Smart meter readings do not match bill!

[hollyjolls]

I'm with octopus and I got a smart meter installed on 11th November. I've just got an email this morning with a weekly bill from the 11th - 18th (first week of having meter installed) and it absolutely doesn't match my smart meter at all even with the 5% VAT, I have attached photo of the smart meter with the amount I have used in total since the meter was installed 9 days ago. My account is now in the minus. I'm really confused and feeling stressed about it. Does anyone understand and can advise? Tried calling but they aren't open until tomorrow and then won't be able to ring until my lunch break. The bill seems very high, we are definitely not using £44.38 a week and it's so much more than the smart meter is showing.

Were you already billed for all of the usage on the old meter? What do the readings on your bill and smart meter say?

I'm not sure to be honest I can't really make much sense of the bill, but they didn't mention that the first bill would be significantly higher.

Was your previous bill estimated and as such you had overpaid?

It's a negative balance so nothing to stress over!

Actually is it the other way round? Not that they have charged you a negative amount but that it has come off your credit balance?

Can you post the bit of the bill with the meter readings? That should clear it up.

Does the display screen show the standing charge?

Did they change the tariff when you moved over?

I'd ask mn to delete that bill and repost as address is still shown. It also isn't clear to read the digits as photo is blurry.

From what I can see, it is only charging for the Smart Meter readings. Instead of looking at cost £ on your meter, check the units used. Elec opens at 10 kwh, then reads at approx 60 kwh. Is your meter showing above 60 for Elec?

Your gas meter started at 0 units, and ends at 16.4 (blurry). Again, is gas over 16 units now? (Gas units aren't kwh, but the units go through a calculation shown on your bill to get the kwh figure.)

Always check the units, as the monitor you are looking at isn't the meter, so it is possible that it isn't set up to convert units to the correct price.

I can't understand how it's right, my parents have a large 4 bed detached and are home loads more than us and always have the heating on, yet they have a smart meter with the same company and their bills are a lot less! I'm going to go out to check the readings later when DP is home and see if I can make any sense with it. Really regretting getting one now.

I'm sure I was told when I got my smart meter installed that it could take a few days to settle down and start reading properly. Try the FAQ's on their webpage.

Just to say my smart meter resets on the day it pulls the reading (not with octopus). Can you look on the display to see what dates it is charging you for, and whether the meter reading matches what is on the bill? Also check that the unit price matches up.
Your parents may be on a cheaper tariff, or have a more efficient house with lower running costs

Also, was the opening reading estimated or actual? If it was estimated lower than what the installer took as a reading, then your bill will show the difference from that incorrect reading to the smart meter one.
When they installed mine, they took a closing reading and billed me from the last bill until
That date and then a new reading from the new meter which was super easy to reconcile, but octopus may have done it differently.

Super frustrating I know x

Have you taken the standing charge into your calculations?? My Smart meter only shows usage but that doesn't include the standing charge.

No I haven't, I'm kicking myself loads for being so stupid and not looking into all this and understanding more about it before I went ahead, now it looks like we're going to be paying a lot more then we originally were. Do you know where I can find what the standing charge is? It must be a lot as it's almost double the readings on the monitor.

They both show £23 for electricy? Is that what your measuring?

You need to look on your bill to see how much the standing charge is. I'm on the Octopus flexible rate for electricity and my standing charge is 30.01 pence per day.

So the standing charge is 46p a day, even then it doesn't add up and bill is still more expensive.

Haven't been able to get out to check the meters outside yet as they're screwed shut.

That's for electricity and gas standing charge is 25.56p a day, does this seem like a lot?

Octopus smart meters includes the standing charge.

So what is on the IHD monitor has the standing charge included?

octopus.energy/blog/smart-meter-screen-user-guide/#FAQs

you cant really go off twhat is gives you on the IHD (the display unit in your house) You need to check the actual metre reaidngs which is what the bill will be based on. It is these readings that get sent to the utility company and used to calulate the bill. As long as these readings match up then you can be sure you are being charged the correct amount. The display unit can often be slightly out and is more aguide when it is set to display price. The actual metre is the smart metre, the display just an additional helpful tool.
You also wont be paying any more or less than you were previously if you are using the smae amoutn of energy. The only thing changed is how the company gets this reading, and means they wont be issuing bills based on estimated readings. Are you sure all your previous bills were calculated on actual readings not estimated?