Outfox using 01 April Renewables Obligation Reduction to actually Overcharge

MikeAndTheDogs

I validate all my Energy Bills in Excel, which are mostly accurate to the penny (may occasionally be 1 penny out due to rounding), but my latest Bill from Outfox Energy (Fixed Dual Fuel) overcharged me by £1.21, even though they used the lower Tariffs from 01 April.

Admittedly, not a huge amount, but if amplified across their 100,000+ Customers, then that's a nice little earner for them.

The Overcharging arose from the way they calculate the adjustment for the rebate for the Renewables Obligation scheme, which is effective from 01 April 2026.

They have my Actual Gas and Electric Readings for 04 March and 04 April, and used inflated "Estimates" for 31 March, which are actually HIGHER than the 04 April Actual Readings!

They then Overcharge me using the inflated "Estimates" at the HIGHER (pre-April) Tariffs for the period 05 March to 31 March, and then credit a Lesser Amount back using the LOWER Tariffs for the period 01 April to 04 April.

Some sneaky creative accounting there by Outfox!

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

If you have working smart meters, you can contact OFTM customer service and ask them to pull the correct readings & rebill.

JGB1955

They asked that readings be submitted on 1 April to avoid this problem. Hopefully my bill will be correct…..

bob2302

I suspect that energy companies tend to distrust readings submitted close to a change in rate.

born_again

Are you sure that your electric S/C has not increased, as many regions have?

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/get-energy-price-cap-standing-charges-and-unit-rates-region

bristolleedsfan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81952327#Comment_81952327

Standing charges do not increase/decrease for existing fixed rates.

MikeAndTheDogs

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply.

We don't (yet) have a Smart Meter, and so provide monthly readings. I would have thought Outfox could interpolate between the readings to get a sensible Estimate, e.g. for Electric:

04 March Actual Reading = 28884 kWh
04 April Actual Reading = 29045 kWh
A sensible Estimate for 31 March would be around 29024 kWh

But Outfox "estimated" 29050 kWh for 31 March (higher than the 04 April Actual Reading), and so charged for 166 kWh at the higher (pre-April) Tariff, and then in the next section on the same Bill re-imbursed 5 kWh at the lower (April) Tariff.

So, thanks to the Renewables Obligation "Reduction" I actually paid more because they charged for an extra 5kWh at the Higher Tariff and re-imbursed it at the Lower Tariff.

(BTW - the Daily Standing Charge is the same pre-April and from April)

I have emailed Outfox to challenge the Bill.

QrizB

I have emailed Outfox to challenge the Bill.

Hopefully they'll correct the bill without any fuss. Please let us know how it turns out!