Smart Meter not working over a year.

philip4567

As I understand it, we don't have to pay for unbilled energy over a year old.

My smart meter has not been submitting Gas readings since it was installed and the bills are estimated (electric is OK).

When it is eventually sorted out and properly billed, so of the energy used might be from over a year ago.

Does that mean that I don't have to pay for some of the energy?
And how would I work out how much?

Brie

have you been submitting your own readings? if not how will you know what should be billed?

la531983

Pretty sure your refusal to provide an actual reading isnt covered by the backbilling regulations. Someone else may back me up on this.

Keep_pedalling

how do the estimated readings compare to the actual reading?

Caz3121

I have the same issue with gas, stopped submitting March 2023 and then I submitted readings every month until October 2023 when the meter screen would not show any reading. Have been having estimates ever since. Have reported it again this week (reported last year too) and sent video of pressing buttons etc to show no screen information. I have been paying all the estimates and did ask the question that if when they come out they are unable to wake the screen up and end up replacing the meter how will they know whether the estimates were too high or too low? guess I will find out eventually. (I am in process of selling property so trying to get this sorted to be able to do final readings/start readings etc for new occupant)

QrizB

As I understand it, we don't have to pay for unbilled energy over a year old.

That might be your understanding, but it's not an accurate summary of the back-billing rules.

My smart meter has not been submitting Gas readings since it was installed and the bills are estimated (electric is OK).

Does the meter work, besides not sending readings? Can you take a manual reading? Have you been taking manual readings regularly and submitting them?

Or is the gas meter faulty and doesn't give a reading at all?

When it is eventually sorted out and properly billed, so of the energy used might be from over a year ago. Does that mean that I don't have to pay for some of the energy?

If you've been paying estimated bills, and the estimates are anything like accurate, there's pretty much zero chance of any of your gas being covered by theback billing restrictions.

But if you're able to read your meter yourself, you'd be much better off submitting manual readings.

Alnat1

An estimate bill is still a bill, so they have been issuing bills.

It's your choice whether or not to give accurate readings. If the estimates are too low you could be getting behind on payments, so probably best you submit them monthly.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81865339#Comment_81865339

The rules do require at least one accurate bill every 12 months, suppliers can't rely on sending endless estimates.

On the other-hand if the meter is readable the customer can't just refuse to provide a meter reading…

Ectophile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81865414#Comment_81865414

Yes they can. When it comes to the back billing rule, the customer has no obligation to send meter readings. The customer is only at fault if they prevent the energy company's meter readers seeing the meters.

QrizB

The rules do require at least one accurate bill every 12 months, suppliers can't rely on sending endless estimates.

I thought it was one actual meter reading every two years?

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81865456#Comment_81865456

There used to be a licence condition that required a meter reading/inspection every 2 years but that was removed a few years ago.

Now they just have to produce an accurate bill to avoid going beyond the allowed 12 months and that can be via a smart meter or a customer reading or a meter reader.

I've seen AI answers incorrectly citing once every two years based on a CAB example, not on the actual rules.