Check your Estimated readings

DaveP_2

I had to help a friend today who has very poor eyesight and had received yet another estimated bill from SSE
The last time a proper reading was recorded on her account was last January. Reading the meter today showed that the estimates were way out and her actual bill was considerably higher.
Meter readers had come twice in the last 5 months and read the meters, but until I spoke to the SSE customer services today I didn't realize that unless those Meter reading companies send in the reading ON THE DAY that the next bill is due SSE totally disregard it - an incredible admission. By law they must have the meter read twice a year but presumably there is nothing to say they must use those readings.
  My friend had tried to pass on the correct readings in a one hour call last week but the customer services would not accept the reading as the meter had clicked over from beginning 99xx to 00xx and "the computer won't accept it!"
A point to remember is if your bill  estimates are underestimating your use, when the real readings are corrected after the new price rises come in you could end up paying at the newer higher price.

MWT

DaveP_2 said:

By law they must have the meter read twice a year but presumably there is nothing to say they must use those readings.

There is no law requiring this.

They are required to ensure that an accurate bill is produced at least once a year, but that can use readings from a smart meter or a customer provided reading, it does not require a meter reader to provide a reading.

imeach

MWT said:

DaveP_2 said:

By law they must have the meter read twice a year but presumably there is nothing to say they must use those readings.

There is no law requiring this.

They are required to ensure that an accurate bill is produced at least once a year, but that can use readings from a smart meter or a customer provided reading, it does not require a meter reader to provide a reading.

It is a rather stupid system though really.
Admittedly the readings taken by meter readers are only to confirm they have carried out a "visual inspection" but suppliers must use some of those readings especially for those on Priority Services Register?

MWT

Agreed, it is stupid, especially because failure to use those readings leaves them open to being caught by the back-billing rules if they don't get another accurate reading and they need to issue a catch-up bill...