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Original poster

Massive refund on energy bill- check your readings!

50 replies

Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:15

Posting here purely for traffic, in case this is useful for anybody.
For the last 18-20 months I've been using a smart meter for energy readings. My dd has increased a few times and is roughly double what it was originally. I didn't really look into this because of the energy price rises.

Last month I was request to send manual readings so I did. Then I was asked to send a photo of my meter which I did. This morning I checked my app- I was £2900 in credit. I phoned to check and the smart meter had been sending inaccurate readings so I'm getting a refund.

Don't relay on smart meters!

Massive refund on energy bill- check your readings!
OP posts:
MaryMcCarthy · 03/02/2023 10:16

I wish I had the luxury of over-paying on my energy bills without realising it.

Original poster
Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:38

If, like us, people were just increasing their payments without checking it's worth sending in manual readings. We've been really stressed and had numerous arguments about having the heating on.

OP posts:
silvercurls · 03/02/2023 10:41

Thanks for sharing, I've never checked/sent manual readings since getting a smart meter, I will do now.

ICanHideButICantRun · 03/02/2023 10:44

Is there anywhere online or on the meter that says what the figures should be on your regular meters? (Do the regular meters even have numbers on now that the smart meters have been installed?)

WaddleAway · 03/02/2023 10:45

I send a weekly manual reading as I can’t afford to overpay by a penny, but nice windfall OP!

Deliaskis · 03/02/2023 10:49

We have just had the exact same thing happen....direct debit was doubled months ago and then increased again in October, and here in Feb, after Christmas hols when we had our heating on a lot for 2 weeks, and half way through the coldest part of the year, our (not so) smart meter readings have just been updated and our account is now £1.5k in credit.

It's good to let people know.....there will be people out there paying direct debits they are struggling to afford for potentially no reason.

GasPanic · 03/02/2023 10:50

There is a relatively common error that has been seen on here several times where they get the meter billing units incorrect.

It's easy to check. Check your actual meter units and your billing units. If your meter says m3 on the front and your bill is in ft3x100 then you will pay about 3x as much as you should.

The units for the meter are marked on the front of the meter, normally ft3x100 or m3 and the billing units will be on your bill.

There is also another relative common error on meter reading. Most gas meters you are told to ignore the red numbers. But on a small number of meters you should actually include them. This will generally lead to either a very tiny or very large bill. If you have any doubts talk to your supplier.

MichelleScarn · 03/02/2023 10:50

MaryMcCarthy · 03/02/2023 10:16

I wish I had the luxury of over-paying on my energy bills without realising it.

Isn't it nice that @Silverbook has this refund and has kindly thought to pass this info on! I've just checked mine.... not as good as yours silver but will be useful!!

Original poster
Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:52

ICanHideButICantRun · 03/02/2023 10:44

Is there anywhere online or on the meter that says what the figures should be on your regular meters? (Do the regular meters even have numbers on now that the smart meters have been installed?)

My regular meter still displays a figure which I can input into the app. I guess you could track the figures on your bill but I'm totally clueless about how many units are realistic. I'm going to spend time becoming better informed!

OP posts:
Quarantino · 03/02/2023 10:53

So OP did your in-home device smart meter thing show numbers that were completely different to the display on the actual meters? We've not long had smart meters and I did compare them to start off with.

Lcb123 · 03/02/2023 10:53

Good to share. I have a smart meter but always send manual readings every fortnight or so

RoseBucket · 03/02/2023 10:53

That’s a huge amount, are they allowing you to withdraw it rather than being sat there as credit.

Original poster
Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:56

GasPanic · 03/02/2023 10:50

There is a relatively common error that has been seen on here several times where they get the meter billing units incorrect.

It's easy to check. Check your actual meter units and your billing units. If your meter says m3 on the front and your bill is in ft3x100 then you will pay about 3x as much as you should.

The units for the meter are marked on the front of the meter, normally ft3x100 or m3 and the billing units will be on your bill.

There is also another relative common error on meter reading. Most gas meters you are told to ignore the red numbers. But on a small number of meters you should actually include them. This will generally lead to either a very tiny or very large bill. If you have any doubts talk to your supplier.

Thank you. I see energy billing as a bit of a dark art but going to become better informed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:57

RoseBucket · 03/02/2023 10:53

That’s a huge amount, are they allowing you to withdraw it rather than being sat there as credit.

Yes, it'll take 5-7 days but going back into my bank. I got an unexpected garage bill so it couldn't have been better timed.

OP posts:
Thatiswild · 03/02/2023 10:57

Yeah I’d be asking for that refunded rather than a credit, why should they keep all that money? Lovely news though I’ll have a check too, thanks for sharing!

Original poster
Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:59

Quarantino · 03/02/2023 10:53

So OP did your in-home device smart meter thing show numbers that were completely different to the display on the actual meters? We've not long had smart meters and I did compare them to start off with.

I didn't ever check. I thought "one less thing to think about" and left them to it. Not sure I trust them at all now and will definitely send manual monthly readings.

OP posts:
RoseBucket · 03/02/2023 11:00

That’s rather handy then, it’s a shame they don’t add on interest.

I feel like I’m the only one without a smart meter, just never got around to booking an install in!

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 03/02/2023 11:00

I'm going to do this as it often says our gas is estimated as smart meter hasn't connected

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 03/02/2023 11:02

Ok so I can't see anything how annoying

Quarantino · 03/02/2023 11:03

Silverbook · 03/02/2023 10:59

I didn't ever check. I thought "one less thing to think about" and left them to it. Not sure I trust them at all now and will definitely send manual monthly readings.

Show quote history

Do you mean you will send manual readings from the meter itself or the smart meter in-home device?

Sorry to bore on but I'm trying to ascertain if there is a situation where the IHD would show a different reading to the meter!

Freedom2023 · 03/02/2023 11:06

Sorry if this spunds stupid but if the smart meters are wrong could this affect pre customers?

Ihavedogs · 03/02/2023 11:15

It is always sensible with smart meters to at least periodically check that readings on bills match your meter. We are billed every 6 months and after years of not having any issues we tend to only check once a year. But after having lived here for years and no recent no changes to appliances, boiler etc, we have a good idea of our baseline usage over winter and in the summer.

If you have been in a property for a short period of time, have had new appliances etc, have shorter billing periods, its sensible to check meters against bills, submit readings if necessary on a more regular basis.

Bluetrews25 · 03/02/2023 11:16

Even more glad now that I have refused a smart meter over and over again.

Get a smart meter! Never read the meter again! Pay accurate bills!
Aye, right.

I've sent my own readings weekly for almost a year now.

Applesandcarrots · 03/02/2023 11:19

Just an fyi for people.

Smart meter and the display you see your spend on with pretty pics may not communicate well. You should always check your meter (not the in home display).
You can even diaconnect the in home display if you don't want it.

Everyone should be checking their meter once in a while. It's well known that the displays can be wrong and ao can companies

DoorstoManual · 03/02/2023 11:20

MaryMcCarthy · 03/02/2023 10:16

I wish I had the luxury of over-paying on my energy bills without realising it.

@MaryMcCarthy But she has got the income, your snarky comments only let you down, it is not a race to the bottom.

When I was on here, in the very early days, there was always disparity in income, only difference being nobody received snide comments, we at the time could barely afford to live, but I never let myself down and now some of the more comfortable posters are now lifelong friends.