To meter or not

KawasakiRider

The greatest thing concerning meters is the fact that few people know how to read them and work out the costs.  With most companies until recently seeming to hide the unit costs, and Ofcom only showing averages for increases on an annual basis, many people especially the elderly, are confused.  A unit price and the ability to read the meter correctly shows the amounts being used and could make people more aware of how they use their power.  Thanks to Martin we now have the definitive list of price caps and regional pricing for both gas and electricity both prior and post April 2022.  I cannot imagine why this has not been forthcoming from Ofcom instead of the ridiculous averages that are now being banded about. Why oh why are their regional differences in the unit price, just to make it even more complicated, surely evening it out would be simple!!!! 
I owe a great deal of thanks to Martin for giving me so much useful information over the years which has saved me a great deal of money, always makes so much financial sense and helped my understanding.

BobT36

QrizB said:

BobT36 said:

Check there's no debt on the pre-pays. I copped for that at my first rented house (due to previous tenants). Both the landlord and a meter reader insisted there was no debt, but noop, every time I topped up it took an extra fiver off me. GRR. 
I got them switched out for proper meters sharpish. 

If you contact the supplier, let them know you've just moved in and request a new meter key, you won't find yourself paying off the previous tenenat's debts.

Yeah I'd do this now, however at the time that was my first home and the landlord had the energy bills under "their" name and that's how they wanted it. Apparently they didn't know about the debt on the cards..

I eventually got the meters changed for proper ones and everything logged under my name. 

MWT

KawasakiRider said:

Thanks to Martin we now have the definitive list of price caps and regional pricing for both gas and electricity both prior and post April 2022.  I cannot imagine why this has not been forthcoming from Ofcom instead of the ridiculous averages that are now being banded about.

It has been forthcoming from Ofcom in intricate detail each year there has been a cap, it is published in full each time there is a change, you just have to look at the spreadsheet they provide, instead of just the simple highlights.

KawasakiRider said:

The greatest thing concerning meters is the fact that few people know how to read them and work out the costs.  With most companies until recently seeming to hide the unit costs, and Ofcom only showing averages for increases on an annual basis, many people especially the elderly, are confused.

Nothing is hidden, the unit costs are clearly shown on every bill that an energy company issues, the problem is people not actually reading the bills...