EDF bill for £1600 for one quarter but smart meter shows £327 useage

QrizB

MsFletcher said:

When you say read the meter today, do you mean the smart meter or the old meter? 

If you need any help in reading your smart meter - some aren't entirely straightforward - please tell us the model(s) of meter(s) and we can give you instructions.

Exodi

MsFletcher said:

Hello, Thanks so much for your time and advice which is reassuring. It's estimated.  I think we've found the issue looking at our account online which is their inaccurate estimate when they took over the account in December. Their estimated reading was over £2000 (we have no idea what they've based this on but it's not on our historic usage or the meter) which is wildly inaccurate compared to the actual smart meter reading (I'm working on the cost in £ rather than the kw). We've got proof of this in our online account so we're trying their customer service again. I hope we can get this resolved.  When you say read the meter today, do you mean the smart meter or the old meter? 

You're not listening to what people are saying!

Two things to keep it simple:

1.) Do not confuse the smart meter with the In House Display (IHD). The actual smart meter is a big box usually stored in a cupboard. A picture of what each might look like (but they vary from supplier to supplier). It's extremely common that people think the IHD is the smart meter (as I think you might).

Smart Meter


In-House Display (IHD)


2.) While the actual usage (kWh) is generally communicated to the IHD without issue, this doesn't apply to the unit price. There's no guarantee that the supplier will update the unit price immediately, and often they don't. My IHD was showing prices at a fraction of the actual cost for months during the winter because EON (who I'm with) didn't update the prices on my IHD. It is possible to update the unit prices yourself on some IHDs.

The reasons people are asking you to confirm this is it wouldn't be out of the ordinary that your IHDr didn't update it's prices with the high rates during the winter - so you may have been underpaying for many months. Telling the customer service team what price shows on your IHD is pointless - you need to look at your actual kWh usage and confirm whether you've underpaid or not. We (or your supplier) won't do this for you. You need to get hold of your previous meter readings and previous bills and see if there's a discrepancy.

Exodi

Robin9 said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

MsFletcher said:

 When you say read the meter today, do you mean the smart meter or the old meter? 

You shouldn't still have an old meter if it was replaced with a smart meter.

Blame the TV adverts who describe the IHD as the Smart meter. (it isn't)

Did this happen? This would explain why this misunderstanding seems to be so incredibly common...

Robin9

Exodi said:

Robin9 said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

MsFletcher said:

 When you say read the meter today, do you mean the smart meter or the old meter? 

You shouldn't still have an old meter if it was replaced with a smart meter.

Blame the TV adverts who describe the IHD as the Smart meter. (it isn't)

Did this happen? This would explain why this misunderstanding seems to be so incredibly common...

Have you seen any of the Einstein advts that show a Smart meter - plenty that show IHD

Exodi

Robin9 said:

Exodi said:

Robin9 said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

MsFletcher said:

 When you say read the meter today, do you mean the smart meter or the old meter? 

You shouldn't still have an old meter if it was replaced with a smart meter.

Blame the TV adverts who describe the IHD as the Smart meter. (it isn't)

Did this happen? This would explain why this misunderstanding seems to be so incredibly common...

Have you seen any of the Einstein advts that show a Smart meter - plenty that show IHD

Oh yes, right you are!

Spoonie_Turtle

Robin9 said:

Exodi said:

Robin9 said:

CSI_Yorkshire said:

MsFletcher said:

 When you say read the meter today, do you mean the smart meter or the old meter? 

You shouldn't still have an old meter if it was replaced with a smart meter.

Blame the TV adverts who describe the IHD as the Smart meter. (it isn't)

Did this happen? This would explain why this misunderstanding seems to be so incredibly common...

Have you seen any of the Einstein advts that show a Smart meter - plenty that show IHD

They have now added in a line about the IHD not being the smart meter; I forget what though as I only saw it once (rarely watch TV and when I do, I mute the adverts).  Too little too late though for most of the people who have that misconception.

Qyburn

MsFletcher said:

I think we've found the issue looking at our account online which is their inaccurate estimate when they took over the account in December. Their estimated reading was over £2000 

That sounds like an account balance not a reading.  Do they agree on the meter reading? EDF starting meter reading should be the same as the old supplier's end reading.