Gas meter stuck

[Deleted User]

Ally_E. said:

OP says their daughter moved out during this time. This could have a hug impact on actual gas use. How would a supplier accurately estimate usage when circumstance change like this? OP shouldn't be overcharged just because the data that is available is from precious years when more people lived in the property and used more hot water and possibly had the heating on higher. 

And your suggestion is?  Random guess? Free energy?

The estimation can include occupancy level if it can be justified.

Dinks786

Ally_E. said:

OP says their daughter moved out during this time. This could have a hug impact on actual gas use. How would a supplier accurately estimate usage when circumstance change like this? OP shouldn't be overcharged just because the data that is available is from precious years when more people lived in the property and used more hot water and possibly had the heating on higher. 

And also during a period we were all working from home more at the back end of covid, simply not fair to use previous years as a way of estimating usage 

[Deleted User]

Dinks786 said:

Ally_E. said:

OP says their daughter moved out during this time. This could have a hug impact on actual gas use. How would a supplier accurately estimate usage when circumstance change like this? OP shouldn't be overcharged just because the data that is available is from precious years when more people lived in the property and used more hot water and possibly had the heating on higher. 

And also during a period we were all working from home more at the back end of covid, simply not fair to use previous years as a way of estimating usage 

It's certainly fair to use previous years as part of the way of estimating usage.  How else would you suggest they do it?

MWT

Dinks786 said:

There are no readings in the electronic bills from Bulb, they simply say “we’ve used your readings from the smart meter”, it’s only now going into the account on line that I can see the gas reading hasn’t moved for months, I have just assumed all was correct due to being on a smart meter, clearly I should have submitted more physical readings but in my defence I always did so when asked and haven’t been emailed to do that over the last year 

The part that should have triggered a reaction was the absence of any charge for gas, despite knowing you were still using it...

The result is the same though, regardless of fault on either side, there will be a need to estimate the use for the past 12 months, and if you do not agree with the estimate you can raise a complaint and take it to the Ombudsman, but you will need to make a reasoned counter-proposal as the Ombudsman does not investigate complaints, but will judge the merits of the cases put before them.

Chrysalis

Deleted_User said:

Dinks786 said:

Ally_E. said:

OP says their daughter moved out during this time. This could have a hug impact on actual gas use. How would a supplier accurately estimate usage when circumstance change like this? OP shouldn't be overcharged just because the data that is available is from precious years when more people lived in the property and used more hot water and possibly had the heating on higher. 

And also during a period we were all working from home more at the back end of covid, simply not fair to use previous years as a way of estimating usage 

It's certainly fair to use previous years as part of the way of estimating usage.  How else would you suggest they do it?

The same way I got a very large adjustment from Octopus, look at data "after its fixed".

I think for the OP, the way I would go is report whats happening to bulb, so the meter will very likely get swapped, then they will probably do an estimation of usage, then as the OP I would point out the 12 months liability limit and monitor usage on the new meter, if there is a significant difference vs the estimate that means she is over paying then escalate it.

I feel gas is more difficult than electric though as gas can have much bigger seasonal variances, they will want to see winter usage before even considering an adjustment.

So assuming new meter goes in during October, then monitor for 2-3 months up until Jan-Feb, and use that data to make a decision if the estimate is reasonable.

[Deleted User]

Quite so.  Make an estimate, then use real data to judge accuracy. 

Chrysalis

[Deleted User] said:

Quite so.  Make an estimate, then use real data to judge accuracy. 

Yep, and they have to do the way you said as a starting point.