Requirements for letting a meter reader in to your house

dfh4np

Does anyone know how often Scottish Power / dataserve have to gain access to read the electricity meter.

To explain :

My dad is an oap, disabled with mental difficulties. I put him on the online tariff last September where I input the meter readings every 60 days to produce a bill for him.

He lives in a new property and the electricity meter is in the garage, the style of the house is such that the utility room is in the garage so the garage door is sealed up from the inside to keep the cold out other wise the room is unusable in the winter. This means having to go through the lounge, the kitchen and then into the garage.

He has been in the house 1 year since it was built and in that time 2 actual readings have been taken by meter readers, the last 1 in February this year.

A meter reader then came in April when he was having his dinner which was was not suitable for my dad and he refused, the reader told him they would come back with the police and break his door down which is not what a vulnerable person is used to.

I produced another bi monthly bill for him at the end of last month.

He was on holiday abroad the first 2 weeks of this month and came back to a card from a meter reader, he has today again received another card through the door when he came back from the day centre.

From my understanding of these matters and goggling the provider have to have an actual reading done once every 2 years and carry out a so called safety inspection every 28 months from the installation date.

What is the point of them trying to read a meter every 2 months when your on an online tariff that is is supposed to cut down manpower. I take it the company / reader make money every time they get a reading.

Can anyone confirm the exact position of meter reading requirements.


Many Thanks


DFH4NP

Cardew

dfh4np wrote: »

Does anyone know how often Scottish Power / dataserve have to gain access to read the electricity meter.

To explain :

My dad is an oap, disabled with mental difficulties. I put him on the online tariff last September where I input the meter readings every 60 days to produce a bill for him.

He lives in a new property and the electricity meter is in the garage, the style of the house is such that the utility room is in the garage so the garage door is sealed up from the inside to keep the cold out other wise the room is unusable in the winter. This means having to go through the lounge, the kitchen and then into the garage.

He has been in the house 1 year since it was built and in that time 2 actual readings have been taken by meter readers, the last 1 in February this year.

A meter reader then came in April when he was having his dinner which was was not suitable for my dad and he refused, the reader told him they would come back with the police and break his door down which is not what a vulnerable person is used to.

I produced another bi monthly bill for him at the end of last month.

He was on holiday abroad the first 2 weeks of this month and came back to a card from a meter reader, he has today again received another card through the door when he came back from the day centre.

From my understanding of these matters and goggling the provider have to have an actual reading done once every 2 years and carry out a so called safety inspection every 28 months from the installation date.

What is the point of them trying to read a meter every 2 months when your on an online tariff that is is supposed to cut down manpower. I take it the company / reader make money every time they get a reading.

Can anyone confirm the exact position of meter reading requirements.


Many Thanks


DFH4NP

The 'real' reason a meter reader needs access is to ensure that there has been no tampering with the meter; which happens a lot!!!!

The 2 years is the maximum period that there should be between visits.

The Regulator rules for those who wish to make their own arrangements are here, this specifically excludes family friends etc it must be a certified meter reader.

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/Archive/Gas%20meter%20reading%20and%20inspection%20code%2013%2011.pdf

Essentially they can visit and inspect the meter at 'any reasonable' time,

Reasonable Times For Meter Visit

The Ofgem published Guidance notes of best practice for the reading of gas meters give
guidelines of the hours of reading. A meter reader shall only call at a gas user's premises or
home during the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, except with the prior

agreement of the Domestic Gas Consumer.

Whilst appreciating that this is not the case with your father, it does look suspicious if a certified official is denied access for something that takes seconds.

I suspect that his refusal will now mean more frequent visits and scrutiny.

glasgow_DFW

The reading may have been a 'must be read appontment' since a reading was not obtaned the meter will flaged up to be read until a reading is obtained.

Premier_2

dfh4np wrote: »

...A meter reader then came in April when he was having his dinner which was was not suitable for my dad and he refused, the reader told him they would come back with the police and break his door down which is not what a vulnerable person is used to...

If that is what was really claimed, the matter should be reported to the energy company so that disciplinary action can be taken against the meter reader.

The police will not break the door down and if the meter reader tries, the meter reader will be arrested by the police for criminal damage.

To gain access, the company needs to apply to a magistrates court for an entry warrant. Once obtained, and entry is still denied, a forceful entry will be made and this will typically involve a locksmith as part of the entry warrant requires the person to leave the property in a secure state.

Mind you, on your own admission, your dad does suffer from mental difficulties, so perhaps he misunderstood what the meter reader actually said.

Why doesn't your dad just open the door to the meter reader? It'll be a lot cheaper & easier solution, and it normally only takes matter of seconds.

Farway

Have you registered your dad with the energy company as a "vulnerable person"? May be called something difffernt with your supllier

I ask as I did this for my mother with Southern Electric, and they have a system where they are flagged and ensure any contacts are aware, and any problems, such as in my case, meter change, are dealt with at very high levels of care

May not apply to your provider of course

jinky67

when my Gran was broken into last year she was told by the local police that she doesnt have to let ANYONE in to her house....not even meter readers

IKWeb

You do have to let meter readers into the house, they have to carry ID to say who they are etc but if you refuse and keep refusing to allow them access then they will just apply for a Right of entry warrant, which they will get. (so easy way just let them in to do their jobs, as long though as they have the ID)
Even on a online tariff you will still get meter readers, they have to make sure the reads your putting though via the website are true, people have been known to submit lower reads than what the reading is, so they don’t pay as much then move out..

The only way meter reads will go is when OffGem allows the use of smart meters within the UK but this is a while off yet, plus the amount of time it will take for all the meters in the UK to be swapped...

Cardew

IKWeb wrote: »

The only way meter reads will go is when OffGem allows the use of smart meters within the UK but this is a while off yet, plus the amount of time it will take for all the meters in the UK to be swapped...

I don't think it is ofgem that are standing in the way of smart meters - they have written quite a bit about the advantages.

The problem is the cost involved - who pays?

To convert will costs many millions of pounds and one company(say BG) are not going to invest huge amounts for their customers to find they can leave BG the following week!!

It will take some form of Government action to make all companies fit them - or share the cost.