E.ON frustration and surprise with bill

Godofgiants

born_again said:

Godofgiants said:

I also don't really understand how telling energy companies your meter readings work. In theory couldn't someone just say they took a reading and fiddle with it in such a way that they used less in the high charge months. Is it all just based on good faith? 

Well when you know prices are going up you can add some extra units on. So you get them @ the cheaper rate, then give a correct reading later.
Same when you know they are going down, give a lower reading & then a correct one after they have gone down, giving a cheaper rate for the units.
But you have to be aware, wont work with a smart meter passing readings on & should you do this when someone actually comes & reads the meter. It will catch you out.

But it's something you need to think about & do slowly over a period, as a big jump in usage just before a price rise, or reduction before cut may well flag on their systems.

So readings are on good faith. You just have to beware, playing the system can bite back.

Cheers for this. Do you know if I retroactively add readings onto my e.on account online and give meter readings in such a way that I use less energy in the expensive months will a new bill be produced to reflect this? 

Godofgiants

Gerry1 said:

Godofgiants said:

Gerry1 said:

No.  Sooner or later you'd be caught out by a meter reader or The Mysterious Third Party.

Not saying I am going to do this, but if I am renting and leaving in 2 months. I don't see how they could catch me out, especially with no evidence as to when I've used my energy, as the meter system is so outdated.  

Don't be tempted to give a closing reading that's too low.  It would be theft, and you'd be defrauding the next tenant or the landlord.

Yeah I absolutely wouldn't do this. I'd give an accurate kwh total use for my tenancy.  

Robin9

Godofgiants said:

Yes, I absolutely know this now, but when I was first renting I just didn't think about this and that's my bad. 

That could prove to  be a very expensive error - which you will never repeat.

How do you know that the correct bill is £1100 ?

born_again

Godofgiants said:

born_again said:

Godofgiants said:

I also don't really understand how telling energy companies your meter readings work. In theory couldn't someone just say they took a reading and fiddle with it in such a way that they used less in the high charge months. Is it all just based on good faith? 

Well when you know prices are going up you can add some extra units on. So you get them @ the cheaper rate, then give a correct reading later.
Same when you know they are going down, give a lower reading & then a correct one after they have gone down, giving a cheaper rate for the units.
But you have to be aware, wont work with a smart meter passing readings on & should you do this when someone actually comes & reads the meter. It will catch you out.

But it's something you need to think about & do slowly over a period, as a big jump in usage just before a price rise, or reduction before cut may well flag on their systems.

So readings are on good faith. You just have to beware, playing the system can bite back.

Cheers for this. Do you know if I retroactively add readings onto my e.on account online and give meter readings in such a way that I use less energy in the expensive months will a new bill be produced to reflect this? 

I would not. That would certainly get their interest. As to why you did not provide them at that point.

Given EON are reducing prices from 1 July. They are asking for meter reading in the 5 days pre 1-7. You could submit a lower reading (But don't be stupidly low).
Just be aware you are in effect defrauding them. So this is not something I would advocate doing.

Far easier just to provide a reading each month, so you are only paying for what you use.

Godofgiants

born_again said:

Godofgiants said:

born_again said:

Godofgiants said:

I also don't really understand how telling energy companies your meter readings work. In theory couldn't someone just say they took a reading and fiddle with it in such a way that they used less in the high charge months. Is it all just based on good faith? 

Well when you know prices are going up you can add some extra units on. So you get them @ the cheaper rate, then give a correct reading later.
Same when you know they are going down, give a lower reading & then a correct one after they have gone down, giving a cheaper rate for the units.
But you have to be aware, wont work with a smart meter passing readings on & should you do this when someone actually comes & reads the meter. It will catch you out.

But it's something you need to think about & do slowly over a period, as a big jump in usage just before a price rise, or reduction before cut may well flag on their systems.

So readings are on good faith. You just have to beware, playing the system can bite back.

Cheers for this. Do you know if I retroactively add readings onto my e.on account online and give meter readings in such a way that I use less energy in the expensive months will a new bill be produced to reflect this? 

I would not. That would certainly get their interest. As to why you did not provide them at that point.

Given EON are reducing prices from 1 July. They are asking for meter reading in the 5 days pre 1-7. You could submit a lower reading (But don't be stupidly low).
Just be aware you are in effect defrauding them. So this is not something I would advocate doing.

