Meter readings

[antongould]

Good Old EDF
Website currently down.
On Sunday someone, I would suspect from India, rang me to make an appointment to check my gas meter …… I asked why do you want to check my gas meter? He replied because we are not getting readings ….. I said you’re not getting electricity readings either …. Can you see that …. amazingly he replied … No I have no access to your records …. so I pointed out that after a series of web chats we had established my electricity meter was not communicating …. So he said, after asking a series of COVID, parking and health and safety questions, he we get me an appointment from the system …. and music appeared …. then the line went dead. Yesterday a young lady rang and we had Groundhog Day before I was again cut off ….. it’s considerably worse than terrible customer service …..

[Serial_Apologist]

Good Old EDF
Website currently down.
On Sunday someone, I would suspect from India, rang me to make an appointment to check my gas meter …… I asked why do you want to check my gas meter? He replied because we are not getting readings ….. I said you’re not getting electricity readings either …. Can you see that …. amazingly he replied … No I have no access to your records …. so I pointed out that after a series of web chats we had established my electricity meter was not communicating …. So he said, after asking a series of COVID, parking and health and safety questions, he we get me an appointment from the system …. and music appeared …. then the line went dead. Yesterday a young lady rang and we had Groundhog Day before I was again cut off ….. it’s considerably worse than terrible customer service …..

Oh dear: if that caller ostensibly from India was from EDF that's a very bad indicator, 'cos I'm with them. BTW sending a reading on the final fixed schedule day made no difference to what they said they'd be billing me in future, notwithstanding the fact that I had used far less gas over the preceding 4 months that previously.

Thanks for reminding me though - I need to check my bank a/c to see what they're now deducting... assuming the date hasn't changed (1st of the month).

[antongould]

Oh dear: if that caller ostensibly from India was from EDF that's a very bad indicator, 'cos I'm with them. BTW sending a reading on the final fixed schedule day made no difference to what they said they'd be billing me in future, notwithstanding the fact that I had used far less gas over the preceding 4 months that previously.

Thanks for reminding me though - I need to check my bank a/c to see what they're now deducting... assuming the date hasn't changed (1st of the month).

S_A …. they have to tell you, well before taking the money from your bank, exactly how much they are taking each month …… have they done this ….. ????

[oddoneout]

S_A …. they have to tell you, well before taking the money from your bank, exactly how much they are taking each month …… have they done this ….. ????

Couple of thoughts. If it's the same( fixed ) amount each month then do they have to notify you? There wouldn't seem much point in that instance.

[antongould]

Couple of thoughts. If it's the same( fixed ) amount each month then do they have to notify you? There wouldn't seem much point in that instance.

They have to notify you, in advance, whenever it changes ….

[oddoneout]

Oh dear: if that caller ostensibly from India was from EDF that's a very bad indicator, 'cos I'm with them. BTW sending a reading on the final fixed schedule day made no difference to what they said they'd be billing me in future, notwithstanding the fact that I had used far less gas over the preceding 4 months that previously.

Thanks for reminding me though - I need to check my bank a/c to see what they're now deducting... assuming the date hasn't changed (1st of the month).

They regard it as building up summer credit against the higher cost winter bills S_A which is standard practice. Sending a meter reading wouldn't necessarily make any difference to the amount they take (if that amount still covers the cost) but it should mean that when you look at your bill it will have the price increases applied to the right bit of your consumption, not their notional/arbitrary point from which to increase the cost.

[Serial_Apologist]

They regard it as building up summer credit against the higher cost winter bills S_A which is standard practice. Sending a meter reading wouldn't necessarily make any difference to the amount they take (if that amount still covers the cost) but it should mean that when you look at your bill it will have the price increases applied to the right bit of your consumption, not their notional/arbitrary point from which to increase the cost.

OK fair enough! I did wonder, however, having last year been informed of my new, higher forthcoming charges, then sent them a reading, only to have said higher charges then re-confirmed!

[oddoneout]

They have to notify you, in advance, whenever it changes ….

That's what I meant - if the monthly amount is still the same as originally set up they won't get in touch. And if the amount is still covering the bill (it sounds as if S_A is in credit) they won't need to alter it - although that doesn't stop them of course. "In view of the increased energy costs we are increasing your DD accordingly to ensure it covers your bills"

[antongould]

That's what I meant - if the monthly amount is still the same as originally set up they won't get in touch. And if the amount is still covering the bill (it sounds as if S_A is in credit) they won't need to alter it - although that doesn't stop them of course. "In view of the increased energy costs we are increasing your DD accordingly to ensure it covers your bills"

Indeed - my bad as a new generation would say

[oddoneout]

OK fair enough! I did wonder, however, having last year been informed of my new, higher forthcoming charges, then sent them a reading, only to have said higher charges then re-confirmed!

