No meter reading for almost a decade...

marksmoodle

I’ve managed to get myself into a bit of a pickle with my gas supplier.  The origins of this dates back over 8 years after I moved into flat, the suppliers somehow didn’t take my direct debits for over 6 months and I  never noticed.  When this was corrected they managed to get the first number of my meter reading wrong (something like using a 8 instead of a 3 or vice versa, it was a shambles).  This was all corrected eventually (I can’t remember how).  Anyways, I have lived overseas on and off since then, renting out the property for long periods of time but on an Airbnb type basis. I have definitely provided meter readings in that time, and can recall having meter readers in the property. I recently went into the online account to give a meter reading and the gas readings are WAY off.  The supplier moved over to a ‘new system’ last year and I can’t access past bills or anything but from emails it looks like they’ve been estimating readings for 8 years?! They’ve also been reducing my direct debits.  Obviously this is my fault for not being on top of it, but there’s also a coupe of years where I can see they haven’t chased a meter reading over email.  Do I have a leg to stand on here? Anything I can do? They don’t appear to be aware of it as I’ve spoke to them over online chat and there was no alarm or anything in the responses.  I’ve not told them or contacted them over phone yet as I’m not sure whats best to do. Any advice on how to proceed? I’m not sure if the initial error could of happened again when they’ve moved over to new system. It seems like my address is a black hole to them somehow. In another 10 years the readings will probably align (very old meter and they don't even chase me to upgrade or get a smart meter).

EssexHebridean

Well they do have a duty to make efforts to obtain accurate meter readings at set intervals - I don’t know the ins and outs but there will be someone else along shortly who can give you the right details I am sure. 

Ectophile

Ofgem's Back Billing Rule might be relevant.  It's worth looking that up.  Whether or not it applies depends on what bills you have been receiving and what you've paid.

Ultimately, it's the supplier's job to ensure that meter readings are taken from time to time.  The only requirement on you is that you don't prevent them from doing so.

Ildhund

EssexHebridean said:

Well they do have a duty to make efforts to obtain accurate meter readings at set intervals - I don’t know the ins and outs but there will be someone else along shortly who can give you the right details I am sure. 

It's a condition of the supplier's licence (SLC 21B.4, to be precise):

The licensee must take all reasonable steps to obtain a meter reading (including any meter reading transmitted electronically from a meter to the licensee or provided by the Customer and accepted by the licensee) for each of its Customers at least once every year. 

'Reasonable steps' is of course a moveable feast. You might say that a line in an email saying 'Please submit a meter reading' constitutes only the first in a series of them, ending up with 'unless you submit a reading by the end of this month, we'll send a meter reader round and charge you £50 for his trouble.'

[If you were a pedant, you might quibble about whether once a year pertained to the obtaining or to the taking of steps or both. There may be clear precedent for interpreting apparently ambiguous statements like this.] 

marksmoodle

Thanks all.  I've had a look into back billing and i think that only applies if they haven't sent a bill? They've sent a bill with estimated readings.  I'm wary to get in touch in case I say the wrong thing...

MeteredOut

marksmoodle said:

Thanks all.  I've had a look into back billing and i think that only applies if they haven't sent a bill? They've sent a bill with estimated readings.  I'm wary to get in touch in case I say the wrong thing...

Have you ever provided correct readings after they've sent an estimated bill? How often? When? Can you evidence that?

Can you share how far apart (in kWh) the latest estimated reading is from the actual. Given the tone of your post, I assume the actual usage is in excess of the estimates?

marksmoodle

No I can't prove anything but I've definitely had meter readers round, from Morrisons I think they were called. I'm sure I've provided via the phone as well. I can't prove it though. Thanks 

marksmoodle

Yes I'd imagine the bill will be in the thousands 3-5k ish

phillw

What do you want to do?

You can either ignore them or give them correct meter readings.

If you give them correct readings, the system will bill you for extra energy. They will have to guess when the energy was used , which will affect what price to charge you.

You can then complain. If the meter is accessible from outside the property, then you could argue they could have read it. If you need to let them in, it is kinda your own fault for not arranging for that to happen. Back billing laws don't save you from paying for energy, if you keep quiet long enough.

I'd get a smart meter fitted pronto to avoid any issues.

They might have details of meter readings that don't show up on the new web site, I have a Barclays credit card where there are no online statements at all. They generate them and they don't make it onto their cloud.

Until you give them a reading, you won't know what will happen. I'd submit it online and wait and see what happens.

Alternatively, keep quiet and as long as you don't switch or they go bankrupt then you might pass away before they notice.

marksmoodle

Yeah I was just wanting to see if I have a leg to stand on here, and to see what the obligations are on the company to get meter readings, as I say I think they've taken the readings but lost or not input them. Surely there'd be something flagged in their system if no readings for 8 + years?

phillw

marksmoodle said:

Yeah I was just wanting to see if I have a leg to stand on here, and to see what the obligations are on the company to get meter readings, as I say I think they've taken the readings but lost or not input them. Surely there'd be something flagged in their system if no readings for 8 + years?

Meter readings are validated and can be rejected if they are outside of expected range.

Maybe it flagged up, they tried to go to your property and you weren't there. If you have emails saying they are using estimated readings, then that is also them flagging it up.

They will probably argue that it's your responsibility to check the bills, emails etc.

If you owe them money, you owe them money. You can try to get out of paying it, but there isn't an easy way of getting out of it or everyone would engineer that situation and then not pay their bills. 

Although if someone has figured it out, then it's unlikely they would tell anyone. Especially on here.