Meter readings when tariff changes.

Rollinghome

My two year fix ends on 11 Sept, Monday, so supply prices will go from 18.9p to 31.19p for electric and 3.46p to 7.51p for gas, with smaller increases on the day rates.

Could someone tell me what happens at the change-over, they haven’t given any instruction?  Last reading submitted was at the end of August.  Do I need to give another reading on the day or before, or do they just estimate it?  Thanks.

la531983

If you don't supply one, they will make a guess, assuming you don't have a smart meter. 

It may be in your favour, it may not be. 

Slinky

If you dont hace a smart meter, they will estimate so its as well to read the meter at bedtime on 10th and submit the following day. Take photos of the meter just in case. 

Rollinghome

Cheers. So do it on the day, presumably?

MikeJXE

It depends whether you want an accurate reading/bill  or a guess

Personally I would take a reading and a photo and notify my supplier as near to the cut off point as possible 

Thats what I will be doing at the end of this month 

dealyboy

I would give a reading the day before.

When the July cap tariff came in EDF took a smart meter reading the day before.

At worst you will be giving your supplier a few hours at the new rate, but you will get peace of mind.

Rollinghome

Well, just for a change, I don't want them wildly under-estimating it, so I'll get my camera out.  Our readings have been a bit erratic recently for various reasons.

[Deleted User]

Rollinghome said:

Well, just for a change, I don't want them wildly under-estimating it, so I'll get my camera out.  Our readings have been a bit erratic recently for various reasons.

You may know this already (apologies) but if the estimated tariff change reading was, say, 100 units out then the actual cost difference to you is:

100 * (new unit price - old unit price).

This is why Ofgem has a 250kWh restriction (electricity) on switch reading disputes before an Agreed Readings Dispute can be raised. The actual cost difference is minimal.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] said:

Rollinghome said:

Well, just for a change, I don't want them wildly under-estimating it, so I'll get my camera out.  Our readings have been a bit erratic recently for various reasons.

You may know this already (apologies) but if the estimated tariff change reading was, say, 100 units out then the actual cost difference to you is:

100 * (new unit price - old unit price).

This is why Ofgem has a 250kWh restriction (electricity) on switch reading disputes before an Agreed Readings Dispute can be raised. The actual cost difference is minimal.

.... potentially £30 or so for the OP so not life changing but not trivial either. The sooner everyone has smart meters and processes are changed to allow accurate readings to be used the better.

Scot_39

Given your old reading is only going to be less than 2 weeks old, it is unlikely their estimate is going to be very far out anyway, especially if you submit monthly anyway.

But if its easy, take the reading the night before price change and submit it.

But depending on supplier and plan beware afresh reading might just trigger a new bill.

So many now submit at the price cap changes some suppliers encourage readings a few days (3-5 etc) out to avoid systems being overloaded - which happened during the first big ofgem cap change.

My supplier shows 3 sets of Smart readings on bills for Ofgem cap changes - the 2 normal monthly and the one for price change - taken on 1st for previous day ending midnight gmt  iirc.

You are probably going to see posts here telling people on standard variable rates to submit ahead of the next cap change so a reading from the night of 30 Sep etc..

But the price changes for you on 11th are way more significant than this Oct cap change.