Frozen smart meter

Chimeria

We have smart meters from Scottish power. Both electric and gas are pay as you go. Over 2 years ago our electric meter reading froze, and has not recorded any increase in our usage since, so we have essentially been getting free electricity since then. It was reported at the time, and they said they would send an engineer out, but never did. Every few months they send emails out saying they are getting no readings, and will send an engineer out, they never do! They have now sent an email with a bill for the standing charges, but no charges for usage. Can they bill us for this, as we are supposedly pay as you go, and it’s their negligence not fixing the meter?

QrizB

You've told them about the fault as soon as you realised and it's now for them to fix it. 

They are probably allowed to boll you for the previous 12 months based on estimates, but back billing restrictions should prevent them from going back further than that.

Chimeria

Thanks, do the restrictions apply to the standing charge as well? The bill is just standing charges, minus the top ups we put on before realising the fault, electricity usage is all estimated at the reading when it stopped working, which is £0.

MWT

The standing charge is probably payable for the entire two years as it is not a variable energy cost, but yes, the actual usage estimate should not go back further than 12 months.

dunstonh

The standing charge is not metered.  So, logically, you should still be paying this.