Accepted meter reading tolerances levels - should they revisited?

Shedman

Just thinking about the Ofgem mandated acceptable tolerances on opening meter reads on changes of supplier, and presumably also readings when there are tariff changes and disputes arise over submitted and estimated readings if supplier doesn't use the submitted figure, which I believe is 250kWh for Electricity and 1200kWh for Gas (as having a bit of an issue with BG continually trying to use a wrong opening read and cancelling invoices and reissuing them incorrectly). 

Shouldn't this be looked into and reduced given the enormous likely changes in tariffs at each new cap date to avoid customers potentially losing out big time?  

In the past the difference on say 250kWh of Electric based on the differential in tariffs between losing supplier and gaining supplier was likely to be only a tenner or less (based on say a 4p unit price difference) so not really a big problem.  But now with the likely jump from 28p to 45p+ a unit in October if anyone's supplier was to as an extreme example use an estimate of 250 kWh less than actual as at 30 Sept and then charges that 250 kWh at the new tariff, then customer could be a £40+ out of pocket with presumably little means of redress.  Or do the acceptable tolerance limits apply only solely in supplier switches?  

Anyway just thought I'd throw it out there for any views (and the more knowledgeable of you to correct any misunderstandings). 

QrizB

Shedman said:

Or do the acceptable tolerance limits apply only solely in supplier switches? 

Only on switches.

SVR customers should be preparing to sublit readings on/around 1st October, and suppliers should be preparing for the inevitable rush.

[Deleted User]

The OP is right; however, the problem rests with the consumer not the system. If a consumer has a smart meter or provides monthly readings then any discrepancies will be very small. Larger discrepancies occur because people cannot be bothered to provide any readings so estimates are used. The potential for error is also reduced if a meter reading/s are provided on the day of the switch and not before.

pochase

Also the allowed discrepancies are exactly that, the maximal allowed ones. This does not mean that they are used all the time, in most cases it will be less.

If you don't switch between fixed tariff and SVT, or SVT to SVT around the date of the cap change it will not make a lot of difference in the unit rates.

Shedman

[Deleted User] said:

The OP is right; however, the problem rests with the consumer not the system. If a consumer has a smart meter or provides monthly readings then any discrepancies will be very small. Larger discrepancies occur because people cannot be bothered to provide any readings so estimates are used. The potential for error is also reduced if a meter reading/s are provided on the day of the switch and not before.

And I would agree with you if only all suppliers were perfect and would take account of supplied readings but some unfortunately think they knew best (or more likely are just plain incompetent) and continue to use estimated readings regardless (even when readings are submitted on a timely basis and despite there being a smart meter that their system 'claims' to recognise as it tells you that "you don't need to submit readings as you are on a smart meter").   Which then leads to protracted disputes and a whole lot of wasted time...

Sea_Shell

QrizB said:

Shedman said:

Or do the acceptable tolerance limits apply only solely in supplier switches? 

Only on switches.

SVR customers should be preparing to sublit readings on/around 1st October, and suppliers should be preparing for the inevitable rush.

🤣🤣🤣

IIRC didn't everyone trying to submit readings crash the systems on 1st April?

I wonder if the suppliers have learnt anything....or will we have a (completely foreseeable) repeat?

GingerTim

Sea_Shell said:

QrizB said:

Shedman said:

Or do the acceptable tolerance limits apply only solely in supplier switches? 

Only on switches.

SVR customers should be preparing to sublit readings on/around 1st October, and suppliers should be preparing for the inevitable rush.

🤣🤣🤣

IIRC didn't everyone trying to submit readings crash the systems on 1st April?

I wonder if the suppliers have learnt anything....or will we have a (completely foreseeable) repeat?

Followed by dozens of new topics here asking 'is supplier x's website down' or suggesting 'I bet this is deliberate to stop us submitting readings so they can charge us more'.

Sea_Shell

GingerTim said:

Sea_Shell said:

QrizB said:

Shedman said:

Or do the acceptable tolerance limits apply only solely in supplier switches? 

Only on switches.

SVR customers should be preparing to sublit readings on/around 1st October, and suppliers should be preparing for the inevitable rush.

🤣🤣🤣

IIRC didn't everyone trying to submit readings crash the systems on 1st April?

I wonder if the suppliers have learnt anything....or will we have a (completely foreseeable) repeat?

Followed by dozens of new topics here asking 'is supplier x's website down' or suggesting 'I bet this is deliberate to stop us submitting readings so they can charge us more'.

Of course!!!   

Tiz the MSE way....post first, read the other 100 threads on the same subject later! 😉