Can I continue paying estimated bills for my electricity?

macman

Your bill will effectively be rising by £67 a month from April anyway when the EBSS rebate ceases, so you need to stop putting your head in the sand and read the meter. If the billing has been underestimated then you will get a catch up bill and your DD will rise. If this is going to happen, then the best time for it is now, at the end of winter, when your usage will fall hugely.
The EBSS was not means-tested. Everyone on a residential account in the UK got it.

Scot_39

CMB3 said:

I have been receiving estimated electricity bills since I moved into a flat a year ago as the meter has not been read. The prices have been lower than I had anticipated. This could be because the landlord had installed new storage heaters in the flat before I moved in, however, the flat is not well insulated so I did expect higher bills. I am also aware that because I am on a low income, I have been receiving an energy discount of about £67 over the last few months, so that is also making the bill lower.

I wondered if I am "safe" continuing to pay the current (manageable) estimated bills and that I won't be suddenly forced into having my meter read and potentially getting a bill I cannot pay. Frankly, I don't want to get a meter reading because I cannot pay more than I am paying at this time. Any information about where I stand would be much appreciated.

No.  At some stage they will either ask you to submit or send a meter reader.

You have nsh and have over last 12m been in the property over 3 - 2 major and one probable price increase.

In Apr 22, Oct 22 and Jan 23 if on an E7 tariff or similar for nsh impacted by price rises (ave 7% according to one charity).  The media was full of advice to take readings and submit on at least 2 of these occasions.

I know the fear can be overwhelming at times, but it is better to get on top of this, and get it sorted.


It will catch up with you soon enough, some meters are read or checked more frequently the other.  Some maybe 2 years plus -  even just as a tamper / safety check.

But will also be checked by landlord if you vacate.

You might be surprised - they might just owe you.

And if the debt is a problem - there are regulation checks on how much they can take monthly. 

If in debt, try citizens advice for help advice or other energy support / help / charities ( some restrict by age, disability, but others generic).

You might be entitled to missing help or one off payments from hardship funds if in debt etc.

For a start 


Did  you submit day 1 readings when moved in or have first bill with your / landlords actual readings ?

And how do current readings compare with their latest bill  estimates.

That will give some estimate of mismatch.

Post them here.  Or do the calcs if comfortable yourself


And as nsh - you on single rate or any say E7 multirate ?  If e7 both registers / readings and unit rates as these are very variable.

MattMattMattUK

CMB3 said:

I have been receiving estimated electricity bills since I moved into a flat a year ago as the meter has not been read. The prices have been lower than I had anticipated. This could be because the landlord had installed new storage heaters in the flat before I moved in, however, the flat is not well insulated so I did expect higher bills. I am also aware that because I am on a low income, I have been receiving an energy discount of about £67 over the last few months, so that is also making the bill lower.

I wondered if I am "safe" continuing to pay the current (manageable) estimated bills and that I won't be suddenly forced into having my meter read and potentially getting a bill I cannot pay. Frankly, I don't want to get a meter reading because I cannot pay more than I am paying at this time. Any information about where I stand would be much appreciated.

Sticking your head in the sand is never a good idea and ultimately your meter will be read by a reader, or read when replaced with a smart meter and then you will be left with a huge bill, the £66/67 also ends this month. You are better off submitting a reading, finding out where you stand and then if the amount is higher than your actual usage agreeing a payment plan. 

Carlsdad

I did a spell of meter reading after I retired, and as far as I can recall, all meters had to be read at least every two years by law. This was a safety measure to make sure that the meters had not developed problems (and that they weren't being fiddled!) This may have changed now with the introduction of Smart meters. One of the problems was customers who had just been smoking pot, and didn't want to let you in because of the smell of weed. 

[Deleted User]

Carlsdad said:

I did a spell of meter reading after I retired, and as far as I can recall, all meters had to be read at least every two years by law. This was a safety measure to make sure that the meters had not developed problems (and that they weren't being fiddled!) This may have changed now with the introduction of Smart meters. One of the problems was customers who had just been smoking pot, and didn't want to let you in because of the smell of weed. 