Higher charges which will happen anyway, but ensuring the increase is applied to the right portion of your consumption in the period in which the increase takes place. As your payment is on the 1st of the month and the increase is from 1st October, it possibly doesn't matter too much - there shouldn't be that much error, if any. I pay quarterly so I want any increase to only apply to that portion of the bill after the increase - not have them making a guesstimate of how much of the period's consumption is at the old price and how much at the new. In the past, when increases were small, it wasn't so much of an issue - but that was then, this is now...

[gurnemanz]

Higher charges which will happen anyway, but ensuring the increase is applied to the right portion of your consumption in the period in which the increase takes place. As your payment is on the 1st of the month and the increase is from 1st October, it possibly doesn't matter too much - there shouldn't be that much error, if any. I pay quarterly so I want any increase to only apply to that portion of the bill after the increase - not have them making a guesstimate of how much of the period's consumption is at the old price and how much at the new. In the past, when increases were small, it wasn't so much of an issue - but that was then, this is now...

I have looked at my British Gas account online and cannot see how there could be any problem (famous last words). My smart meter sends them a reading every 30 mins. In the section showing past readings they "only show readings used to create your bill". Readings shown up to 5 Aug are monthly. I can see what they've done, because the next reading is 30 Sept. Presumably 5 Aug - 30 Sept will be billed at the old cheaper rate and Oct 1 onwards at the new rate. Same applies to gas and elec.

My wife kept telling me that she had heard that even those with a smart meter should send in a reading for 30 Sept. I resisted doing this since it seemed clear to me that I would only have been telling them what they already know.

[Serial_Apologist]

Higher charges which will happen anyway, but ensuring the increase is applied to the right portion of your consumption in the period in which the increase takes place. As your payment is on the 1st of the month and the increase is from 1st October, it possibly doesn't matter too much - there shouldn't be that much error, if any. I pay quarterly so I want any increase to only apply to that portion of the bill after the increase - not have them making a guesstimate of how much of the period's consumption is at the old price and how much at the new. In the past, when increases were small, it wasn't so much of an issue - but that was then, this is now...

Yes I see what you mean - assumptions about my forthcoming consumption based on the previous year's.

[french frank]

My wife kept telling me that she had heard that even those with a smart meter should send in a reading for 30 Sept. I resisted doing this since it seemed clear to me that I would only have been telling them what they already know.

Yes, my supplier always used to send me a reminder when they wanted a meter reading. Now they don't, and the app shows my meter readings history over the months since I've had the smart meter. The current reading indicated by the IHD was certainly correct for the gas meter which is the one I find most easily accessible, and it was what I would expect for the electricity meter based on what the previous reading was.

[oddoneout]

I have looked at my British Gas account online and cannot see how there could be any problem (famous last words). My smart meter sends them a reading every 30 mins. In the section showing past readings they "only show readings used to create your bill". Readings shown up to 5 Aug are monthly. I can see what they've done, because the next reading is 30 Sept. Presumably 5 Aug - 30 Sept will be billed at the old cheaper rate and Oct 1 onwards at the new rate. Same applies to gas and elec.

My wife kept telling me that she had heard that even those with a smart meter should send in a reading for 30 Sept. I resisted doing this since it seemed clear to me that I would only have been telling them what they already know.

Those who know their smart meter is doing what it should wouldn't need to, but not all meters fall into that happy category, and not all folk are as thorough as ff in tallying readings and bills. So long as the monthly DD goes through and the energy company doesn't make contact the assumption is that it's all working.
This is what Martin Lewis has to say

If you have a smart meter that's working properly in smart mode, so it's regularly sending meter readings to your provider, there's no need to do anything for meter reading day, as it does it automatically.
You may want to double-check your meter is sending reads, though. You can usually see this in your account or on your bill. You can also take a photo of your meter on the day, so you have the reading for safety.

Better to have the evidence and not need it...

[french frank]

not all folk are as thorough as ff in tallying readings and bills.

With the app, all the information you need is available: meter readings history, bills and payments history, current balance (£132 and I'm okay with that), account info settings/security setting, password management, make a payment &c. S'easy.

I've been trying to work out (not sure yet) whether renewables - solar, wind and hydro - are 'free' in a way that coal and gas aren't. They all need technology of various sorts to generate the energy