2 standing charges for electricity

Cerise31

Hi folks! 

I have a house that was once split into flats then put back into a house again. As such, there are 2 electricity meters - one upstairs and one downstairs. There is only one gas meter downstairs. 

An electrician has confirmed there is one supply into the house that is then split. There are 2 fuseboards - so if I simply have one meter removed, I will lose power to one floor. I'm told it would be several hundred pounds to 

"install a switched fused isolator in the ground floor cupboard, with the isolator being supplied by the ground floor meter and the current second floor meter cables to be connected through or re-terminated into the consumer unit".

I am paying 3 standing charges - 1 per metre. Can I argue that I should only be paying 2? One for each type of energy? I was told it was per metre... Bulb want £120 just to remove a meter. Added to the other work cost, I wouldn't make any savings for years if I go this route.

So, any likelihood of convincing them it is one supply into the property rhus should only be one standing charge? 

Any advice gratefully received! 

Gerry1

Victory: 2 MPANs but one SC

Not exactly the same situation but might be relevant.

Fred2712

Quite simple really, pay for re-wire & meter removal or carry on paying standing charge.All the time the meters are on site you pay a standing charge.
I can’t see it is the energy company’s fault someone changed a property into two flats & then back to 1 house again, why expect them to pay?

Ectophile

So, any likelihood of convincing them it is one supply into the property rhus should only be one standing charge?

No chance.  You have two separate supplies, so two standing charges.  If you want to go back to one, get it rewired and one meter removed.

Curiousgirl1

Gerry1 said:

Victory: 2 MPANs but one SC

Not exactly the same situation but might be relevant.

This is totally different, it is one supply with two meters, a standard & an off peak which is quite unique to SSE.  The OP has two separate supplies with 2 separate meters, therefore 2 standing charges 

Cerise31

Curiousgirl1 said:

This is totally different, it is one supply with two meters, a standard & an off peak which is quite unique to SSE.  The OP has two separate supplies with 2 separate meters, therefore 2 standing charges 

Is it though? It's one supply into the house (into a space under the stairs). It is only once it is in the house that the supply is split between the 2 floors... Isn't it similar to having 2 boilers (one on each floor) so when the gas comes into the property, it is split between the 2? 

I'm obviously happy to pay for the overall supply, I just don't see why there should be 2 standing charges for one supply into the house, just because it diverts once in. I don't see how it is costing them anything extra...

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I take it when split there were two different bill payers?

Did get it split or you got house like that?

MWT

Curiousgirl1 said:

Gerry1 said:

Victory: 2 MPANs but one SC

Not exactly the same situation but might be relevant.

This is totally different, it is one supply with two meters, a standard & an off peak which is quite unique to SSE.  The OP has two separate supplies with 2 separate meters, therefore 2 standing charges 

Agreed, complex/restricted metering is a different thing, what the OP has is just wrong and should have been rewired when it was converted back into a single residential unit.

Cerise31

[Deleted User] said:

Hi,

I take it when split there were two different bill payers?

Did get it split or you got house like that?

One owner split the house into 2 flats when his elderly mother moved in. When she passed, the house was converted back. I think this was 2 owners ago. I bought the house like this (it's Victorian)  

MasterMercenary

EDF actually have a complex metering team who should be able to help as they are experts at dealing with properties with more than one meter.

I am currently in the process of switching to EDF via this team and they are providing my supply on 2 meters/MPANs for only one standing charge.

I would recommend contacting EDF complex metering team on 0333 009 6980.

MWT

This isn't actually a complex metering situation though, it is just two flats knocked into one that needs to have one meter/supply removed and rewired accordingly...

EDF have a good explanation of both 'complex metering' and 'restricted metering':

https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/all-you-need-know-about-economy-7