Anomalously high gas bill - from British Gas

brianposter

Your opinion about what a faulty smart meter might do is not only unnecessary but also incorrect. If the software is updated a "faulty" meter may well start working correctly. 

MWT

I would strongly suggest that any evidence and proof of a problem is presented in terms of the m3 meter readings, the kWh figures obtained from a 3rd party, or even from the IHD are not accurate, nor are they the base for any billing.

 

CazeryBird

MWT said:

I would strongly suggest that any evidence and proof of a problem is presented in terms of the m3 meter readings, the kWh figures obtained from a 3rd party, or even from the IHD are not accurate, nor are they the base for any billing.

 

I had hoped that the kWh data recorded not deviating from our expected and usual patterns of usage added some weight to the m3 jump being anomalous? Everything is fine apart from that big jump. On both meter readings.

We don't have a functional IHD (never have - when it's turned on all the data for that day registers as incomplete), so I've had to use Loop, Bright and a spreadsheet of raw data that n3rgy sent me.

Is it maybe worth me contacting the company we were erroneously transferred to and asking them what they have recorded at their end?

CazeryBird

brianposter said:

Your opinion about what a faulty smart meter might do is not only unnecessary but also incorrect. If the software is updated a "faulty" meter may well start working correctly. 

In this situation would the past fault be picked up by the meter test?

brianposter

CazeryBird said:

In this situation would the past fault be picked up by the meter test?

No. There are all sorts of reasons why a faulty meter might start working correctly.

Do we take it that you can now reconcile your meter readings with the Loop information without a problem ?

CazeryBird

brianposter said:

CazeryBird said:

In this situation would the past fault be picked up by the meter test?

No. There are all sorts of reasons why a faulty meter might start working correctly.

Do we take it that you can now reconcile your meter readings with the Loop information without a problem ?

There are always differences, but i think that's just the difference between smart meter kWh data and using the formula to calculate usage from m3 readings (well that's what my partner tells me anyway!). Differences range from over 1k to -11.

But now I have a year of readings since the jump and the readings fit our usage pattern.

Why does the BG person say a faulty meter remains faulty then? Is it just an issue they want to avoid admitting?! The ombudsman said similar: that once faulty they continue to return faulty readings etc.

brianposter

CazeryBird said:

Why does the BG person say a faulty meter remains faulty then? Is it just an issue they want to avoid admitting?! The ombudsman said similar: that once faulty they continue to return faulty readings etc.

You are being told nonsense. But your problem does not appear to be anything to do with a faulty meter.

brianposter

CazeryBird said:

There are always differences, but i think that's just the difference between smart meter kWh data and using the formula to calculate usage from m3 readings (well that's what my partner tells me anyway!). Differences range from over 1k to -11.

But now I have a year of readings since the jump and the readings fit our usage pattern.

Is this just rounding ?

CazeryBird

I think so, yes. I wanted BG to confirm though. I can sit down and check later this evening as well, hopefully (my daughter is ill again )!

How about I edit my response to the question from the advisor to read:

It is this jump that I have been disputing and this has been lost in the noise of this ongoing complaint correspondence and in the passing between advisors and departments.

It happened at the same time that my account was erroneously transferred and returned to you so I want to compare readings and dates/times to look for a) any large jumps which exceed that my boiler can handle; b) any jump dates that correspond with the transfers of my account between suppliers and/or c) software updates which coincide or follow the jump.

All our usage apart from this jump has been in line with what I expect to see for our house, all except this period in 2024. What I have wanted from the outset is for this to be adjusted to match our previous average usage in the same period as it's clearly anomalous, even more obviously so now we have the data from the same period in 2023 and in 2025.

I want to include a short sentence addressing their claim that a meter, once faulty, is then faulty forever... any suggestions very welcome as I'm struggling!

brianposter

You have not mentioned the outstanding SAR which one would expect to be the basis of any detailed claim you might make. You need to mention it because BG may well think it is easier to sort out the problem rather than prepare the SAR.

As for the faulty meter problem just say that you are advised that they are talking nonsense. 

You also need to be clear why there are discrepancies between Loop and your meter. Perhaps someone with more experience of Loop could help ?