Smart Meter Issues
Smart Meters – Since last year huge increase in customers switching suppliers.
If you suspect the readings are not being received by your supplier, you can check this by looking at a recent bill. Is there the letter “E” for estimated next to the number of units you have used? Or does it say smart meter reading, customer reading or read by meter visit?
If your bill is estimated, and in particular on Sunday 31st March the last day before the prices go down, do a manual reading yourself and submit your figures to your supplier so you do not get charged at the higher rate from 1st April.
Be aware that when a supplier quotes for a new customer they can tell by your postcode the likely average usage for your home. Challenge your supplier and ask them what they would expect your bill to be? As long as you do not have extras, like a hot tub, then if you have a spike in your bills you can push harder to get your meter checked or replaced. Ask for a dispute resolution meeting, notify Ofgem or Ombudsman.
If you do not have a smart meter, you will find that Economy 7 customers who have cheap night rates will lose that functionality next Spring (go “dumb”) and they will be charged at the higher rate all the time so plan now to upgrade to the newer, smart meters that are better than they used to be.
Only one form of Economy 7 meter is currently being phased out. Radio teleswitch (RTS) versions of this meter will stop working June 2025 as the BBC radio service that supports them is being switched off. You’ll have one if your meter automatically turns on your heating and hot water during cheaper hours.
It operates via long-wave radio signals, and it allows remote switching of large numbers of devices, for example between day or night rates or to automatically turn on and off heating or hot water.
If you have a meter that uses the RTS signal you will need to replace your old meter with a modern one before the signal is switched off.
The deadline was March 2024 but the energy industry has negotiated an extension until June 2025.
Installing a smart meter with Economy 7 – during British Summer Time (BST) the 7 hour period will take place between 01:30 and 08:30. This may differ from your existing off-peak period on your current non-smart meter
The benefit of a smart meter is an accurate bill, the ability to see when and where you are using power in the home and hopefully be able to reduce your usage with up to date equipment like fridges that use less power.
Water suppliers provide water only and water and sewerage for general domestic use to the UK’s homes and are managed by OFWAT.
Suppliers are responsible for all customers in an agreed geographical region and customers are currently unable to switch because they are not deregulated for domestic users (business users can switch) . There are currently 25 water suppliers covering England, Scotland and Wales. An average annual bill from April might be around £486 or £479 showing a 6% or £27 increase which, when you consider the number of customers your water company serves, gives them a big increase in funding, with most customers paying monthly.
The quality of water is important to us all. Tests will cover bacteria, chemicals such as nitrate and pesticides, metals such as lead and the way the water looks and how it tastes. Your water pressure should be sufficient to fill a one gallon (4.5 litre) container in 30 seconds.
If rainwater drains from your property into a public sewer, you will be charged for surface water drainage through your sewerage bill. If however you manage your rainwater so that it drains to a soakaway on your property, you should be entitled to a surface water drainage rebate claim back 6 years
Every five years the water suppliers suggest the prices they would like to set and Ofwat reviews and decides on a price to suit both the suppliers and customers.
If you don’t currently have a water meter installed at your home, then your water bill is determined by a rateable value of your property, and has nothing to do with the amount of water you actually use. Rateable values are historic, dating back before 1990 (if your home was built after 1990 then a water meter was fitted automatically). So, if you live on your own or in a property with a high rateable value (which cannot be appealed), you may also be paying too much for your water.
Most water suppliers offer a “leakage allowance”, which means they will remove additional charges related to a leak, as long as the household repairs the leak within a reasonable time period. Be aware that they will usually only accept one claim.