That requirement was dropped by Ofgem some years ago. The current Standard Licence Condition is that suppliers have to obtain a meter reading once every 12 months but the manner in which it is obtained is not specified: that is, it can be a smart meter reading; a customer reading or one from a meter reader.

Suppliers are now required to have policies in place to carry out meter safety checks.

Alnat1

We will have lived in this house for 4 years next month and never had a visit from a meter reader. New smart meters were installed last June though.

Scot_39

[Deleted User] said:

Carlsdad said:

I did a spell of meter reading after I retired, and as far as I can recall, all meters had to be read at least every two years by law. This was a safety measure to make sure that the meters had not developed problems (and that they weren't being fiddled!) This may have changed now with the introduction of Smart meters. One of the problems was customers who had just been smoking pot, and didn't want to let you in because of the smell of weed. 

That requirement was dropped by Ofgem some years ago. The current Standard Licence Condition is that suppliers have to obtain a meter reading once every 12 months but the manner in which it is obtained is not specified: that is, it can be a smart meter reading; a customer reading or one from a meter reader.

Suppliers are now required to have policies in place to carry out meter safety checks.

Thanks. 

Mum was on the suppliers PSR list  - and had a meter visit reading annually still.

Guess that fits.

imeach

Raxiel said:

imeach said:

Robin9 said:

@CMB93

Meter Readers are very rare these days -   the  suppliers rely on you reading the meter . Do get into the habit of reading every month you may be pleasantly surprised.

PS Everyone got the £66/£67 not just low earners.

Not that rare
1500 to 2000 at MDS
Maybe up to 1000 at Lowri Beck

28 million households though.

Used to see E.on every 3 months despite giving them manual readings every month. Unsurprisingly since Octopus took over in 2019 and reactivated the smart feature (and we had a pandemic) no one's come to look at it.

MDS website quotes 53 million site visits per annum, but that probably includes water too.
Think TMA and Lowri Beck read for Octopus.
I'm with Octopus too , have only ever seen 1 chap read the gas outside once years ago, electric never been seen for over 13 years by Octopus or any suppliers before that

imeach

Scot_39 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Carlsdad said:

I did a spell of meter reading after I retired, and as far as I can recall, all meters had to be read at least every two years by law. This was a safety measure to make sure that the meters had not developed problems (and that they weren't being fiddled!) This may have changed now with the introduction of Smart meters. One of the problems was customers who had just been smoking pot, and didn't want to let you in because of the smell of weed. 

That requirement was dropped by Ofgem some years ago. The current Standard Licence Condition is that suppliers have to obtain a meter reading once every 12 months but the manner in which it is obtained is not specified: that is, it can be a smart meter reading; a customer reading or one from a meter reader.

Suppliers are now required to have policies in place to carry out meter safety checks.

Thanks. 

Mum was on the suppliers PSR list  - and had a meter visit reading annually still.

Guess that fits.

EDF normally try to visit PSR customers every quarter.
Not sure on other suppliers as EDF are the only ones we can tell customers are on PSR

imeach

Scot_39 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Carlsdad said:

I did a spell of meter reading after I retired, and as far as I can recall, all meters had to be read at least every two years by law. This was a safety measure to make sure that the meters had not developed problems (and that they weren't being fiddled!) This may have changed now with the introduction of Smart meters. One of the problems was customers who had just been smoking pot, and didn't want to let you in because of the smell of weed. 

That requirement was dropped by Ofgem some years ago. The current Standard Licence Condition is that suppliers have to obtain a meter reading once every 12 months but the manner in which it is obtained is not specified: that is, it can be a smart meter reading; a customer reading or one from a meter reader.

Suppliers are now required to have policies in place to carry out meter safety checks.

Thanks. 

Mum was on the suppliers PSR list  - and had a meter visit reading annually still.

Guess that fits.

EDF normally try to visit PSR customers every quarter.
Not sure on other suppliers as EDF are the only ones we can tell customers are on PSR