Night Owl v Scottish Power

[Night Owl]

Hello all

My question here is about my electricity supply.

What I need to know is who has responsibility for the electricty supply equipment in the box where your meter is read? We have economy 7 so we also have a timer clock along side the box with the readings. (hope that makes sense!)

When the meter is read should the equipment be checked (visually or other) to make sure it is all in full working order?
If so does it get checked? and by whom? If not why not?

I contacted Scottish Power by phone last year to complain that our monthly payments had almost doubled and that I thought this was wrong. I was told that it would be re-assessed on the next reading. Nothing has changed! Our meter has been read by the meter man since and not estimated.

We recently had a power socket fail on a night storage heater that then tripped the fuse box (Its a new fuse box). It was replaced and we waited up for hours until the economy 7 kicked in to make sure the fuse box didn't trip again. Hours went by and nothing was coming on. Worried we looked at the meter box and realised the clock was 2 1/2 hours slow!!!
I have phoned Scottish Power who are sending an engineer on Friday to check/change the timer. They have put our supply in dispute until they find the problem.

But how long could it have been loosing time and who's responsibility is it to check that it is working correctly?

I will wait for the report to come through from Scottish Power before challenging them with these question too and wait for some kind of refund offer!!!!!

Night Owl

Never assume that the professionals get it right.
As a consumer we chould always challenge their service to us.

[old_andrew2007]

bump

[Night Owl]

Thanks old andrew for the bump.

I will update this when the engineer has been tomorrow.
I have checked out the energy watch web site and read their info on
"I think my meter is faulty - what should I do?"
and
"Why am I suddenly using a lot more gas or electricity?"

The only change in the last 6 months is our eldest daughter leaving home but our bills don't reflect a reduction!!!!
We have energy efficient appliances. We had a run of things breaking down so have now got an 'A' rated fridge and freezer and a washing machine which we run overnight!

I'm interested to know who is responsible for the maintenance of the meter and clock?
How long has the clock been faulty for and how long would we have been paying incorrect bills before they would have investigated it?

Night Owl

[Night Owl]

Well the engineer has just left after installing an all singing and dancing meter.

We are now the proud owners of a
Single Phase Watt Hour Meter!
Solid State Digital.

It replaces both the dials and the clock.

On questioning (no I didn't give him a hard time either!) he couldn't tell me how long it could have been faulty for or who is responsible for checking that it is working corectly. He did say that they just replace them when they become faulty.

I have to wait now for a report to be sent to Scottish Power for them to work out our new payments and refund.

Now, how many clocks have I got to put right now after the power went off!!! I hate that job.

Night Owl

[Night Owl]

Update.
Well over the last 2 weeks I have had 3 letters all changing the price of our DD payments. Ever increasing payments!!!

Phoned Scottish Power each time I received a letter and I still can't get them to reduce our DD payments because of the original faulty equipement that they have now replaced being the original cause of our increasing bills.

I told them that I have checked on the energy watch web site changes to our circumstances.
1. Faulty clock and possible meter - now replaced by Scottish Power.
2. Daughter left home - reduction in electricity usage (dramatically because she has taken all her electrical equipement with her - hair straightners etc!).
3. Been complaining about increases in our bills over the last year - Scottish Power never investigated why (now know that it was faulty equipement)
Scottish Power reply - not interested please pay your bill.

Complained through energy watch.
They empower customers through information and advice to help customers to resolve complaints. In other words - do it your self or get lost!

I now have a
"Senior Adviser with expert knowledge, will ensure your enquiry is dealt with and resolved". I'm still waiting!

Oh, and the postman has just delivered a letter from E-On with my address on but all other details for example,
Name, phone number, E-mail, Electricity supply number and Gas supply number all belonging to another person.
Phoned them and had a hard job convincing them the letter has come to the wrong address and anyway we have never had Gas!!! He was convinced that his records showed Gas at our address. We have been here 20yrs and are not connected to Gas!!

Pure incompetence.

Frustrated Night Owl.
Will this ever be resolved?