Gas Meter displaying XXXXX.XX

philip88

Gas Meter is not displaying any numbers. Only showing XXXXX.XX
At the end of September and October, we used 17.0 and 19.0 units respectively, where we provided the reading. Come the end of November, when we were meant to give a reading, we couldn't as the gas meter wasn't working. So they estimated us to use 72.7 units for November which is double the usage in both September and October.
The main issues here is that, we have not turned on the heating on at all, since the current central heating system is so weak and the only gas appliance is the oven/grill. Hence, we have only used electric oil filled radiators while we wait to get the boiler replaced. 
But here, Shell Energy who said they can come out to change the gas meter can do it on 13 February 2023. This is when the winter season is somewhat nearly over. They will be OVER estimating my usage of gas for December and January, where we can't even turn on the heating since we'll be wasting gas anyway as the radiators don't do anything. 
My parents are struggling as it is to pay the current bills. 

Has anyone been in this situation before and can give any advice?
The ideal situation would be for Shell Energy to come ASAP to replace the Gas Meter, because they will just be over-estimating the usage which is just ridiculous. 
The estimation the done for November has costed my parents around £60 more than what they would normally pay for gas alone. 

[Deleted User]

The supplier will be basing its estimates on your historical (past) usage. If you know that the meter has failed and it is not recording usage, then there is nothing to stop you turning the heating on without the worry of a very large bill come February.

philip88

Thanks for your post, but turning the heating on, doesn't gain me nothing as the radiators do not work anyway (and we are using oil filled radiators) and also because the current boiler is which is due to be replaced has broken down. So we're not even using hot water from taps or heating etc. So that is my biggest concern.

macman

When is the boiler being replaced?You say in your first post that 'it's weak', and then that 'it's broken'. Which is it?
In the meantime using electric heating and hot water is costing you 350% more than gas.

wakeupalarm

philip88 said:

Gas Meter is not displaying any numbers. Only showing XXXXX.XX

Have you tried pressing digit 9?

philip88

The main issue Im trying to explain here is that we cant currently give meter readings and Shell are overestimating the readings when we cant even turn the heating on. I know theres little that can be done with the estimates but I am wanting to know if anyone's been in this situation and has any advice. Just don't want to be over estimated for gas which they have done already to a large extent. 

We're not sure when the boiler is being replaced. Currently waiting on the availability on the boiler as its out of stock apparently, the bosch greenstar combi specifically. 

philip88

Hi @wakeupalarm, sorry didnt realise you posted until just now. Thanks for you comment. This is what mine looks like at the moment, which doesnt have the keypad.
So Im just unsure what to do.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

it tells you under the green window to press button A then B, did you try that?

wakeupalarm

Try pressing the B button for 5 seconds and then press the A button whilst still holding B button.
If that doesn't bring up readings, then you will probably need an engineer.

macman

Pick a different boiler, maybe a Viessmann or Vaillant combi. Unless you want to go through a whole winter heating by very expensive electricity.

apw81

macman said:

In the meantime using electric heating and hot water is could be costing you 350% more than gas.

I keep seeing this generalisation getting bandied around. Judged solely at the 1x kWh level, yes. In practical usage, not necessarily so. I’m not disagreeing—gas is cheaper overall. 

But everyone’s circumstances vary. One hour of using gas to solely heat water, for me (and not always from cold cold) can burn up to the same or more (in money terms) than banging on the 3kw immersion heater for one hour instead. Back in August around £1.20 exc. sc for the hour of water-only gas usage, it is now pushing £1.60. Immersion would come in at £1.05 if it went flat out. 

If I was to try and match, with 2kw radiators,  the number of radiators my boiler was heating, then yes, 350%, maybe more. My boiler is stated to be up to 15 kWh (though I suspect it might be slightly more). Context is important. During the day, whilst the rest of the house benefits from sunlight (when available) it is more economical for me to heat a room for an hour or two, if even needed, using an oil radiator on low than it would flicking on the central heating for a few hours.

I’m not able to leave my heating on low for longer every day—the cost of reaching that stage prohibits me doing it. This means I’m behaving like a lot of people in not having the heating on so much. Therefore, ‘350% more’ isn’t necessary a fair representation of cost of gas vs electric, when viewed under practical terms.