Free gas?

westofsouth

Way back in Sept 2019 the gas account at a property I own was apparently cancelled. Whether it was the then tenants who cancelled or the energy supplier is unclear.

However gas continued to be used at the property until the tenants left in July 2020. There was apparently no registered gas supplier (and no meter reads) during this time and as far as I can tell, no charge made for the gas consumed.

How could this happen?

jefaz07

Happens a lot more than you think. This is only a few months, I've seen years! 
 It is paid for by the transporter.

dogshome

There is no mechanism in the system to "Cancel" the gas supply - What is possible is to have the gas disconnected which includes removal; of the meter.

The likely hood is that a tenant wanted to change supplier or there was was an erroneous transfer, and somehow the account was 'lost' in the transfer between companies.

It may not be lost for forever and a supplier could come out of the wood work with BIG cash demands.

First thing to do is Google "Who supplies my Gas" for this address.

If nothing comes up, then contact one of the large suppliers and explain the situation, who after an investigation will take on the account - The good new is, is that they can only charge for Gas they supply and not the previous unbilled supplies

westofsouth

Just tried 'Find my supplier' on the Ofgem website.

Result - 'No record for this address'

I have the MAC ID (taken from the Eon installed 'smart' meter); is this the same as the Meter Point Reference Number?

sevenhills

westofsouth said:

Way back in Sept 2019 the gas account at a property I own was apparently cancelled. Whether it was the then tenants who cancelled or the energy supplier is unclear.

However gas continued to be used at the property until the tenants left in July 2020. There was apparently no registered gas supplier (and no meter reads) during this time and as far as I can tell, no charge made for the gas consumed.

Free gas, great, do you benefit personally or your tenant?

westofsouth

Now managed to establish who the current supplier is, which of course I already knew. But of unfortunately there is no record for the period in question - Sept 2019 to July 2020. So I am none the wiser...🤔

Reed_Richards

When the tenants left in July 2020, did you contact the gas supplier, give them a meter reading and tell them that you had taken over the supply?  You can get free gas (or electricity) under the back-billing regulations but only after a year has elapsed and only if you tried and failed to get the supply company to send you a bill.  Otherwise you may eventually find yourself liable for all gas consumed and standing charges since the last bill was paid.  

westofsouth

Reed_Richards said:

When the tenants left in July 2020, did you contact the gas supplier, give them a meter reading and tell them that you had taken over the supply? 

But that's the whole point - there was no identifiable gas supplier!

Or have I misunderstood you...

stewie_griffin

Ask the current supplier who they took the supply from. They must know this.

Reed_Richards

westofsouth said:

Reed_Richards said:

When the tenants left in July 2020, did you contact the gas supplier, give them a meter reading and tell them that you had taken over the supply? 

But that's the whole point - there was no identifiable gas supplier!

Or have I misunderstood you...

I think I have been misunderstanding you.  Is the following correct?

When the tenants left in July 2020 you applied to the gas provider of your choice to take over the supply and you have been paying bills to that provider ever since.  You believe in September 2019 the gas supply was "cancelled" although that cannot be true because it cannot be done without removing the gas meter.  So you are concerned about whether the gas used by your tenants between September 2019 and July 2020 was paid for?  But the only reason you believe that it was not paid for is the mistaken belief that the supply was cancelled.  Therefore you are probably worrying over nothing.