Problem with Economy 7 and single readings - British Gas

Tardis4

Our lovely neighbours have a problem with British Gas. They have been giving a single reading for years (2-3 years) on their rental flat but now BG are saying that they should have been giving Economy 7 readings and that they will owe hundreds of pounds extra. But only for the past 12 months. Does this sound right? I would have thought that Economy 7 would be less expensive, not more, and that BG should have noticed the problem sooner.

molerat

Which reading have they been giving, R1, R2 or T ?

What rate have they been paying for the units charged ?

Tardis4

From what I understand, they've been giving the combined reading (day+night) and they thought they were on a standard charge. I.e. not Economy 7.

molerat

Do they need to be on E7 ?  If not and they have been charged a single rate for their accurate total use then they should tell BG that they wish to stay on a single rate and rebilling using 2 reads should make no difference to the amount billed.  Without a definite description of exactly which reading from the meter has been given it is difficult to know what the outcome would be.

Tardis4

Thanks @molerat. I will pass that information on.

Scot_39

Tardis4 said:

Our lovely neighbours have a problem with British Gas. They have been giving a single reading for years (2-3 years) on their rental flat but now BG are saying that they should have been giving Economy 7 readings and that they will owe hundreds of pounds extra. But only for the past 12 months. Does this sound right? I would have thought that Economy 7 would be less expensive, not more, and that BG should have noticed the problem sooner.

E7 has two rates - one peak 1u hrs a day normally higher - one off peak 7 hrs per day - normally lower by slightly higher margin.

You then typically have to use say 35-40% off peak for e7 to be cheaper than single rate..

Easy with nsh, hw tank- and feeding shower - etc  less easy with other heat arrangements.


Many therefore chose to move off e7 tariffs onto single rate billing but kept e7 meters.  Smart were converted - traditional suppliers simply billed both registrscat same single rate.

Without knowing what tariff they were on from day 1 - and what meter readings submitted (total, peak register or off peak register) the situation is complex.

And a secondary complication is backbilling - which may be kicking in - where suppliers aren't in simplistic terms allowed to correct past bills for increases to bills for energy consumed over  12m ago.
But then doubt that would apply to false or partial meter readings provided by consumer.

And I hate to say it - but as British Gas make sure if didn't change the billing tariff when (if)  they were moved over to new accounts system.  It might just have gone back to default meter type at tgag point from single rate before.

So ask them to check old and new bills for tariff name registers and rates used.