Paying Energy in Advance...

MyDogMuppet

Hi

 

I'm a Bulb Energy customer.

I looked in horror at the price cap explosion and submitted a non smart manual meter reading on 31.3.22 to reflect next year's projected energy consumption. An uplift of some 3300KwH.

I'm in the very fortunate position of being able to pay in advance for annual consumption - 3300KwH, standing charges and VAT. About £771. (In fact if I could pay for 5 years, I'd do it)

I cannot think of any better investment in these trying times.

Are Bulb Energy entitled to reject my meter reading ?

Can I legally pay in advance ?

It's always been easier to apologize than ask permission.

I've already fought Bulb tooth and nail over their fantasy increases in Direct Debit increases.

So wish I could afford a  solar panel array and a double Tesla Powerwall.

Thanks

Richard

 

QrizB

MyDogMuppet said:

I looked in horror at the price cap explosion and submitted a non smart manual meter reading on 31.3.22 to reflect next year's projected energy consumption. An uplift of some 3300KwH.

That's fraud.

Are Bulb Energy entitled to reject my meter reading ?

Yes, if it isn't accurate.

Can I legally pay in advance ?

Not by submitting a fraudulent meter reading, no.

So wish I could afford a  solar panel array and a double Tesla Powerwall.

You don't need to buy it all at once. £5k for solar this year, batteries later.

GingerTim

This came up on the Bulb forums, too:

[Deleted User]

As every energy consumer in the land is paying towards the cost of protecting the credit balances of the customers of failed suppliers, Ofgem should be setting limits on the level of consumer credit that a supplier can hold for each customer. Suppliers are not banks and they are not regulated as such. The alternative is some form of escrow whereby all consumer credits are 100% protected: the downside of this approach is that it would come at a cost.

I am not sure that I agree with Bulb CS that deliberately falsifying a meter reading constitutes theft: I believe that it would be a fraud given that it would be an intentional deception and the individual would profit by doing so. Semantics apart whether it is theft or fraud it would be a criminal act.

GingerTim

Agreed on the theft v fraud point - intentionally providing false information to obtain a product at a price to which you are not entitled is the textbook definition of fraud, not theft.

QrizB

FWIW, the OP already knows very well that Bulb can reject his fraudulent meter reading. From a previous post of theirs:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/67174452/#Comment_67174452

21B.1 If a Customer provides a meter reading to the licensee that the licensee considers reasonably accurate, or if the Electricity Meter is read by the licensee, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to reflect the meter reading in the next Bill or statement of account sent to the Customer.

It follows that if the meter reading isn't reasonably accurate. Bulb can ignore it.

MWT

GingerTim said:

Agreed on the theft v fraud point - intentionally providing false information to obtain a product at a price to which you are not entitled is the textbook definition of fraud, not theft.

Fraud is theft by deception, there really isn't any way to make 'fraud' seem like a lesser crime, those who do it simply aim to disguise the act of theft with deceptive behaviour.  

GingerTim

MWT said:

GingerTim said:

Agreed on the theft v fraud point - intentionally providing false information to obtain a product at a price to which you are not entitled is the textbook definition of fraud, not theft.

Fraud is theft by deception, there really isn't any way to make 'fraud' seem like a lesser crime, those who do it simply aim to disguise the act of theft with deceptive behaviour.  

Oh no, not trying to make it appear a lesser offence, just a comment on the technicalities. Completely agree!