Shared electric meter and six sets of standing charges

VirginiaSlim

Hi all,

I live in a flat managed by a Managing Agent in Scotland. The Managing Agent is probably not the best but is far from the worst.

They are irresponsive and operate a large number of properties and the service offered is in my view just not very good.

Each block of my development has six flats and the fees and charges are generally attributed to each flat within the block. 

An issue arose a few years ago where a very large electric bill was charged to my block on the basis that the electric company has not had access to the meter for a number of years and there was a backdated bill. This caused me to question this and sought copies of the invoices.

One of the items that came out of this request for further information as that each owner was being charged a full standing charge for the common meter used to cover communal lighting, the door entry system and sockets used for cleaning/hoovering. The usage has always been really low.

I have tried to research this and wanted to ascertain whether the suppliers would offer a contract with a tariff including only on standing charge per meter. The bulk of the charges relate to standing charges.

Is there anybody else who has encountered this issue. It would be helpful to know before I ask the Factor who, based upon prior dealings, will no doubt go into a defensive mode as soon as their competency is questioned.

Any advice would be appreciated.  

molerat

One meter point = one standing charge.  Why do you think there is more than one standing charge ?  Who was this bill issued by - the actual energy supplier or the managing agent ?  The standing charge for a non domestic supply can be fairly high so is this the managing agent splitting the high charge ?

Robin9

@Virginia_Slim    What are you paying for a Standing Charge?  As @molerat  these can be high perhaps £2/£3

VirginiaSlim

I have asked for a copy of the latest bills to try and determine this. once I get these I shall update you.

molerat  - the managing agent invoices us however these should simply be a recharge of the supplier bills. I suspect that the standing charge is very high and this is apportioned.

My own standing charges are around 56p per day ( @ £17 a month) on my domestic supply with my actual bills being around £40 per month in the summer months and nearer £120 in the winter months. That I am being charged £24 a month for the communal electricity just seems really high to me.

Robin9

Do you have access to the communal meter ?   Can you read it now and say in a weeks time to see what the consumption is. ?

VirginiaSlim

Hi Robin 

The meter is is a locked cupboard with a digilock - this was installed after one of the owners locked the cupboard/ lost the key/ and the electric company could no longer access it.  I do not have access to the meter at present.

Robin9

Ah -  when you det copies of the accounts look out for lots of estimated readings

Farway

VirginiaSlim said:

That I am being charged £24 a month for the communal electricity just seems really high to me.

Could it be the communal electric is on a commercial tariff and not domestic?

VirginiaSlim

Farway

That's entirely possible. The issue would be that the aggregate charge per month would be £144 with minimal usage between the six flats

Scot_39

If for instance the supplier was say paying the above £2-3 per day - so £60-90 pm - possibly ex-vat - a 1/6th share could be £10-15 + VAT per month.

If your blocks deal is a long term fixed term it might also still be at very high rates /kWh -  if say still paying rates catching up with energy crisis highs (without Truss EPG and EBSS et al - when the true DF DD cap was £4279) the true Ofgem domestic single rate was c67.5p regional average before the c34p/kWh discount in Q1 2023.

Your blocks commercial rates may still be carrying some of that baggage - long since cleared from domestic cap rate.

(Some blocks were impacted almost in real term - using things like weakly spot rates - others faced huge catch up bills at review time - others might roll that demand into the next cycle - certainly a lot of council and HA schemes appear to - rather than issue lump sum demands - others like a domestic fix - could well get high prices locked in if fixed at wrong time)

If they are asking you to pay - you are AFAIK entitled to check they are not profiting - by getting their current rates.