Far easier just to provide a reading each month, so you are only paying for what you use.

I understand, however, morally, I do not have an issue, considering they would be charging me £8000 for a year's use of electricity for a 1 bed flat if I didn't have meter readings. I've only just got round to paying after 10 months and I did not realise you should be submitting meter readings monthly. It could be I've been taking meter readings and not submitting as I didn't know there was a place to do that. I actually have done this for Oct and have yet to submit this. 

Godofgiants

Robin9 said:

Godofgiants said:

Yes, I absolutely know this now, but when I was first renting I just didn't think about this and that's my bad. 

That could prove to  be a very expensive error - which you will never repeat.

How do you know that the correct bill is £1100 ?

That's what they've given me on a bill today. I've told them the starting meter readings (from aug) and the meter reading from a couple of days ago. Their estimation of my kwh use was much higher than what it actually was, hence the reduction from 2500 to 1100. 

CSI_Yorkshire

Godofgiants said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Godofgiants said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

The government discount on E.ON Next bills was usually shown as a second line for each bit of usage at a negative price.

You have had exactly the same cap applied to you as everyone else, it's just a little stranger how it applies to day/night tariffs.  Obviously the overall cap doesn't apply to each rate individually, you have a higher day rate to go with the lower night rate, but the cap applies to a 'typical' pattern.

They 'jack up the prices' when energy is more expensive for them to buy, and their profits are capped.

Thanks for your reply. I've looked into my bill in more detail and according to a govt page I was supposed to get £400 off bills for Oct-March but I only received £344 off . Any chance you know why that is? I can't post links, otherwise would link the page and a screenshot of my EPG discounts. 

EPG discounts are discounts on the unit rates and not a fixed amount.  These are the ones on your bill with negative prices for usage.

The £400 was a different scheme, the EBSS, which was a fixed amount credited to your bill each month (based on who your supplier was on the 1st of each month).  That will appear on the bill in the same place as your own direct debit contributions.

Thanks for explaining, so just to confirm (it's definitely epg as it's negative price on the bill), it's possible I don't get the full £400 as its dependent on use? 

Gerry1 said:

Everyone with an electricity account should have received payments of £66 and £67 totalling £400.  Perhaps one is a bit late in showing up?

These are two things as I said.  Don't confuse them.

The negative prices one (EPG) had no limit and no expected amount.  There is no "full £400" on that.  You got what you got.

The £400 is different, and was £400 in credit onto your bill.  Gerry1 is talking about this scheme but you asked about the other one.

Godofgiants

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Godofgiants said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

Godofgiants said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

The government discount on E.ON Next bills was usually shown as a second line for each bit of usage at a negative price.

You have had exactly the same cap applied to you as everyone else, it's just a little stranger how it applies to day/night tariffs.  Obviously the overall cap doesn't apply to each rate individually, you have a higher day rate to go with the lower night rate, but the cap applies to a 'typical' pattern.

They 'jack up the prices' when energy is more expensive for them to buy, and their profits are capped.

Thanks for your reply. I've looked into my bill in more detail and according to a govt page I was supposed to get £400 off bills for Oct-March but I only received £344 off . Any chance you know why that is? I can't post links, otherwise would link the page and a screenshot of my EPG discounts. 

EPG discounts are discounts on the unit rates and not a fixed amount.  These are the ones on your bill with negative prices for usage.

The £400 was a different scheme, the EBSS, which was a fixed amount credited to your bill each month (based on who your supplier was on the 1st of each month).  That will appear on the bill in the same place as your own direct debit contributions.

Thanks for explaining, so just to confirm (it's definitely epg as it's negative price on the bill), it's possible I don't get the full £400 as its dependent on use? 

Gerry1 said:

Everyone with an electricity account should have received payments of £66 and £67 totalling £400.  Perhaps one is a bit late in showing up?

These are two things as I said.  Don't confuse them.

The negative prices one (EPG) had no limit and no expected amount.  There is no "full £400" on that.  You got what you got.

The £400 is different, and was £400 in credit onto your bill.  Gerry1 is talking about this scheme but you asked about the other one.

Ok i see but why am I entitled to the worse one over the other flat £400 off? 

Godofgiants

E.ON shares went up from 7.75 EUR in Oct to 12 EUR today. That's f***ing great for them, really happy to help them out. 

Robin9

@GodofGiants

Put a date in your diary to read your meters every  onth - don't forget water meter if you have one.