Moving To a Property With 2 Meters

luckwudaveit

I am helping a relative move her energy account. She is with Octopus and was in a property with gas and electricity. She has moved in to a property with electricity only and it has 2 meters. Octopus has asked that she contacts the previous supplier at her new property (Scottish Power) to find out why there are two meters - other properties in the building are the same and they think it's due to the storage heaters. I have been on to SP but they want to start a switch to SP, which she doesn't want to do.

Are Octopus making this overly complicated. Any advice please, as nether energy company is helping much?

QrizB

Who is the current supplier for the property?

It's quite likely that the property has "complex metering" which will make switching difficult.

molerat

It doesn't matter who "she" is with, the property is with the existing supplier.  She would not be "switching" to SP, the property is already with them, she must set up an account with the existing supplier and then can move if she wishes.  Trying to shortcut this will only end in tears, SP can refuse the move if there is no customer set up.

Now down to the 2 meters.  These are unhelpfully complex to deal with, many suppliers have not got a clue how to deal with them.  They often come with 2 standing charges.  They may be others here who have knowledge of how Octopus deal with complex metering systems.

luckwudaveit

QrizB said:

Who is the current supplier for the property?

It's quite likely that the property has "complex metering" which will make switching difficult.

Scottish Power are the current supplier for the property she has moved in to. Seems like she will have to switch to them first.

luckwudaveit

molerat said:

It doesn't matter who "she" is with, the property is with the existing supplier.  She would not be "switching" to SP, the property is already with them, she must set up an account with the existing supplier and then can move if she wishes.  Trying to shortcut this will only end in tears, SP can refuse the move if there is no customer set up.

Now down to the 2 meters.  These are unhelpfully complex to deal with, many suppliers have not got a clue how to deal with them.  They often come with 2 standing charges.  They may be others here who have knowledge of how Octopus deal with complex metering systems.

Thanks very much. I will help her set up a SP account.

I'll Google complex metering as this is obviously going to make switching in future a lot more hassle than she and I have been used to.

The_Fat_Controller

She will not be switching to Scottish Power, she became their customer when she moved in.

She must open an account with them as soon as possible, hopefully she took meter readings on moving day.

She is no longer an Octopus customer, that ceased when she moved out and gave them her final readings at the old property.

theoretica

SP have to keep the property on with her as the new occupant - they may try to encourage signing up to a (likely expensive) fixed deal, but they need to accept her on the default variable rate.

gj373

I have two electricity meters and it makes switching a PITA. Always requires many phone calls to get it properly sorted, can't really be done online. Also means now hammered with two standing charges.

On the other hand, and not condoning this, but I think if you could move one meter to another supplier then you would get the £400 rebate on both accounts.

luckwudaveit

Thanks everyone. I understand why she needs to set up a SP account now. 

The complex metering is going to be a real pain though. I've found an old thread on here and will read it closely.

gj373

luckwudaveit said:

Thanks everyone. I understand why she needs to set up a SP account now. 

The complex metering is going to be a real pain though. I've found an old thread on here and will read it closely.

Over the years the best thing I have found to do is not try any switches online. Call the company and ask to speak with the complex metering team. Some companies in the past have had online only deals that I couldn't take advantage of because I had to call so they don't get my custom anymore.

Anyway, switching a thing of the past now anyway so it's a moot point.

luckwudaveit

gj373 said:

luckwudaveit said:

Thanks everyone. I understand why she needs to set up a SP account now. 

The complex metering is going to be a real pain though. I've found an old thread on here and will read it closely.

Over the years the best thing I have found to do is not try any switches online. Call the company and ask to speak with the complex metering team. Some companies in the past have had online only deals that I couldn't take advantage of because I had to call so they don't get my custom anymore.

Anyway, switching a thing of the past now anyway so it's a moot point.

Does the capped tariff apply to the meter that isn't used for heating?