Separate charge for heating and hot water

Treasure1970

I have a friend who rents a flat from a housing association, she has received a bill from SSE saying she owes them money for her hot water and heating.  However all other things electrical are paid via a pre-payment meter. This is a strange set up who does she speak to?

elsien

Is it one of those communal heating and hot water systems? Those can either be included in the service charge or billed separately. Otherwise known as district heating networks.

Although if that was the case, it should have been explained to her as part of the tenancy. Can she get her tenancy agreement out and have a look?

Scot_39

The housing association would seem the most obvious point of contact to clarify if legitimate.  But suspect could be right.

Communal and even small scale district heat and hot water systems are not that uncommon.

DullGreyGuy

Scot_39 said:

Communal and even small scale district heat and hot water systems are not that uncommon.

But does the utility firm bill the dwellings directly for these? 

Never had one personally but a few friends have and they were billed by the freeholder not the utility firm. 

Qyburn

Maybe it's gas heating and HW.

Scot_39

DullGreyGuy said:

Scot_39 said:

Communal and even small scale district heat and hot water systems are not that uncommon.

But does the utility firm bill the dwellings directly for these? 

Never had one personally but a few friends have and they were billed by the freeholder not the utility firm. 

It depends - my sis LHA used to bill direct when the supply was unmetered - they just set a nominal rate annually depending on size / likely not actual occupancy etc iirc.

When they upgraded the boilers - and all the HIU - the smallish HA subcontracted the work to a private outfit - with an IT / data logging / billing tie in to the chosen supplier.

Complaints from some before - as many complaints from others after - for different reasons you can guess.

One person I know - newish (5+yrs) build private flat - gets their bills and has changed tariff direct with EOn Heat - who do district / block energy systems. He's not that happy with the rates. Not sure if thats everything - or jut heat and hot water.

Be interesting to see what comes out of the Ofgem consultation on pricing under such schemes - that's currently running (interest party submissions by Oct 23 iirc).

QrizB

DullGreyGuy said:

Scot_39 said:

Communal and even small scale district heat and hot water systems are not that uncommon.

But does the utility firm bill the dwellings directly for these? 

There have been previous threads where district heating systems have been operated by an arm if one of the major energy suppliers.

I think I can remember EON running one?

Gerry1

QrizB said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Scot_39 said:

Communal and even small scale district heat and hot water systems are not that uncommon.

But does the utility firm bill the dwellings directly for these? 

There have been previous threads where district heating systems have been operated by an arm if one of the major energy suppliers.

I think I can remember EON running one?

https://www.eonenergy.com/heat/home.html