Daily average for March

chrisyd

Hi,

Can anyone tell me what their average daily reading for electricity for March is?

We live in a detached 3 bed 2002 house, gas CH, double glazing and (2 kids) and is looks like we are using 23 units per day!

I spoke to our supplier and told them the reading last week and they admitted they have never had an actual reading from the house and it has been estimated since day 1.

I looked at our estimates from past years and it seems we "suppose" to use about 8 units per day.

As our suppliers have not had a reading should I tell them over the last week we have used 80 units (when really it is 160) and then change to a new supplier with the correct reading othrwise I will face a 2k bill (which I cannot afford)

Ken68

Assuming they have Day 1 reading and you gave them a reading last week, then they have enough to send you an amended bill.
Your new supplier won't take you on until things are cleared by your old provider.
And a fib, if found out, will mean that in the event of a legitimate query,the ombudsman will find against you.
Energywatch will advise you, maybe, just maybe, your energy supplier can't go too far back to recover the loss from underestimated bills.

chrisyd

That is it - they don't :T and this is the first time I have given them a reading

libra10

We seem to be averaging around 75 points a week at present. We are retired and not usually out through the day, therefore TV and PC are used considerably. We own a three-bedroom semi-detached house (1970s).

Cardew

As you have gas CH the size of the house is not a major factor in electricity consumption.

The average UK consumption is 3,300 units(kWh) a year. If you use 23 kWh a day your consumption at 8,400kWh is very high indeed.

I am not clear how you feel you will get away with lying about your meter readings in order to move supplier.

Even though you have always had bills based on estimated readings those readings will have been based on a meter reading at the start of your occupation.

e.g. the initial meter reading on the first bill you received will be 0000(or xxxx) and each subsequent estimated reading will use that initial reading as the base(start point)

Or are you stating that the Electricity Supplier will base electricity bills back to the start of your occupation on a consumption over a week?

Don't forget that when you change supplier all your dealings are with the NEW supplier. You give your meter reading to them and they inform your old supplier of that reading. The old supplier will use that reading to bill you(he probably will check it is correct)

Or did you think you could say to the old supplier my meter reading is, say, 4000 and tell the new supplier it is, say, 7000?

As long as you have had bills(albeit based on estimated meter readings) you are still liable for what you owe. You have a responsibility to tell them if the estimate was wrong.

espresso

I think that you should be more concerned how you are consuming 23 kWh per day, which is very high as previously stated.

What electrical appliances are in regular use? How are you heating your water? Do you use a tumble drier every day? Do you own a bakery? Do you have a hot tub/sauna etc?

chrisyd

Cardew,

"Electricity Supplier will base electricity bills back to the start of your occupation on a consumption over a week"

The example in question

7/3 - 50337
9/3 - 50377
12/3 - 50477

If I inform then that I use 10 units a day over the last week (reading would be 50407. I would then transfer to a new supplier, give them the actual readings i.e. 50660 and take the initial one-time payment of 200 units rather than to 30,000 that I have estimated to be the difference since day 1.

I also plan to buy a power meter to find out where the electricity is being used - I have a feeling it is the wall heater in the conservatory

thanks

Cardew

chrisyd wrote: »

Cardew,

"Electricity Supplier will base electricity bills back to the start of your occupation on a consumption over a week"

The example in question

7/3 - 50337
9/3 - 50377
12/3 - 50477

If I inform then that I use 10 units a day over the last week (reading would be 50407. I would then transfer to a new supplier, give them the actual readings i.e. 50660 and take the initial one-time payment of 200 units rather than to 30,000 that I have estimated to be the difference since day 1.

I also plan to buy a power meter to find out where the electricity is being used - I have a feeling it is the wall heater in the conservatory

thanks

I am afraid I still don't know what you mean!

The house was built in 2002. You seem to be saying that this situation goes back to 2002 with you as the occupant?

Secondly. You have quoted verbatim my words viz:

Electricity Supplier will base electricity bills back to the start of your occupation on a consumption over a week"

Are you saying that you have the same agreement in writing from the Utility Company?

Thirdly, are you sure that the initial quarterly bill in 2002 was based on two estimated meter readings(a start meter reading and an end reading)? If so do you have that bill? Surely if it was a new house the meter would have been at 0000

Lastly, do you have any of this in writing?

Wasn't it Sam Goldwyn who said "a verbal agreement ain't worth the paper its written on!"

chrisyd

I don't have anything in writing, just what the nice guy said over the phone.

The house was a new build and when I moved in it actually has 39 units on the meter (I remembered that)

Appliances :-
tumble dryer - usually on about 9 times a week
Washing machine - 9 times a week
Dishwasher - 4 times a week
TV - 42" plasma - on about 6 hours per day
Heating/water - Gas
Chest freezer - massive

thanks

SwanJon

So someone (probably the developer) will have had an account before you, using those 39 units. Their account will start from zero.
You have now given them an accurate reading.
Someone has used that electricity, and it is either you or the developer.
Which bill do you think they'll apportion that use to?

I hate to say that the nice guy on the phone won't be the one dealing with your account next time/when you close it, so it doesn't matter what he said.

You've used the electricity, so why shouldn't you pay for it?
You really need to cut back on how much your using. Can you dry outside? That would be a good start.

Cardew

chrisyd wrote: »

I don't have anything in writing, just what the nice guy said over the phone.

The house was a new build and when I moved in it actually has 39 units on the meter (I remembered that)

You haven't replied about the first bill.

Let me try to understand your thinking here:

Your meter read 00049 units when you moved in. Which would be normal for a new build.

Your initial bill should have based on that reading.

You believe they estimated the initial reading which must have been close to 00000.

Your electricity meter, presumably inside the house,(which is unusual for a house built in 2002) has never been read.

However your gas meter has presumably been read.

For 6 years you have had estimated bills, that have underestimated your consumption by approx 100kWh every week for 6 years.

You believe you will get away with not paying for 30,000kWh of electricity by simply telling the 'nice man' that you only use 70kWh a week based on your observations for a week.

This will mean that they will accept that the initial meter reading - in a new built house - was around 30049.

Go on - you is havin a larf!