EDF standing charge

[what..the?]

I have had a property stood empty for a year and I had the meter off, do I still pay standing charge for that year?

[jackthehat]

Quite a lot of Energy Suppliers did away with the standing charge. It was absorbed by an increase in the 'unit' cost.

Have you checked whether EDF actually have a standing charge?

[what..the?]

it says it's 14 pence a day on my first bill since moving in. I told them I moved in in december last year which i did and gave them them the meter reading for the year before when I bought the property but this means I havent paid 14p a day for a year?

[what..the?]

Since a bought the property I shut the electricity off and had no paperwork to say who the supplier was so left it as wasn't using it. Can they now make me pay standing charge if I didn't use it, and didn't know the contract?

[EDDIE51]

What do you mean by 'had the meter off' if the meter was still connected and your supplier has a standing charge you have to pay it. Meters gas and electric are always the property of the supplying company they do not belong to the house owner/ occupier.

[jackthehat]

Were EDF the supplier when you bought it and shut the electricity off?

[Canary42]

If you shut it off without recourse to the supplier then I'm afraid they are likely to charge. A Standing Charge as I understand it will only cease if the supplier cuts the supply - the snag then is they charge a (usually exorbitant) reconnection charge when you want it back again. That's based on my experience with a gas supplier.

[what..the?]

my builders removed the meter and so there was no electricity they had to work in day light hours for the year and use a generator. Western power tried to fine the builders for removing meter/and or cables but the builders/electrician got out of the fine. I think EDF would still claim they are owed a standing charge.

[jackthehat]

Look at it this way;

There was a supply to the site provided by (someone).
You were at liberty to use it, or not.
You didn't, so you will have no 'unit' costs to pay.
But you have to pay (someone) for making sure that there was a supply.
You need to find out just 'who' was supplying you with the electricity you didn't use and pay them.

[EDDIE51]

Not knowing who supplied the electricity is no excuse, you must have been getting bills.

[EDDIE51]

In that situation I would just get another supplier for your electricity and carry on from now as if it is a new contract.

[what..the?]

no the post office didn't deliver for a year because to house was in ruin and boarded up they decided to stop delivering and didn't tell me, I didn't get any post there so I didn't notice.

Thanks guys wanted to check where I was with it, much appreciated.

[what..the?]

what do you mean eddie?

[KJN]

Pay the £51.10 due and worry about how much they will charge to put a new meter in. That would be my way of thinking. You state Western power tried to fine your builders for removing the meter so I guess they were the original providers and you changed to EDF?

[what..the?]

that's weird I thought edf was the company to pay but western power and distribution supply the cables etc??

[LCDMAN]

The supply infrastructure up to, and including, your meter is the responsibilty of your DNO - Distribution Network Operator - Western Power. They technically own the meter the builder unlawfully removed, which is why they prosecuted them (or attempted to).

Your responsibility regarding payment of any standing charge is to your contracted electricty supplier. How do you know it's EDF? Be aware that whoever supplied electricity to the premises when you purchased them will have a deemed supply contract with you from that date, regardless of whether you know who they are or not - go figure! Whether a standing charge applies will be down to the tariff that the supplier put(s) you on - some have it, some don't.

Here speaketh the electrician....

[what..the?]

thanks

[Exmothian]

Spare property? Bloody hope so!