Complex metering problem.

DaveS23

Hi,
I have a difficult complex metering problem that I am struggling to resolve. 

I have an antiquated economy 10 complex metering setup in my flat. I have 2 circuits in the flat , each of them is connected to a standard meter. One circuit is on a timing clock which charges the storage heaters during the economy 10 hours , the other circuit is connected to the rest of the electrics and is on all the time. So currently I have 2 meters and am being charged 2 standing charges (expensive!). I want to get the setup changed to one single smart meter which has 2 outputs , one of them a timed output to charge the storage heaters at economy 7 rate, so I only have one standing charge. I am currently with British Gas and they sent a meter engineer around last week who advised they do not fit these types of smart meters yet as they are still testing them, the engineer referred me to EDF as they may fit these types of smart meters to see if I could switch and get the setup changed. 

I spoke to EDF and they advised they could not help at the moment as they are not taking on new customers due to the energy crisis. 

I am on the verge of moving property due to the difficulties I am having with this (the metering setup has caused a lot of historical problems)  and how costly this is.
I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or solutions ?
Thanks

Alnat1

You could try giving Octopus a ring, I believe they are still taking on new customers at the moment. I had new smart meters fitted by them In June.

DE_612183

from my memory of this stuff you need an electrician to re-wire on your side of the meter board, then you can get E7 cheap rate for anything during those hours.
You'll also need to get timeswitch fitted for the heating - or replace it altogether.
It's a big job and probably quite costly to just save the standing charge.

DaveS23

DE_612183 said:

from my memory of this stuff you need an electrician to re-wire on your side of the meter board, then you can get E7 cheap rate for anything during those hours.
You'll also need to get timeswitch fitted for the heating - or replace it altogether.
It's a big job and probably quite costly to just save the standing charge.

Thanks for the advice. I am only interested in having the storage heaters on the Economy 7 circuit rather than the whole of the flat’s electrics , I am renting so I doubt this would be practical. As far as I understand it would just involve the second meter and timing clock being taken out (the one currently connected to  the storage heaters) and this circuit then being attached to the second timed output of the new smart meter (but could be wrong here !).

pochase

Octopus won't be a help here as they don't support E10 meters.

https://economy10.com/list-of-suppliers/

It seems the only supplier that supports E10 meters and was taking on new SVT customers was EDF. From your post it seems that they don't take on new SVT customers any longer. Maybe give them another call, people have reported that they also had to try repeatedly with Octopus until they found an agent who would allow them to join.

Northern_Wanderer

Is the main problem the double standing charge? This is illegal and you should be able to claim ALL of this double charging back.

Please see this link from Gerry1  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79070348/#Comment_79070348

See - Victory 2 MPANs but one SC link particularly.

Please see this guide https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/CitizensAdvice/Energy/Energy%20Consultation%20responses/Restricted%20Meter%20Good%20Practice%20Guide.pdf/ for other help.

Be VERY careful having a smart meter installed as this will be problematic, horror stories on this forum. It's complex metering for a reason, you may have two supplies from your storage heaters as well if you can top up by convection heater. If you were to somehow change to E7, remember that your heaters will only charge over night for 7 hours. I appreciated the E10 as it charged for three periods over the 24hr period, but yes it costs more. Also, do not change to a supplier who does not support this E10, also particularly problematic. And honestly, please don't eff up your landlords property by screwing with their system - it is what it is.

Sorry, I know it is expensive and a PITA.

SAC2334

Only advice I can offer is that my friend up in Aberdeenshire had exactly the same electric wiring set up with 2 MPANS and was being charged 2 x standing charges.

 I was in the process of helping him at least get rid of the second standing charge when Ovo took over from SSE on their supplier section only .

Ovo knew about OFGEMS  rule about only charging one standing charge for complex meters and implemented it themselves without being asked to do it .

However SSE did know and decided not to tell him despite me emailing them about it on his behalf . They owe him that standing charge that they illegally took off him against OFGEMS rules . Ovo  also lowered the two rates to roughly what everyone else was paying on Eco 10 complex  rates in the Scottish region.

He is now on the regional standard THTC  capped rate in Aberdeenshire  ( heating is 23 p kwh and standard is 32.51 p kwk  ) which is about as good as its going to get for any Eco 10 user.

 .Ovo term it "evergreen " variable tariff but they only charge one standing charge whereas before Ovo took over billings SSE charged 2 standing charges for 2 x mpans 

So my advice is to try and switch to Ovo ( SSE ) 

I might add that he had tried to switch suppliers a few times which all ended in tears with the gaining supplier eventually giving up saying they could not deal with what is a "complex meter " which is very common up in Scotland 

DaveS23

Northern_Wanderer said:

Is the main problem the double standing charge? This is illegal and you should be able to claim ALL of this double charging back.

Please see this link from Gerry1  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79070348/#Comment_79070348

See - Victory 2 MPANs but one SC link particularly.

Please see this guide https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/CitizensAdvice/Energy/Energy%20Consultation%20responses/Restricted%20Meter%20Good%20Practice%20Guide.pdf/ for other help.

Be VERY careful having a smart meter installed as this will be problematic, horror stories on this forum. It's complex metering for a reason, you may have two supplies from your storage heaters as well if you can top up by convection heater. If you were to somehow change to E7, remember that your heaters will only charge over night for 7 hours. I appreciated the E10 as it charged for three periods over the 24hr period, but yes it costs more. Also, do not change to a supplier who does not support this E10, also particularly problematic. And honestly, please don't eff up your landlords property by screwing with their system - it is what it is.

Sorry, I know it is expensive and a PITA.

Thankyou , that’s very helpful . Yes the main problem is the double SC and I had no idea that it was illegal.
I was originally with Together Energy who completely arsed up my bills (appears that they were good at this !) and only managed to get some resolution after ombudsman intervention leaving me in debt with TE. TE went bust and I was transferred to British Gas. So I have now looked at my bills for TE and noticed they were charging me a double SC as well as British Gas currently. 

How do I go about claiming the second SC back and how far back can I go with this ?

Northern_Wanderer

I'm not sure, maybe  @Gerry1 can help? REAP are based in Moray, I don't know where you are but perhaps they could guide you.

https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/moray-charity-wins-victory-for-fairness-over-energy-companies-202898/ 

[Deleted User]

Neither Ofgem nor The Energy Ombudsman can help as the supplier no longer holds a Supply Licence so it is no longer subject to Ofgem Regulations. I would have thought that the only option would be to appeal to the appointed Administrator. They could reject any claim; they could agree it and raise an amended Final Bill, or they could place any refund in the unsecured creditor category with the expectation of getting back pennies in the £.

Northern_Wanderer

I should think that you can claim back from BG for what they have been overcharging at the least.