Meter readings

[P. G. Tipps]

A brilliant riposte!!!

No marbles wanting there!

Seconded ...

[subcontrabass]

I received today a "summary" from a gas supplier which has not supplied me since I moved to my present residence just over eight years ago. They did supply the gas at my previous residence. According to this summary I am on their standard tariff, I have used 0 kWh of gas, and if I continue at the same rate on the same tariff they estimate that it would cost me £95.18 for the next 12 months.

[ahinton]

While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Brilliant - all of it! I've not seen it previously so thanks for posting it. I assume that the lady concerned is American and so the said music must be by the ever-popular Schoenberg.

[ahinton]

I received today a "summary" from a gas supplier which has not supplied me since I moved to my present residence just over eight years ago. They did supply the gas at my previous residence. According to this summary I am on their standard tariff, I have used 0 kWh of gas, and if I continue at the same rate on the same tariff they estimate that it would cost me £95.18 for the next 12 months.

In all seriousness, someone should investigate that, if for no better reason than that, since the system that generated such an estimate is capable of such automated incompetence, it must generate all manner of others that are as improbably inaccurate or worse...

[Serial_Apologist]

In all seriousness, someone should investigate that, if for no better reason than that, since the system that generated such an estimate is capable of such automated incompetence, it must generate all manner of others that are as improbably inaccurate or worse...

It reminds me of the story, many years ago, of the man who received a bill for £0-0s-0p, and decided to ignore it. A couple of months later he received a final warning for the same amount, stating that if he did not cough up within the next week he would have his electricity cut off. So he duly posted a cheque for the said amount - and heard nothing further.

[antongould]

In all seriousness, someone should investigate that, if for no better reason than that, since the system that generated such an estimate is capable of such automated incompetence, it must generate all manner of others that are as improbably inaccurate or worse...

ahinton, if all such lunacy in the industry was investigated you would need a resource larger than the FBI ........

[P. G. Tipps]

It reminds me of the story, many years ago, of the man who received a bill for £0-0s-0p, and decided to ignore it. A couple of months later he received a final warning for the same amount, stating that if he did not cough up within the next week he would have his electricity cut off. So he duly posted a cheque for the said amount - and heard nothing further.

There is a rock-solid searing logic about that, S_A, surely ... ? And both parties ended up satisfied?

Don't tell JC about it, though, or he's liable to bring it up at the next PMQ's as one of the many thousands of emails he has received this week from 'Stephen', 'Paul', 'Angela', 'Clare' ....

[ahinton]

ahinton, if all such lunacy in the industry was investigated you would need a resource larger than the FBI ........

That I do not doubt! So hadn't somone better engage it, lest such lunacy wll continue unabated and will likely worsen yet farther?...

[ahinton]

It reminds me of the story, many years ago, of the man who received a bill for £0-0s-0p, and decided to ignore it. A couple of months later he received a final warning for the same amount, stating that if he did not cough up within the next week he would have his electricity cut off. So he duly posted a cheque for the said amount - and heard nothing further.

So what an unconscionable waste of the postage costs!

[P. G. Tipps]

So what an unconscionable waste of the postage costs!

Not a 'waste', ahinton, though an undoubted 'cost' ...

Money just goes around and around ... though admittedly, such as in the US sub-prime mortgage and stock markets, it can sometimes disappear altogether, as indeed it can from our trouser pockets .... and, of course, our ladies' purses.

[antongould]

That I do not doubt! So hadn't somone better engage it, lest such lunacy wll continue unabated and will likely worsen yet farther?...

Yes someone really should do something but I have little doubt all we will get is yet another ofgem investigation of which there have been many and all as much use as a chocolate fire guard .... If this thread continues to have legs I might even tell you my ofgem story ........

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have kept quiet on this Thread, because I wanted to confirm something that was - ahem - in the pipeline.

Until just over a year ago, I had my gas supplied by British Gas and my electricity by nPower, and had monthly combined bills of just under £140/month. Following a series of quite staggeringly incompetent and insensitive service at a very distressing time, it was suggested to me (thank you, Anton) that I should look around for another supplier. This I did - my combined bill going down immediately to £111/month. Five months later, my new utility supplier said that I was paying far too much for what I was using, and reduced my bill (unsolicited by me) by further £30.

This last month (having been with the new suppliers for a full year) they have reduced the monthly Bill yet further, and sent a (considerable) refund to my Bank Account.

I cannot recommend strongly enough to anyone dissatisfied with an nPower* account not to hesitate to change their supplier.



(* = other equally clueless moneygrabbers are available - the recommendation to move from them also applies.)

[Serial_Apologist]

I have just received an email message from EDF, the company to whom I switched a month ago for my electricity and gas supplies, offering me a free smart meter. On investigating the accompanying guidance, one is effectively lured into going for one, especially as it is free, though, while appreciating the ostensible benefits of not having to send periodical readings, the question I would like to know, before risking committing myself, is, is there one single meter covering both electricity and gas usage? If not, I'm uncertain as to whether any second meter would have to be paid for - which might not be stated in the blurb. Also, what is the experience others have had from having smart meters installed?

[french frank]

This suggests there's just one meter.

https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/about-smart-meters

I take it the information is reliable.

[Serial_Apologist]

This suggests there's just one meter.

https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/about-smart-meters

I take it the information is reliable.

Thanks ff. I think there are separate meters for gas and electricity. If they're supplied separately, I guess one can go for one, and then turn down the other if a charge for it is to be imposed.