if they won't move. 

Be wary of going to The EO unless you have clear evidence to show that the supplier has got it wrong, which you suggest that you have. The EO process is nothing more than a review of your complaint and a file provided by the supplier. You do not get to see the supplier’s file. The EO doesn’t base its decisions on what might have happened; moreover, given the situation that you now find yourself in I doubt that any supplier would allow a complaint to go to The EO unless it was 100% sure that it was right. Why - because each complaint costs them over £400 in EO fees. 

Suppliers no longer have to send out meter readers. They only have to obtain a meter reading once every 12 months. Customer readings satisfy this requirement.

brewerdave

[Deleted User] said:

datimms said:

 
I'll update when I hear back from EON but this is encouraging and I'll be happy to take this to the ombudsman if they won't move. 

The EO doesn’t base its decisions on what might have happened; moreover, given the situation that you now find yourself in I doubt that any supplier would allow a complaint to go to The EO unless it was 100% sure that it was right. Why - because each complaint costs them over £400 in EO fees. 

May be so IF you are arguing with a supplier who actually responds to the complaint - but in the two cases I've involved the E.O, the suppliers concerned didn't even engage with me until the s**t hit the fan; both times they pleaded for me to accept a remedy including compensation before the E.O actually investigated !

datimms

Hi, just to update with the outcome.
I'm thankful to be able to say that the revised meter reading was accepted in light of the evidence. While I am disappointed I had no help from EON to investigate with their contractor I'm pleased to get the right outcome. EON did apply a small (I mean small) statement credit to apologise.
Thanks to everyone who commented and offered advice. 

Reed_Richards

I'm glad that you achieved the result you wanted and it was very good of you to post back and let us know.  There is a show on TV called "Unsolved Mysteries" and I reckon they could run the show entirely on posts to this forum where we never find out the outcome.