Seemingly crazy SSE gas bill.

GeoffreyDee

I think that some periods will be much higher in use than the past 7 weeks (particularly Dec-Jan and being at home during the lockdown) and that other periods will have been much lower (we've still had a couple of radiators and a hot towel rail on at times to cater for warm-climate flatmate). I guess the question is are the higher periods such that they would swamp the periods of zero use and crank the cost up to the level mentioned above. 

GeoffreyDee

What date did you switch to SSE? What meter reading did SSE open your account on, and where did it come from?

Edit: I don't think you've said when you moved in. Are you absolutely certain you're reading the correct meter? Does the serial number on the meter match the one on the bill?

I'll try to answer your questions! Again, imagine you are talking to an idiot, because you are. 

• I did not switch to SSE. I was with Spark, June 2019 - Dec 2020.  Then moved to Bulb on 30th of December 2020.Bulb sent us a letter with a meter key for electricity and a description of costs for the joint gas and electricity package.
• Sometime in the winter of 2021, we had a visit from a company called Morrisons Data Services (who do meter readings) who told us that there had been some kind of mix up and our account had nextdoor's meter number and vice versa. 
• We then got an SSE meter key in the post soon after. 
• The furthest back meter reading available on the SSE website is an estimate for Jan 2021 of 4748. I don't know how they came to this estimate or if they were using data provided to them by Spark or by Bulb? 
• I have doubled checked the meter point reference number with the one on the bill from SSE and it is correct. 

They must have started with some kind of reading from whichever supplier they took over from (for whatever reason. Obviously I should have tried to make sense of the situation and ask questions) 

If I could get the last accurate meter reading they actually took in person that would narrow down the range out possible answers a lot. Will they be able to supply that data to me if I request it? Can I request to know who authorised the decision to change my supply to SSE? 

Alnat1

Could it be that the other flat (who's meter yours was mixed up with) was with SSE? So when it was found that was your meter, you got the SSE account. Could be the other flat got your Scottish Power? Somebody thought it was a simple solution just to change flat numbers on each account.

If so, the massive use pre 2021 could have been racked up by the guys in the other flat!!!!!

GeoffreyDee

Alnat1 said:

Could it be that the other flat (who's meter yours was mixed up with) was with SSE? So when it was found that was your meter, you got the SSE account. Could be the other flat got your Scottish Power? Somebody thought it was a simple solution just to change flat numbers on each account.

If so, the massive use pre 2021 could have been racked up by the guys in the other flat!!!!!

Rightio! Some progress possible here. I've used this website ( https://www.findmysupplier.energy/) to and confirmed that my flat is being supplied by SSE and that nextdoor is being supplied by Bulb. I did switch to Bulb, but I did not do anything to switch away from them or to SSE. I did not take any action at the time when the data services people mentioned that there was some kind of mix up. 

Gerry1

Time to do the Meter Sanity Test.

Alnat1

I'm curious, did you used to access Bulb online? If so, can you still access the Bulb account that is now supposed to be your neighbours?

GeoffreyDee

Thanks Gerry. My meter is actually at the bottom of a boiler cupboard inside my bedroom. This contributed to my laxity regarding checking what it was or what it did (Diagnosis: 20 yr old) but would it be worth still running the check you mentioned even though it's not publicly accessible? 

I have a password and email saved in my password manager for Bulb (must have been from setting the account up in December 2020) and they did send me the £50 starting credit, as I remember we split it between us three to buy some light bulbs and led strips. I tried logging in to bulb now but it won't accept it. I wonder if Bulb hold records showing their history with my flat? 

GeoffreyDee

Alnat1 said:

I'm curious, did you used to access Bulb online? If so, can you still access the Bulb account that is now supposed to be your neighbours?

It looks like I was switched without my consent or decision. I later got confused and thought that Bulb had been taken over by SSE  - which they definitely have not been. 

theoretica

So it seems to me the big issue is you can find no record at all of an actual reading of your meter before March 31st.  Nothing when you moved in?  No proof the Jan 2021 estimate of 4748 relates to data for your flat and not to next door.  Do you know next door?  Would they kindly tell you their meter reading?

It is however very common to use more gas than you expect - especially 1 person in a flat will use much more than 1/3 the gas of 3 people in the same flat and depending on the control system heating may come on when you aren't there.

GeoffreyDee

theoretica said:

So it seems to me the big issue is you can find no record at all of an actual reading of your meter before March 31st.  Nothing when you moved in?  No proof the Jan 2021 estimate of 4748 relates to data for your flat and not to next door.  Do you know next door?  Would they kindly tell you their meter reading?

It is however very common to use more gas than you expect - especially 1 person in a flat will use much more than 1/3 the gas of 3 people in the same flat and depending on the control system heating may come on when you aren't there.

I will pop a card and my whatsapp number to next door asking them for a bit of data assistance. Yes, I think you are bang on that the biggest problem is the lack of information about accurate meter readings early on. Because I was in la-la land thinking that the quarterly meter checks by external engineers/data services types were enough to go on and I had no clue what I was doing when I moved into my first flat away from home, I didn't get on top of those things. As you say, even if only one of us was here then someone would still use hot water a bit.