Smart meter fraud?

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064721#Comment_82064721

I didnt pay a standing charge with Utilita for 3 months when I was away and used zero electricity.

Sirius_Minor

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064780#Comment_82064780

Thanks. I'll check online A/c tomorrow for usage & cost, as so far online has always been a day behind.

QrizB

Yes, online A/c does display but so far, it's always been a day behind.

If you look at your online account from one day earlier this week, and use your current tariff rates, you can calculate how much you should have paid and compare that to how much Utilita charged you.

For example, if on Tuesday you used 8 kWh and your current tariff is as you've shared above, you'd expect to have been charged for 2kWh at the Rate 1 and 6kWh at Rate 2 for a total of £2.59.

If you were charged for 2.5kWh at Rate 1 and 5.5 kWh at Rate 2 as you allege, you would instead have been charged £2.72.

What does your online account show as your consumption for a recent day, and how much were you charged?

Sirius_Minor

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064793#Comment_82064793

Last day of 7 was Wed - 8.05Khw & £2.48. Which is about what I expect.

On the IHD it shows Thur at 9.64 & £3. A difference of 1.59Kwh which should be .40p making £2.88 on total.

We'll see what online says tomorrow for Thur.

QrizB

Last day of 7 was Wed - 8.05Khw & £2.48. Which is about what I expect.

8.05kWh should be more like £2.60 on your current tariff.

Is the £2.48 excluding VAT? Adding 5% would make it £2.60, which would match your tariff.

WiserMiser

Remember that your consumption will be higher at present because your fridge and freezer will have to work much harder because of the heatwave.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064766#Comment_82064766

I dont have banded tariffs, but the IHD for conventional TOU updates with the tariff table - and there is some posting that is not the actual time - the raw tariff time+randomised offset - but just the raw tariff time (mines are so close Ive never worried and probably couldnt check anyway).

However other things on my IHD dont get updated that quickly - the electric use itself about every 10-12 sec - but other tings seem to take 10m+ after the end of a day (midnight GMT 1am DST).

The only remaining block tariff split at 2kWh per day - I am aware of is the Utilita zero SC prepay only.

And rather than a simple time estimate - I wonder if that tariff may well be using something called Block Pricing - which should use a separate configured array of preset thresholds - to switch rates as well - in your case assuming Utilita prepay - would be set to 2kWh - if they wanted if fully accurate.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a796c9e40f0b642860d7fa9/smart_meters_equipment_technical_spec_version_2.pdf

5.6.3.45 Tariff Threshold Matrix
A 3 x 8 matrix capable of holding thresholds in kWh for controlling Block Tariffs

If you saying the on line portal and the IHD history log agree on daily pricing on those days - have you actually done the maths - using your 2.5 at 52p 2.75 at 52p and the rest at lower - to see if they agree - or whether it is just an anomaly / internal switching delay on the display.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064766#Comment_82064766

Yes electric only went up 5-6% - the dual fuel cap 13% - it was gas users who saw the brunt of the rise - c 27% on average iirc.

Sirius_Minor

Thur is now showing on my online.

9.63Kwh £2.86

.01Kwh & .14p difference from Meter/IHD.

I understand what many say about IHD's.

However, what I do not understand is that the IHD actually mirrors the meter as it is linked directly to it .

So why does the meter/IHD still how 9.64Kwh/£3.00 for Thur against what is showing in online A/c?

@WiserMiser, I understand that. Normally it ha been 04p p/h during the night but due to the heatwave it is 07p p/h.

@QrizB I'm assuming inclusive of VAT as that amount is what is deducted from my credit balance.

QrizB

14p could be VAT.

How does your online account deal with VAT? Is it shown separately, or is it deducted from your credit when you top up? (I know Utility Warehouse deduct it from payments rather than from charges, but I don't know enough about Utilita.)

If you've been charged for 9.63kWh at the rates you've stated - 52.550p/kWh for the first two, and 25.580p/kWh for the rest - you're due to pay exactly £3.00.

So why does the meter/IHD still how 9.64Kwh/£3.00 for Thur against what is showing in online A/c?

£3.00 is correct. The extra 0.01kWh would be a quarter of a penny and is probably a rounding error, since smart meters report readings to three decimal places but both your account and your IHD are only quoting two.