British Gas - Pay monthly on smart meter readings?

jazzy

I am with British Gas for both electric and gas and I am on their standard variable tariff. Payment is by direct debit at a fixed monthly amount. There is a smart meter fitted to the property, is there an option with British Gas to just pay the monthly amount on what I actually use, based on the smart meter readings? and would this be the same rates and standing charge as the fixed standard variable rate?

pochase

You get the direct debit discount also for the variable direct debit, so the rates stay the same.

BG does offer variable direct debit. See this link

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/business/help-and-support/billing-and-payments/problems-with-my-direct-debit#:~:text=With a variable Direct Debit,pay will change each time.&text=Check the meter reading on,energy than you're using.

jazzy

Just spoke to British Gas and they have no system in place for making variable monthly payments based on smart meter readings only fixed direct debit monthly payments.
What's the point of these smart meters?

jrawle

This is indeed stupid! Do they still give you the option of supplying a meter reading manually each month in order to pay by variable direct debit?

The_Fat_Controller

@pochase your link is from the BG BUSINESS site.

However, @jazzy, they do appear to offer it according to this article.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/bills-and-payments/setting-up-a-direct-debit

[Deleted User]

jazzy said:

Just spoke to British Gas and they have no system in place for making variable monthly payments based on smart meter readings only fixed direct debit monthly payments.
What's the point of these smart meters?

It has got absolutely nothing to do with smart meters. It is up to the supplier to decide whether it is prepared to offer variable monthly payments.

jazzy

The_Fat_Controller said:

@pochase your link is from the BG BUSINESS site.

However, @jazzy, they do appear to offer it according to this article.

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/bills-and-payments/setting-up-a-direct-debit

Just checked that article and the use of smart meter readings is just for the monthly reading and not to set up a variable standard charge.

What energy companies offer a service with variable billing based on actual smart meter readings?

Pdman

Shell Energy offer variable dd based on meter readings. Not sure if they are taking on new customers.

jrawle

British Gas certainly offer variable direct debit as a payment option; I am on that myself. You have to phone up or use the chat on the website to request it, though, which is annoying.

I thought the OP's question related specifically to whether it was possible for them to use smart meter readings to generate the monthly bill on which to base the next direct debit, and it appears they do not (or at least, that particular customer service operative claimed they don't). It should still be possible for the OP to go onto variable direct debit and give readings via the website as for a traditional "dumb" meter.