Electricity problem

[Barmaid]

Not entirely sure where to post this so here goes.

My elderly grandparents (86 and 85) have lived in their property for 20 years. Their electricity is on two different rates - a day rate and a night economy 7 rate. For years, they have used more at night (because they put their night storage heaters on during the night to store the electricity for their heating). Recently, they had a new meter installed and at the same time some new people moved in next door to their semi detached property.

Historically, their usage on the day rate and the night rate has been consistent. However, recently, their usage on the day rate has shot up and their usage on the night rate has shot down. This means that their electricity bill has increased dramatically. On the October 2010 bill (before new meter) the usage for the previous 12 months was 10949kw and the estimate for electricity for the next 12 months was £799. On the latest bill dated Jan 2011 the usage for the last 12 months was 18000kw. The estimate for the next 12 months is now approx £2,300.

Cont'd

[Barmaid]

There have been no changes to their consumption. They are frugal. They do not even heat their bedrooms (fools). They are rarely there during the day because they have a better social life than I do. Their fridge/freezer runs constantly, they will not turn a light on til it gets dark, they have no heating in the bathroom (well they do, but they never use it!), they have a small kettle to boil only the water they need but tend to use the microwave for milk.

Me and my FH just had a bill for a quarter of £700. Their bill for the last quarter was about £585. We have a five bedroomed house which is lit up like Battersea Power Station. We run 2 tvs (and one is pretty much on 24 hours), 2 PCs, 2 printers, 2 fridges, one freezer. The heating is on pretty much constantly (I am a wuss), we stay up late, we cook every day, we both shower every day and every other week there are 4 of us. It just does not compute.

The electricity company are basically saying "tough" we are right. We think it is possible the day rate and e7 rates have been transposed. Grandad thinks next door are using his electricity.

Can anyone help, please?

[mccfluff]

get back onto elec company and yell until you get someone out to check meter is right

[craft1948]

0845 055 0760 The Energy Ombudsman. They should offer advice.

[boxtops]

most of the power suppliers have an undertaking not to let the elderly get into difficulties - don't they?

[tamborine]

If there's a dispute of any bill it's often settled in Court. You're in the best position to threaten same action with Electric company unless they make a satisfactory inspection.

[Barmaid]

We've done that Fluffy - electricity board answer is "you've been billed wrong for 20 years and now it is right so *** off".

The latest letter threatens that Craft, but they have 8 weeks to respond before we can complain. In the meantime they are getting *** letters from the electricity company. (OK, so mum and I will pay the bill, but that's besides the point).

[NazNomad]

Firstly, I'd insist that their new meter was faulty and that they better fekking damn well quick get someone round to check it or else.

Are the neighbours likely candidates for 'dodgy doings'? If so, I'd get an electrician to have a peek. (He could also isolate their supply and test to see if it was still in use elsewhere).

[Barmaid]

I would prefer it not to go to Court Tambo, although have said that if it needs to I will do what is necessary. Grandad might be 86, but he is fully clued up and just knows that they are not using any more electricity than before. I would prefer NOT to put him through court if possible though.

Any ideas why the consumption has gone up dramatically though? Grandad is convinced that next doors have tapped into his supply (the new neighbour is an electrician)!!!

[mazie]

The only problem is that the electricity company usually dont provide the meter. With us It's EON that supply the meter and when we had a new meter we had the same problem. It's a nightmare. We did our meter reading every 2 days and rang our supplier but they said there was nothing they could do. I would take crafts advice and ring the Energy Ombudsman and get Age Concern on board as well.

[ljdksa]

Tell them the meter has stopped working completely. They'll be round same day to sort it out!

[Barmaid]

ljd - it may stop working if I go round there............. (Although the sledgehammer marks on the meter may give me away!)

[Barmaid]

And I really wouldn't want to be "next doors" if we discover that they have tapped into the supply (although my brother thinks this is unlikely).

[redcrx]

can you not check the meter is measuring at the correct times? turn everything off for a period in day and check the reading at beginning and end.
Then check that the meter is clocking between the economy 7 hours?

Have you also checked that the bills have the readings around the right way? Ive known some people who have found the reader put the details in incorrectly.

[sherrardk]

We had a long running electricity bill/meter dispute which took absolutely ages to sort (about two years). They ended up being told to apologise to us and to reduce the bill amount by £200 for messing us around. It is best if only one of you deals with them and keep notes of date, time and person you spoke to and what was discussed. You have to keep on at them and the ombudsman. It is a pain and can be a worry but it is well worth pursuing. Good luck.

[NazNomad]

Request an 'official test' as you suspect it's faulty. http://www.simplyswit...meter-what-to-do.aspx

[Barmaid]

Mum is dealing with this sherrard (Grandad has written to the electricity company authorising her to do so) but she keeps me updated a) because she needs to rant at someone and b) to check the legal position in any letters she writes, but these people are just idiots.

She phoned them on Saturday at 10am and was promised a call back within the hour. No call. She needed to go out so she called again and asked for a call back and was told she would be called back within 30 mins. She stayed in all bloody day and then they called back at 4.30 to say that we were still wrong!!!

[mazie]

Age Concern Barmaid, They are really hot on this sort of rip off. They'll get involved and fight your grandparents corner as well

[sherrardk]

Hi barmaid - my husband dealt with them as it does not take me long to loose the plot with some of these idiots. It's disgraceful the way they are treating your grandparents. So many older people keep the house cold, etc because they are worried about bills. Have you tried Age Concern (or whatever it is called these days), they might have someone who is used to dealing with the electricity suppliers?

[DTCwordfan]

As somebody who marketed Natural Gas, and we had very specific guidelines to helping folk. I would start by contacting the Energy Ombudsman as others have suggested. http://www.energy-omb...5-contact_details.php

What is needed is to get a parallel meter in on the line to check out the accuracy or lack of it of the existing meter, It does happen from time to time. This benchmarking would allow the supplier to maker any adjustments to the sum owing based off the measurement.

I would continue to pay towards the bill based on what they have paid in the past, adjusted for price increases. The Ombudsman should advise you of the percentage to apply over your previous bills,,,,,,,,Paying something shows that you are acting in good faith, not avoiding paying anything.

Hope that this helps.

[ummmm]

BM - tell them your occupation.

I had issues for years with this, that and the other...I always got mu accountant to sort it out in the end..

1) He sounded posh

2) He sounded posh