GNE to EDF - meter reading dispute (Help Please)

Fairzo

I was with Green Network Energy in what now seem like the good old days, subsequently transferring to EDF.

The GNE "final" bill was a work of fiction in terms of final readings and EDF confirmed on 2nd July that they had been disputed. However, I've heard nothing since and haven't received any further bills.

Raised the issue with EDF on Twitter DM this morning but any former GNE customers in a similar position?

MWT

How different were the actual meter readings from the ones that were used for the bill?

The readings are often adjusted by the industry process for validating the readings, so it is far from uncommon for them to be different, but there are limits on how far they can be from the actual reading.

Also, even if the meter readings were 'wrong' you will still only be paying for the energy once, it just alters who you pay, so given the difference in tariffs, how much in cash terms are you actually arguing about?

Fairzo

MWT said:

How different were the actual meter readings from the ones that were used for the bill?

The readings are often adjusted by the industry process for validating the readings, so it is far from uncommon for them to be different, but there are limits on how far they can be from the actual reading.

Also, even if the meter readings were 'wrong' you will still only be paying for the energy once, it just alters who you pay, so given the difference in tariffs, how much in cash terms are you actually arguing about?

Hi, we're on Economy 7 and are relatively high users (all electric including heating).

Last customer readings provided to GNE (18/12/20) were 8040 (Day) and 14451 (Night). Billed on these figures.

"Final" bill ignored the above readings but included actual readings of 7660 / 13214 taken on 24/11/20.

Estimates were then used to calculate the final bill as follows:-

31/1/21 - 8001 / 13400

17/3/21 - 8219 / 13521

My readings at those dates were:-

31/1/21 - 9053 / 16931 (have photographs)

18/3/21 - 9876 / 19451.

In terms of the night reading the 17/3/21 estimated closing reading is well below the reading I provided on 18/12/20 and which I've been billed for, so there would seem to be the potential for being billed twice for that.

The 31/1/21 day estimate is below the reading I provided on 18/12/20 and not significantly above the actual reading taken on 24/11/20.

In "cash terms" it's the night reading / double billing I'm obviously most concerned about but the gross inaccuracy overall needs to be remedied?

EDF was been provided with the 31/1 and 18/3 figures months ago.

Astria

I had the same problem moving from GNE to EDF as both asked for a meter reading on the same day so they both got given the same readings. I ignored the letter and they finally agreed on a meter reading between themselves several weeks later - which was the meter reading I gave to them!

Fairzo

Astria said:

I had the same problem moving from GNE to EDF as both asked for a meter reading on the same day so they both got given the same readings. I ignored the letter and they finally agreed on a meter reading between themselves several weeks later - which was the meter reading I gave to them!

Thanks, "weeks" does seem to be the norm, rather than months.

Coincidentally, about 30 mins after sending the Twitter DM I had a request for meter readings via the app. Never thought I'd say it but it would be nice to have a bill!

Astria

Fairzo said:

Astria said:

I had the same problem moving from GNE to EDF as both asked for a meter reading on the same day so they both got given the same readings. I ignored the letter and they finally agreed on a meter reading between themselves several weeks later - which was the meter reading I gave to them!

Thanks, "weeks" does seem to be the norm, rather than months.

Coincidentally, about 30 mins after sending the Twitter DM I had a request for meter readings via the app. Never thought I'd say it but it would be nice to have a bill!

EDF told me they only send a bill every 6 months so I didn't get one until I left them as well, where as EON (where I am now) send one every month after I've submitted a meter reading. So far this year I've been with GNE, EDF and EON

Fairzo

Amended the thread title to Help Please as things have taken a turn for the worst.

Received a reply to my Twitter DM to say that the "dispute [regarding meter readings] was never agreed and GNE have completely ceased trading now". EDF has therefore worked on GNE's final (incorrect) readings of 8219 (day) and 13521 (night) and produced a bill (although I haven't seen it yet) which leaves me with a debit of £1000+.

The day reading I don't think I need be too concerned about as the final (17th March) estimate is above my 18th December reading and EDF retained, more or less, GNE's rates.

However, the night reading is 13521 (final estimated) compared to my 14451 (18th December 2020) for which I've already been billed. EDF's new bill will therefore, presumably, result in a double charge for 930 units.

I find it hard to believe that this dispute has been anywhere near the mysterious organisation which deals with such matters. I've told EDF that I'm going to have to start a complaint but is there anything else I need to be doing regarding the grossly inaccurate readings?

QrizB

EDF's new bill will therefore, presumably, result in a double charge for 930 units.

But you don't know that, not until EDF send you a bill.

Forget your actual readings for a moment.

You should have received a closing GNE bill back in May. What did that say? Were you in credit, and if so by how much?

EDF's opening readings should be the same as GNE's closing ones, even if they are estimates. Is this the case or is it not?

Fairzo

They are using GNE's estimated closing readings but, as I've tried to explain above, the night rate closing reading is so far from reality that I've already paid for some of those units in the December 2020 bill. The December 18th reading was 14451, shown on the December bill and charged for. GNE's estimated closing reading is 13521, hence the 930 unit discrepancy.

I received the "final" GNE bill in July and disputed it. The readings had also shown in my EDF online account in April and I disputed them then too, providing my readings for 31st January and 18th March in an online chat. I have the chat transcript and photos of the January readings.

I have received no information from EDF other than the readings were being disputed until today. And that is only because I asked.

Curiousgirl1

You shouldn’t have been billed twice for the night units. Your final GNE bill should show some cancelled charges from your December bill then you would be billed again up to the 8001 & 13400 reads. 

These reads would then have been used for the EDF billing until you went over to their systems. 

I believe EDF kept the GNE prices until 30 Sept so if you are still with them, make sure they have actual reads for that date - provided you took them. 

As the prices are the same until 30 Sept it doesn’t really matter when you were billed for them, the cost is the same. 

Fairzo

Curiousgirl1 said:

You shouldn’t have been billed twice for the night units. Your final GNE bill should show some cancelled charges from your December bill then you would be billed again up to the 8001 & 13400 reads. 

These reads would then have been used for the EDF billing until you went over to their systems. 

I believe EDF kept the GNE prices until 30 Sept so if you are still with them, make sure they have actual reads for that date - provided you took them. 

As the prices are the same until 30 Sept it doesn’t really matter when you were billed for them, the cost is the same. 

Thanks, I've stayed with EDF on a three year fix so all readings are provided and up to date. What's frustrating, to be polite, is that I disputed the GNE estimated final readings when I became aware of them in April and when they were also used on the final bill. As far as I was concerned they were still in dispute and it's only today that I discover (because I asked) that there was no resolution. There must be responsibility somewhere for not pursuing the dispute to a conclusion.

I'll have another look at the final GNE bill tomorrow but I don't recall reference to cancelled charges.