Energy estimated readings

Dbt

Hi
I now own an empty house and inherited Ovo as energy provider when my son left after buying his first house, yippee . 

Despite informing Ovo the house is empty, unfurnished- regularly, giving readings monthly, paying monthly, they regularly ignore my readings and use their estimated readings, so I am being overcharged each month. 

Ovo are also using the meter readings black digits - they have estimated  (which they tell you to ignore when taking the readings) to increase my bill. Is this legal? 

I have complained and now the meter reading history, now does not show their estimated readings , which is, I suggest, overcharging me without a paper trail. Please help

GingerTim

Do OVO offer payment by monthly variable direct debit? If so, move to that and you will only pay each month for the energy actually used (plus standing charge), rather than building up a credit balance.

[Deleted User]

When reading an electricity meter, you should provide the 5 numbers to the left of any decimal point. For example, a meter showing 06789.45 would be read as 06789.

Suppliers are required to use the meter readings provided by a customer unless they fail the validation process. If this is the case, then they should ask you for another reading. Have you provided the supplier with a photograph of the meter - showing both the meter serial number and the index reading?

[Deleted User]

GingerTim said:

Do OVO offer payment by monthly variable direct debit? If so, move to that and you will only pay each month for the energy actually used (plus standing charge), rather than building up a credit balance.

How would that help given that the supplier is not agreeing with the meter readings that the customer is providing? 

The reason why the meter readings are failing the validation process is because the supplier’s data collector is validating the readings based on historical usage data. Unless the supplier advises its data collector that there has been a change of use this will continue to happen.

The supplier’s error is that it has failed to act in accordance with its Licence Conditions:

Condition 21B. Billing based on meter readings

21B.1 If a Customer provides a meter reading to the licensee that the licensee considers reasonably accurate, or if the Electricity Meter is read by the licensee, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to reflect the meter reading in the next Bill or statement of account sent to the Customer.

21B.2 If the licensee considers that a meter reading provided by a Customer is not reasonably accurate, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to contact the Customer to obtain a new meter reading from him.

[Deleted User]

Dbt said:

Ovo are also using the meter readings black digits - they have estimated  (which they tell you to ignore when taking the readings) to increase my bill. Is this legal?

Hi,

are you maybe providing the wrong readings?

You should ignore the red digits.

lisyloo

Have you considered getting a smart meter installed?

QrizB

Dbt said:

I have complained and now the meter reading history, now does not show their estimated readings , which is, I suggest, overcharging me without a paper trail. Please help

Can you share your meter readings with us (and the dates you took them), and the readings that Ovo have estimated?

Dbt

Ovo estimated readings and my actual readings 

Dbt

Sorry, Regarding Ovo applying estimated meter readings I meant to say Ovo also applied estimated red digits not black ones.

QrizB

OK, so they've charged you for a few more units at the old lower price. What were the readings for the end of the period, 1-25 Oct?

And can you confirm that you have an imperial gas meter that reads in cubic feet, not a metric one that measures cubic metres?

Dbt

Copies of extra readings digits, as you can see the gas is 0236 but I have already paid for their extra estimated red digits before but their listed readings do not state this, same with electric