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Electricity back billing

4 replies

FSVin · 14/06/2021 18:32

I received a bill from EDF in April, shortly after a couple of meter men came round about a week apart to do the first electricity reads since October '19 (one might have been an audit, he said). The bill I then received covered electricity use for the 18 months from Oct '19 to April '21. It was a lot larger than expected, and a lot more than I've been paying for the last 18 months based on their estimates.

Does Ofgem's back billing rule apply in this situation? EDF are claiming not, since the meter reads that bookend that period were both actual reads rather than estimates. I say that's irrelevant - 12 months is 12 months. I haven't been providing meter reads for them through the pandemic (I'm disabled and it isn't easy, and I've never needed to in the years prior) but nor have I blocked access to their contractors.

I've been financially screwed by covid so if there's a way to reduce this bill I need to take it.

Can anybody advise? Both on my rights and how to handle this. Thanks! Smile

OP posts:
MustardRose · 14/06/2021 18:38

I agree with you. Could you contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau?

FSVin · 14/06/2021 19:10

I could! Good idea MustardRose.

OP posts:
Sharpkat · 14/06/2021 19:16

I don't think they can. If they try and say that they can back bill for more than 12 months then raise a complaint. If they have not resolved it in 8 weeks you can go to the Ombudsman.

I have just had to go through this process with Eon. I tried to provide meter readings but they would not accept them for so many unknown reasons. This went on for over a year. I then complained and went to the Ombudsman who were really helpful and said they could only back bill for 12 months.

Ask EDF to speak to someone in the complaints department as a starting point. And also explain that you need a sensible payment plan. I managed to negotiate my previous supplier down to £13 a month to pay off the debt.

I have had a LOT of issues so if I can help at all, just let me know.

FSVin · 14/06/2021 19:34

Thanks @Sharpkat, appreciated! A year sounds like a nightmare. Surely the back billing rules should make this plain and simple for both sides Hmm

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