EDF - 2 rate metre acting as 1 rate meter

enormous_kangaroo

Hello,

Bear with me here, because I don't fully understand what I'm talking about! I'll try to explain as best as I can. 

From what I understand, I have a 2-rate meter installed for my electricity but I've been told that I'm billed on a single-rate tariff. My rate 1 increases with my electricity usage, whereas my rate 2 has always remained at 000000. I asked EDF about this and after a lot of backwards and forwards and various visits from engineers, they said "Your meter does show rate 1 and rate 2 reads but only usage is recording on rate 1. I've updated your account to allow you to submit both reads but you'll only be billed on the single rate tariff with you not benefitting from a 2 rate meter."

They also said that if I swap providers in the future "you just need to let a future supplier know you have a 2 rate meter but this acts as a 1 rate meter. They'll have the facility to bill you on what we call a totaliser tariff where it's just the 1 rate prices you pay."

However, when I'm trying to submit a meter reading online (my smart meter functionality doesn't work - another long story), EDF have estimated a couple of readings and the rate 2 has now increased to 000036. My actual meter still reads 000000 for rate 2. When I try to submit zero on the website, it tells me to "Please enter a positive number". 

I don't understand why the EDF website is estimating an increase in my rate 2 reading when I'm only on a single rate tariff (supposedly!). Is there a simple way to permanently fix this?  All I want is for a 1-rate meter to be installed but EDF have said "Unfortunately, we won't be able to exchange the meter as we're fined by Ofgem for every smart meter we remove but we can sort the billing side so you're not financially impacted". 

This is my tariff as it appears on my bill:
Electricity tariff name EDF Essentials Sep24
Product type Fixed Payment method Direct Debit
Unit rate (day) 28.310p/kWh
Unit rate (night) 28.310p/kWh
Standing charge 47.910p/day (£174.87/year)

The fact that I have a day and night rate on my bill makes me think that I'm not on a single-rate tariff. Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

enormous_kangaroo

I've just noticed that I've used the wrong 'meter' in my title. D'oh! Great start on this forum!

BarelySentientAI

That sounds more like an IT problem than a meter problem.

Just submit 00001 every time.  It'll cost you 30p the first time you do it but then nothing afterwards.

Alnat1

Usually when someone is on a single rate tariff on a dual rate meter, both night and day readings would increase but both would be charged at the same SVT rate, rather than the E7 rates.

As all your usage is going on rate 1, whether day or night, then it appears you do actually have a normal single rate meter or at least a meter that can be switched between single and dual rates (I believe most can) and it is in single rate mode.

Xbigman

Alnat1 said:

Usually when someone is on a single rate tariff on a dual rate meter, both night and day readings would increase but both would be charged at the same SVT rate, rather than the E7 rates.

As all your usage is going on rate 1, whether day or night, then it appears you do actually have a normal single rate meter or at least a meter that can be switched between single and dual rates (I believe most can) and it is in single rate mode.

Yes, if the meter is only incrementing on 1 register then the meter has not been changed, only the billing. It looks like the meter and billing were working fine but the OP has created a problem for themselves by having the billing changed. The fix could be as simple as changing suppliers. Or it might make things worse because the new supplier will think there is an E7 meter and there isn't. The answer is to have your billing switched back to submitting 1 reading. Do NOT put in a reading of 1 for the second register as that could cause more problems later.


Darren

enormous_kangaroo

Xbigman said:

Alnat1 said:

Usually when someone is on a single rate tariff on a dual rate meter, both night and day readings would increase but both would be charged at the same SVT rate, rather than the E7 rates.

As all your usage is going on rate 1, whether day or night, then it appears you do actually have a normal single rate meter or at least a meter that can be switched between single and dual rates (I believe most can) and it is in single rate mode.

Yes, if the meter is only incrementing on 1 register then the meter has not been changed, only the billing. It looks like the meter and billing were working fine but the OP has created a problem for themselves by having the billing changed. The fix could be as simple as changing suppliers. Or it might make things worse because the new supplier will think there is an E7 meter and there isn't. The answer is to have your billing switched back to submitting 1 reading. Do NOT put in a reading of 1 for the second register as that could cause more problems later.


Darren

I've never asked  for the billing to be changed. When I moved into the house I had a very old single-rate meter and was billed on a single rate. I asked for a smart meter to be installed and the engineer installed my current E7 meter. I didn't ask for this and I wasn't told. I only found out when I changed suppliers to EDF and they asked for two opening readings as the national database had my property registered with a two-rate meter. I'm not sure how, but my E7 meter has only ever recorded rate 1 so it essentially functions as a 1 rate meter, but my online EDF account estimates that rate 2 should be increasing as well.

enormous_kangaroo

This is a screenshot of my recent meter reads (estimates and my own submissions) if that helps.

I've also had a quick look at the British Gas website for a new quote and received this message when I entered my address: 

molerat

Just raise a complaint that they are increasing the night rate reading when it is permanently at 0.  Complaints generally get sent to someone with the ability to think, EDF front line cs only have the ability to read a screen.

Swipe

EDF needs to sort this out and update the meter profile to single rate and then update the national database to reflect this. No ifs or buts. Tell them you'll raise a case with the ombudsman if they refuse.