meter readings - reminder

[simonineaston]

Martin Lewis, as well as other sober commentators, advises we book-end our energy use by submitting meter readings for gas and leccy by midnight tonight in order to help the company manage accurate billing ( aka lessen the liklihood of them pulling a fast one and overcharging consumers... as if!).
Needless to say, my supplier's website is inaccessable as its "undergoing maintenance" - well I never!!

[rjb]

Smart meter readings are submitted every 30 mins, saves a lot of hassle.
You only need to check if you don't have a smart meter and you are already on the default tariff.
If you are still on a fixed price deal your still quids in.

[simonineaston]

The smart meter in my flat is no longer smart. A couple of swaps, provider-wise and that's more than they, being so smart, can handle...
Martin Lewis advice here

[Pendodave]

Martin Lewis, as well as other sober commentators, advises we book-end our energy use by submitting meter readings for gas and leccy by midnight tonight in order to help the company manage accurate billing ( aka lessen the liklihood of them pulling a fast one and overcharging consumers... as if!).
Needless to say, my supplier's website is inaccessable as its "undergoing maintenance" - well I never!!

Haha. I literally came on to start the same thread.
Also worth mentioning that companies are trying to bounce customers into setting direct debuts too high to improve their cash flow.
When I tried to set mine to a level which would keep me in credit until september, the website wouldn't allow it. When i contacted them direct, they set it to my requested level straight away.

[rjb]

2nd generation smets2 meters can handle changing supplier. I'm on my 3rd supplier now since the meter was installed, 10 months ago.

Note the standing charges have increased substantially. For those of us in the warmer SW the electric standing charge has more than doubled. And I am only 15 miles from Hinkley Point C, the site of the UK's biggest ever nuclear power station under construction.

[Psamathe]

E.ON blames Martin Lewis for ‘bringing down Britain’ as energy sites crash ahead of hike

Ian

[audaxjk]

Maybe I just have a devious mind, but what is there to stop people “overestimating” their readings today in order to save some money?

[rjb]

Nothing if you don't have a smart meter which sends your readings back to your supplier. People used to do this routinely when we had dumb meters. remember those cards the meter reader left through your letter box when he couldn't get in to read your meter. You could record whatever you thought you could get away with, without being too outrageous.

[Pendodave]

Maybe I just have a devious mind, but what is there to stop people “overestimating” their readings today in order to save some money?

It's fraud, apparently.
You can bet your life that all those companies who's customer service is beyond wretched will be going through your old readings with a fine toothcomb trying to get you banged to rights.

[simonineaston]

And I am only 15 miles from Hinkley Point C

Lucky You - double bubble as presumably your watts are better on account of having less far to travel and also you must get free heat from radiation, like the kids did when they had Ready Brek ?
But seriously, how are we thinking we tell a first, second or third generation meter, one from t'other? EDIT: just read this on the appropraite gov website here.

First generation smart meters are being moved onto the national network so that customers regain and keep smart services. Meters are being transferred remotely, without consumers needing to take any action, and priority is given to meters which have temporarily lost some of their smart functionality.

[axel_knutt]

It's on Radio 2 news now. There are millions trying to do the same, so all the websites have crashed. I submitted mine on Tuesday, at the suppliers request.

Smart meter readings are submitted every 30 mins, saves a lot of hassle.

All the stories I've ever seen on MSE relating to outlandish bills and faulty meter readings have been in relation to smart meters, not electromechanical ones.

[Tiberius]

Also worth mentioning that companies are trying to bounce customers into setting direct debuts too high to improve their cash flow.
When I tried to set mine to a level which would keep me in credit until september, the website wouldn't allow it. When i contacted them direct, they set it to my requested level straight away.

I completely agree that they are setting DDs too high, mine was way over the top. I know exactly what I use and I know exactly the maximum that they they can charge me for it.

Octopus suggested a figure but fortunately let me set my own (on-line) There is a minimum that the customer can set on-line, you need to phone them if you want to pay less than their minimum suggested figure. My figure was approximately half way between their suggested figure and the minimum figure that they would let me input on-line.

Rough figures. Their suggested figure was approx' 20% higher than I CALCULATED (not an educated guess) my DD should be.

We will see.

[simonineaston]

If anyone else is having website maintenance trouble when attempting to submit readings, try the phone app...

[peetee]

The smart meter in my flat is no longer smart.

Mine is too damn smart. It’s smart enough to completely fox me. Nothing it displays is in the least bit understandable. I did find some instructions for the unit online but how I was supposed to memorise the finger/button sequence for the next time is beyond me. Even if I did it doesn’t do anything sensible like coordinate with my bill so I know how much I’ve consumed this month.

[Jules59]

Eon's website has crashed - I can't login.