Paying 2 electricity standing charges

Slowmolily

Has anyone else come across this problem. My elderly mother has moved into rented sheltered housing. There are 2 electricity meters as prior to the energy crisis the occupier could take advantage of economy 7 or something similar. The problem is now, the tariff on both metres is the same and she is paying 2 standing charges. It seems very unfair so I would be interested to know if this is a widespread problem and what can be done. We've been told that her property is not suitable for a smart meter.

MultiFuelBurner

Are there two separate meters (not to be mixed up with two fuse (consumer) boards)

If there are two meters are both incrementing (going up?)

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, there are legacy tariffs that used two separate meters, some with three or more rates. These setups are collectively known as "complex metering".

If your mother is with a major supplier, they should have a complex metering team. If you speak to them they might be able to waive the second standing charge.

Slowmolily said:

We've been told that her property is not suitable for a smart meter.

Who told you this? If it wasn't your mother's supplier, you should ask them.
Fitting a smart meter would probably involve moving to Economy 7 rather tan the legacy tariff your mother is currently on. It might also involve a degree of reconfiguration of her consumer units, to feed from a single meter.

If you can provide full details of her current supplier and tariff, and photo(s) showing her electricity meters, consumer units and any associated electrical gubbins, we might be able to provide more specific suggestions.

Scot_39

Slowmolily said:

Has anyone else come across this problem. My elderly mother has moved into rented sheltered housing. There are 2 electricity meters as prior to the energy crisis the occupier could take advantage of economy 7 or something similar. The problem is now, the tariff on both metres is the same and she is paying 2 standing charges. It seems very unfair so I would be interested to know if this is a widespread problem and what can be done. We've been told that her property is not suitable for a smart meter.

Their is nothing unfair or abnormal about it when the system was operating as intended - probably on a 2 or 3 rate tariff system.

The difference is she may no longer be getting the advantage of cheaper rate electricity to compensate the additional charge.

Many supliers would operate E7 now for all electric  - the only widely if not fully supported dual rate tariff - many others are closed to legacy customers only - in some cases with announced plans to stop supporting (EOn abandoned one form of rts metering c8-9 years ago iirc in my and my neighbours case).

E7 would now commonly be done via a single smart meter one MPAN and so one charge.

So you need to provide photos as above or get a better explanation of why not suitable for Smart.  At worst case if geography and not wiring - the Smart meter would just be in dumb mode without a functioning IHD  - operating exactly like a previous generation digital meter without a comms hub bolt on. 

So I suspect there could be other issues with the wiring.

As not all dual meter systems are so easy to replace with existing smart tech - like at least 2 of the schemes offered by SPower and possibly others that support homes that have 3 internal device wiring zones charged at different rates.  I transitioned from legacy dual meter rts heatwise that supported 3 zones, normal sockets, but also seperate hw and nsh wiring / timing via hw boost, to single digital e10 that had to merge the two losing hw boost, to single Smart e10 over last decade)

Your mother is also renting - which also generally  restricts her options.  She is not the owner of the meters - she wouldnt be even if owned as a rule - her supplier or even landlord could be, the associated internal wiring e.g. consumer units and beyond or heating belong to landlord  - she is only the bill payer.

So does she have a normal direct contract with a standard domestic supplier or via landlord agency / heat network provider  ?

By tariff the same - do you mean both meters charged on single rate ?

If so - what sort of heating and hot water is now used ?

Are panels fitted - assuming all electric as once on E7 type or legacy heating supply deal  - normal electric radiators or night storage heaters ?

Do you have sample bill usage rates yet for both meters over weeks or months since moved in ?

As renting it's realky not entirely up to your mother how the property metering is arranged and she - or you on her behalf - really needs to liase with her landlord before agreeing any changes.

Based on family experience - and no prenotification when booking appointments - meter fitters in past have - arguably should still - explicitly ask for permission from owner - not bill payer - before making any metering changes.

And she could even be forced to reinstate old metering at her cost when vacates property even if they agree to a temporary change (like say prepay to credit or vice versa).

As would any changes to internal wiring technically be their responsibility - even if your mother was willing to foot the bill if the landlord wasn't (she really shouldnt have to if say utility imposed a meter change) - it is their legal responsibility - to maintain it, now test and keep it certified before reletting (during like gas ?) etc.

And 2 meters normally means 2 standing charges although just before I was kicked off my old RTS by EOn years ago - after told it was going to happen - I think they did zero one of them for a few months - until then for years had paid twice - but then had the as intended advantage of much lower heating rates to more than offset that charge.

Slowmolily

Thanks for comments. There are definitely two meters, I submit 2 readings on her behalf to Eon Next each month. Sounds like I have to speak to them and see if they have a complex metering team for starters. 

molerat

If they have a complex meter and have moved to a single rate under The Energy Market Investigation (Restricted Meters) Order 2016 then they should only be paying one standing charge. They should also receive a refund of any second standing charge paid since being on the single rate. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/supplier-compliance-requirements-customers-restricted-meters

Scot_39

Slowmolily said:

Thanks for comments. There are definitely two meters, I submit 2 readings on her behalf to Eon Next each month. Sounds like I have to speak to them and see if they have a complex metering team for starters. 

EOn - note the EOn and not the new EOnNext domestic only subdivision - used to have - but not sure about now. Think I have read a few posts on here from someone who used to work in that section even.

EOn went though a process they euphamistically called "simplification" years ago - almost a decade now - which is when I and my neighbours were forced off / lost the old Heatwise RTS tariffs and meters - given a choice of the far more expensive off peak and peak rates on E10 or single rate. 

I used to have a direct number for them - but that stopped working years ago - long before switch to EOnNext - if you get through.  A neighbour had issues with E10 meter - and struggled via normal customer services reps - but finally found a supervisor who seemed to know enough to at least have a sensible conversation.

And once you find out any options - don't forget - she's renting - the landlord matters.