HUGE increase in monthly gas and electricity bill imminent

Markt2795

I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

Markt2795

Thanks to everyone for your views and advice. Is there anyone who has signed up to a much higher fixed term rate? I would be interested in understanding your rationale for doing it.

MattMattMattUK

Markt2795 said:

There is no figure on the front screen of the meter and they keep asking me for meter readings so I don't think they are getting readings at all. I agree, you think that they would want it resolved asap but they simply are not delivering despite me going through they complaints process which has now escalated to their CEO!

Does anything happen if you press the buttons on it? Mine sometimes doesn't show anything but pressing a button wakes it up, although I then have to wait for it to cycle back to to usage. 

The complaint might be one thing, but it is worth making 100% sure you have confirmed to them in writing that the meter is not recording usage, to make sure they can not try to argue you did not tell them. 

FreeBear

Markt2795 said: I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

If you have the IHD, it may still connect to the meter and you can access the readings from there.

[Deleted User]

Markt2795 said:

I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

Try the advice given in this https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/how-to-read-your-smart-electricity-meter/

wild666

Markt2795 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Thinking in terms of monthly payments is a futile exercise. You need to work out your annual consumption in kWh/year and then apply that figure to each of the tariffs: that is, your old tariff and your new one. You will then get two annual costs which will provide you with a much more meaningful cost comparison.

Thank you Dolor. That makes sense. Unfortunately my smart meter hasn't been working since July and despite many attempts to get it resolved, the energy company fails to do so. As a result I have no idea how much electricity I'm using. I could probably do something with the gas though.

I have always taken readings off the meter not the IHD. Just take two bills 12 months apart that have the actual customer readings on them and that could give you your energy usage for 12 months minus the daily charges. I always use the prices with VAT added not the ones minus VAT then you know the full price. Then add the SC of around 24p to 26.5p per day (365 days) and that would give you an estimate of your yearly usage.

When I last changed supplier I added 20% to my yearly totals in case I had to spend more on GAS heating during the winter but the supplier went under (Avro) in September but my monthly usage with Octopus is still around the monthly DD I used to pay Avro and I can make an additional payment at any time if I use more electric and gas. 

wild666

Markt2795 said:

I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

If this is the meter, not the IHD, then they should come out and check it for a fault. It has been reported that millions of Smart meters will need replacing by 2030 so they are not all they are made out to be.

Astria

wild666 said:

Markt2795 said:

I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

If this is the meter, not the IHD, then they should come out and check it for a fault. It has been reported that millions of Smart meters will need replacing by 2030 so they are not all they are made out to be.

That 'report is based on the assumption that all smart meters use 2G/3G to communicate, which is due to be phased out in 2033.

Your electric meter has a comms module on/attached or near it. At most this will need to be changed, the meter itself won't need to be changed. Depending on where you live your comms module might not use 2G/3G and so won't be affected. It's also been reported that some modules may be able to be updated via software remotely. 

Gas smart meters use a battery to communicate with your electric meter via short range radio. These won't need to be changed.

jimjames

Astria said:

wild666 said:

Markt2795 said:

I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

If this is the meter, not the IHD, then they should come out and check it for a fault. It has been reported that millions of Smart meters will need replacing by 2030 so they are not all they are made out to be.

Gas smart meters use a battery to communicate with your electric meter via short range radio. These won't need to be changed.

Slightly off topic but curious about this. Does that mean you cannot have a gas smart meter without electric one?

QrizB

jimjames said:

Astria said:

wild666 said:

Markt2795 said:

I am unable to read the electricity meter as it is not giving any reading at all. I will do that with the gas though so thank you

If this is the meter, not the IHD, then they should come out and check it for a fault. It has been reported that millions of Smart meters will need replacing by 2030 so they are not all they are made out to be.

Gas smart meters use a battery to communicate with your electric meter via short range radio. These won't need to be changed.

Slightly off topic but curious about this. Does that mean you cannot have a gas smart meter without electric one?

Yes, it does.