Redundant electricity meter and standing charges

vfm1923

An engineer advised today that our redundant electricity meter, which I religious send zero readings for each month, still incurs a standing charge. The utility company accepts that it and its predecessors have been aware of this for more than ten years (with monthly reminders) and have offered no advice, just taken the money. The engineer suggested this was the industry norm.

If you can something like this going on, you need to contact your supplier and get it remedied!

QrizB

vfm1923 said:

An engineer advised today that our redundant electricity meter, which I religious send zero readings for each month, still incurs a standing charge. The utility company accepts that it and its predecessors have been aware of this for more than ten years (with monthly reminders) and have offered no advice, just taken the money.

And you've been paying the bills for ten years without asking to have the supply de-enerfised and the meter removed.

vfm1923 said:

The engineer suggested this was the industry norm.

Yes. You have an electricity supply, the supply has a standing charge.

vfm1923 said:

If you can something like this going on, you need to contact your supplier and get it remedied!

What specifically have you done to "get it remedied"? Have you asked to have the meter removed?

Ectophile

If it's a "complex metering" situation, with one supply but two meters, you should only be paying one standing charge.

If it's two separate supplies then there will be two separate standing charges.  If you want the meter removed, you will have to initiate it yourself.  The energy company will happily take the standing charge off you every month in case you ever decide to use that supply.

Scot_39

It is sad that you didn't come here in past - with your question - and that you have apparently been paying two standing charges - especially given recent doubling since SoLR and TCR increases for electric.

Many homes had single DNO supplies - but two meters.

Some are only now being removed under the RTS shutdown process.

As above - certain twin meter systems were covered by an order c2016 - that if users had them billed at single rate - that only one standing charge would apply.

Suppliers may not have published it - but anyone with twin meters - could potentially find the info - if looked for it on line.  Including in forums like this.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f5eace5274a2e8ab4bc3d/energy-market-restricted-meters-order-explanatory-note.pdf

Some suppliers offered that single standing charge to many - others may have stuck exactly to the rules.

I certainly saw posts where after switching - some had the 2nd standing charge return - at least temporarily if not permanently - including those who were moved not by choice (takeover or SoLR etc)

The original order was set to expire after the original smart meter completion target (Id laugh it it wasn't such a sad reflection on the UK today - c2019) - but was then extended to June 30th 2025.  

If you feel that they should have offered it to you on your tariff deal - if you had gone single rate from a qualifying set-up - then you might be able to claim some compensation.

Suppliers often offer better lower cost deals - I have two such deals listed on my current monthly statement - were you never offered anything similar ?

When you say made them aware (monthly) - did you do anything other than submit the readings ?

Did you ever actually contact customer services to question it ?

Were you never offered a smart meter - and new tariffs to go with it (Ive had mine 8 years and wasn't an early adopter) ?

Did you ever discuss the option of removing the second meter - if going smart - it might even have been free ?

If you did actually talk to them about it, did they never suggest a new tariff or a meter upgrade to prevent the charge ?

However if you remained silent, continued to just submit two readings - and pay on a legacy tariff but didn't use the metering or the rates on offer in the way intended - thats much more of a sign of your acceptance of the status quo.

The supplier might see the use - but they arent responsible for choosing the tariff ?

Others for instance had stayed on e7 tariffs - despite replacing old electric heating - maybe even years / decades earlier - and only worked out that it was costing them more - when prices jumped during the Ukraine / Russian gas crisis - more than tripled the cap at peak (doubled even with Truss's £2500 EPG protection).