Incorrect Octopus Energy smart meter readings

brianposter

The fact that the testing is industry sponsored nonsense does not make it any less nonsense.

If the supplier will not accept perfectly good evidence from on the spot measurements you may have to take them to court - as we did. Simply meant that they had to pay for a lawyer in addition to compensation.

But one would generally hope that a company will put the problem into the hands of someone sensible as soon as it looks like going to court.

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82093112#Comment_82093112

One option is to purchase a MID approved gas meter (preferably a mechanical one), and get a Gas Safe engineer to install it in series with the main one. You may struggle to find an GS engineer able/willing to do the work, and you also need to have space somewhere to mount the meter.

Chrysalis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82093285#Comment_82093285

This is how it played out with me.

To @brianposter some years back I had a timeline like this.

Was on estimated billing for circa 1 year. (electric) old legacy meter expired certified period.
I provided a reading after a door reader reminded me they had no reading for a year.
I could see when submitting reading it was not good, so I rang soon after providing the reading to discuss with octopus my supplier.
Originally sound conversation and advice given, I was actually initially prepared to trust the meter, and the discussion was to ask how quick they needed payment, but the operator started talking to me about potential faults, he told me how to do a creep test, and also to test random devices in home.
Creep test passed (these seem to be the only easy faults to prove without independent test), but when I measured one device only, the reading not only had really elevated readings, but it also was very inconsistent.
I then wanted to arrange a meter test, £150 fee if found working properly, some operators tried to talk me out of it, others said they would book it, but it never got booked.
I eventually decided to order a new smart meter, my logic was it would at least prevent future damage to my bills by getting rid of the old meter.
Eventually meter swap day came, and engineer confirmed he had no job order to take old meter away for testing, but he advised me to do the swap anyway, as if the new meter has radically different readings, it could be used as evidence, I agreed.
It became evident fairly quickly the new meter not only had considerably lower readings, but also they were fairly consistent for my consistent routine.

Some numbers, that I remember.

Estimate for the year or so usage was circa 9 KwH a day.
Reading provided was more than 3x that amount.
Actual usage was around 6-7 KwH a day.

Octopus were being awkward, complaint was raised, 2 months expired with refusal to deadlock, and evidence sent to ombdusman, day after ombdusman completed checks, I got a call from escalated complaints team, the money was already credited before the call started, and I got a firther £150 goodwill, it was a 4 figure reimbursement, but in reality it wasnt everything they owed me, I written off what had already been paid towards the balance, they credited what was left, which was a bit more than half of it.

The problem with refusing to get it tested or replaced is you can just be in perpetual broken meter state. Paying elevated bills with every passing day, if a supplier in that situation offered to test it, I would snap their hands off.

I also reported a gas meter when I first moved in with elevated readings, and that was swapped, refunded bills, with no fee paid for the test. New meter much lower readings.