Scottish Power - Previous Year's Usage Comparison Graphs?

RickMac

Two weeks ago I was able to log in to the Scottish Power website to check my readings and also see their comparison graphs which enabled you to see the current year's usage (in either £ cost or kWh used) compared to the previous years and also to the previous 3 years usage for both. 

Now, on eventually getting into their website (huge time delays) after a 35-minute wait, I find that these comparison graphs have been removed. Most odd. 

I also find that despite cutting down on my usage by all means possible and being away from the property for a great deal of this year, which clearly reinforces the fact that I have been using much less power than last year, according to Scottish Power my kWh usage has increased and is much higher than last year. Again most odd.

A kWh is a fixed measurement of power supplied (it equals 3.6 megajoules) it cannot fluctuate and therefore should provide the same amount of heat, light, whatever - so my usage should have gone down, despite costs per kWh having gone up hugely.

Has anyone else noticed this? Are they somehow manipulating the figures now?

[Deleted User]

No, they are not “somehow manipulating the figures now”.

I will leave others to answer the rest of your question as I don’t have an SP account to log in and have a look.

MovingForwards

That option vanished a couple of days before 1/10, I'm hoping it comes back as it was useful as a way of tracking / comparing usage.

RickMac

Thanks for your response but, if you care to look at the screen grabs (as attached) I managed to capture before they removed the comparison graphs I find it impossible to reconcile the figures from Jan/Feb/Mar of this year in light of the previous 3 years usage (as shown) and knowing that, if anything, my lifestyle changes in the last 12 months have without a doubt reduced my consumption. 

Also intrigued to know, how can you say with any degree of certainty "No, they are not “somehow manipulating the figures now”? 

RickMac

MovingForwards said:

That option vanished a couple of days before 1/10, I'm hoping it comes back as it was useful as a way of tracking / comparing usage.

Thanks - yes I agree. And from my latest post screen grab you'll see my reason for concern.

BUFF

How do SP get their meter readings data for your property?
Do you have smart meters, are you giving them regular readings or are they estimates?

[Deleted User]

Well, I suppose it depends what you mean by ‘manipulating’. From context, it appears you are using it to mean secretive changes with nefarious intent.

That would be an incredulous decision from a supplier at a time when the industry is under intense scrutiny.  Do I have documentary evidence? Of course not, but I have sufficient confidence in my understanding of the situation.

If by ‘manipulating’ you simply mean ‘entering a number manually’, then I would not contest the assertion, but neither would it be an issue for you.

RickMac

Deleted_User said:

Well, I suppose it depends what you mean by ‘manipulating’. From context, it appears you are using it to mean secretive changes with nefarious intent.

That would be an incredulous decision from a supplier at a time when the industry is under intense scrutiny.  Do I have documentary evidence? Of course not, but I have sufficient confidence in my understanding of the situation.

If by ‘manipulating’ you simply mean ‘entering a number manually’, then I would not contest the assertion, but neither would it be an issue for you.

I was merely posing a question based on my personal observations and meant 'the action of influencing something to their advantage'; perhaps I am just more cynical than you, but I believe it is a real possibility.

Each to their own and I am glad to read you "have sufficient confidence in my understanding of the situation" and can't bring yourself to believe that Scottish Power would employ such tactics.

As you say it depends on what I meant by 'manipulating' - notably, and interestingly, 'nefarious' is your word, not mine. 

I have to go on the evidence in front of me and am fully aware that the 'energy giants', including Scottish Power are far from squeaky clean when it comes to 'sharp practice'. Media reporting, including on this website, shows they have been found guilty of energy fraud, market manipulation, deliberating evading the repayment of promised sums, and numerous other smaller over-charging allegations'

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-3544812/Shell-Scottish-Power-guilty-energy-fraud-market-manipulation-US.html
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2016/04/mps-brand-scottishpower-warranties-a-fraud-and-call-for-625000-customers-to-be-compensated-/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-36089288
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/02/scottishpower-questions-79m-warranty-scandal
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/mar/01/scottish-power-bills-bailiffs-accounting-chaos
https://corruptionuk.org/overcharging-by-scottish-power-add-your-story-here/

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Deleted User]

Entirely as you are entitled to think.  I hope you get a successful resolution of your concerns!

RickMac

Me too - thanks!

Saga

RIckMac, how do they get your usage data for billing: meter readings (how frequently), estimates, smart meter? And has this always been the case going back to 2019?

I'm with SP also (since 2016) and have preferred to submit regular monthly meter readings, more recently I take photographs too for my own records. I too have noticed differences between what is shown in the graphs and my spreadsheet-collated readings but nothing as extreme your early 2022 data. My initial guess would be that SP estimate your usage but I may of course be very wrong.